The World's Best Poetry, Volume 10: Poetical Quotations

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

12925

Title

The World's Best Poetry, Volume 10: Poetical Quotations

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This anthology explores the elusive definition of poetry through a curated collection of quotations spanning centuries and cultures. Edited by Bliss Carman, the volume categorizes verses by themes such as love, sorrow, nature, and national spirit, offering readers a diverse tapestry of poetic thought.

Summary up to 500 words

The World's Best Poetry, Volume 10: Poetical Quotations, edited by Bliss Carman and featuring an introduction by John R. Howard, serves as a comprehensive anthology designed to define the scope and power of the poetic art. The volume opens with a critical essay by Howard that grapples with the elusive definition of poetry. Howard synthesizes conflicting views from Romantic giants like Shelley, Wordsworth, and Coleridge, ultimately proposing that poetry is a rhythmic expression of emotion and ideality. He argues that poetry is not merely an artistic form but a vital force capable of interpreting life, consoling the reader, and sustaining the human spirit, even in the absence of traditional religion or philosophy. Following this theoretical framework, the collection transitions into a series of thematic sections that explore universal human experiences through iconic lines from Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, and others. The anthology covers a diverse array of subjects, including Angling, Animals, Ships, Sighs, Silence, Sin, Sincerity, and Woman. Each section illustrates the genre's capacity to capture the essence of specific experiences; for instance, the 'Woman' section contrasts her perceived contradictions with her essential role in tempering man, while the 'Ship' section celebrates maritime imagery and the resilience of seafaring life. Other sections delve into the nature of silence as a profound state of being, the progression of sin, and the complexities of sincerity and love. The volume emphasizes that poetry draws from the full spectrum of human passion, from the tender and holy to the tragic and sublime. By presenting these quotations, the text demonstrates how poetry functions as a mirror to the human condition, offering insights into youth, age, nature, and the moral struggles of the soul. Ultimately, the book presents poetry as a necessary medium for understanding existence, validating the claim that the best poetry possesses a unique power to form, delight, and sustain the reader.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Poetry