Was given this for Christmas. I’m a 33 year old man. I always loved poetry in school but was never able to get back into it since. This has reawakened something in me.
I think it’s the critical commentary that makes it, i find it hard to get my head around individual poems without it.
Can anyone recommend a poetry book that goes into the same kind of detail and commentary? I particularly like poets like Emily Dickinson, Patrick Kavanagh, Michael Longly and of course my man Yeats
I use this for leaving cert english
Good to hear you’re getting back into it. I still read “The Best Poems of the English Language” by Harold Bloom. Bloom’s opinions are very much his own, and while he doesn’t necessarily go “in depth”, he gives an overview of each poet and gives a few choice poems with characteristically selective analysis. It isn’t spelled out for you like a school textbook though.. His personal preferences also limit the exposure and poem counts of certain poets, and you may not like his style, but it’s a good general collection IMO, that will introduce you to other poets (judging by what you like, you will like what Bloom likes).
Another good option is to deep dive on a particular poet with a dedicated book. For instance, Emily Dickinson’s my favourite poet, and Helen Vendler’s “Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries” is excellent. As you read more and more about a particular poet you’ll become gradually informed of their personal life and sociopolitical circumstances, and therefore less dependent on commentaries and analysis. But they’re a big help when starting out.
Soundings is old hat now? Gus Martin is rolling in his grave
I looked up the English syllabus for LC 2023 and was pleasantly surprised.
I assumed it must have gone to shit since my day but not so!
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Was given this for Christmas. I’m a 33 year old man. I always loved poetry in school but was never able to get back into it since. This has reawakened something in me.
I think it’s the critical commentary that makes it, i find it hard to get my head around individual poems without it.
Can anyone recommend a poetry book that goes into the same kind of detail and commentary? I particularly like poets like Emily Dickinson, Patrick Kavanagh, Michael Longly and of course my man Yeats
I use this for leaving cert english
Good to hear you’re getting back into it. I still read “The Best Poems of the English Language” by Harold Bloom. Bloom’s opinions are very much his own, and while he doesn’t necessarily go “in depth”, he gives an overview of each poet and gives a few choice poems with characteristically selective analysis. It isn’t spelled out for you like a school textbook though.. His personal preferences also limit the exposure and poem counts of certain poets, and you may not like his style, but it’s a good general collection IMO, that will introduce you to other poets (judging by what you like, you will like what Bloom likes).
Another good option is to deep dive on a particular poet with a dedicated book. For instance, Emily Dickinson’s my favourite poet, and Helen Vendler’s “Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries” is excellent. As you read more and more about a particular poet you’ll become gradually informed of their personal life and sociopolitical circumstances, and therefore less dependent on commentaries and analysis. But they’re a big help when starting out.
Soundings is old hat now? Gus Martin is rolling in his grave
I looked up the English syllabus for LC 2023 and was pleasantly surprised.
I assumed it must have gone to shit since my day but not so!
Great depth and range of material.