Handbook of Poetic Forms

Rating:
Summary: The only book a poet needs
Review: For the Handbook, 19 teaching poets have written 74 entries on traditional and modern poetic forms. The Handbook succinctly defines the forms, summarizes their histories, quotes good examples (ancient and modern, by adult and young writers), and offers professional tricks of the trade on how to use each form. "Free of academic verbiage, the definitions not only inform, they often provoke and inspire. A small wonder!" - The Poetry Project Newsletter. "The best thing that can be said for a handbook to poetry is that when you pick it up, you can and what you're looking for, and it clearly written, and be satisfied that what you've read is sufficient and authoritative. Thanks to this book one gets those necessary uses and much more.... This colorful, graphically pleasing, and entertaining reference work is what can happen when those who actually practice and preach poetry present their knowledge in a clear, friendly, and straightforward manner" - Teaching English in the Two-Year College. "You can't get a quicker, smarter course in what poetry's been up to for millennia" - The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog. "Browsing through the pages is an excellent way to realize the remarkable variety and richness of poetic forms. A solid beginning reference source for poetics" - Choice. A good companion to T&W's Poetic Forms audiotapes.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: I use this book all the time! I've had it for over 10 years and find myself continually going back to it. Recently I began writing a poem every morning before getting out of bed, and this book is invaluable for helping wake up my brain and start the creative juices flowing. The forms are clearly defined with good examples given, and the sheer number of forms included is inspiring! If one isn't working for me that morning, I simply flip to another. I've used this book with teenagers and with adults in poetry-writing exercises--it works well with all ages.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: I use this book all the time! I've had it for over 10 years and find myself continually going back to it. Recently I began writing a poem every morning before getting out of bed, and this book is invaluable for helping wake up my brain and start the creative juices flowing. The forms are clearly defined with good examples given, and the sheer number of forms included is inspiring! If one isn't working for me that morning, I simply flip to another. I've used this book with teenagers and with adults in poetry-writing exercises--it works well with all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book for writers as well as teachers!
Review: This book is my favorite poetry handbook--and I have several--because it covers so many forms in such an clear, undry (i.e. entertaining) way. It's fun to read. I've taught poetry writing at about 40 elementary schools through the Writers in the Schools programs and children's literature at the University of Iowa. The Handbook gives a passel of forms that can be used with kids of all ages. In the children's lit class, the book was a means of showing the wide variety of forms. The undergrad students in that class, most of whom weren't that familiar with poetry, were dazzled by all the possibilities that the book opened up. As a writer, I enjoy reading about the different forms and examples. You can try writing in one of the forms, or try making up a new form based on forms in the book. Either way, you learn, you enjoy, you think, and you write, thanks to the Handbook.

Rating:
Summary: a reference on poetic forms
Review: This is a fabulous reference for poets who want to expand their repertoire. Over seventy poetic forms are covered, and each section includes: an explanation of the form, discussion of any variations on the form, at least one literary example, and reference to other prominent examples and/or poets who use the form.

Rating:
Summary: this is a great reference (for all ages)
Review: this is a great book: well written; comprehensive but not encylopedic; engaging and entertaining. it was intended for junior or senior high school students and some of it's suggetions and examples reflect that BUT please don't let that stop you from buying it. it is simultaneously a good introduction to poetic forms (and poetry in general), a quick reference for the more advanced student, and a source of inspiration for practicing poets.