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A Way with Words IV

Understanding Poetry

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A Way with Words IV

By: Prof. Michael D. C. Drout
Narrated by: Prof. Michael Drout
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About this listen

 In A Way with Words I, II, and III, Professor Michael D.C. Drout increased listeners' understanding of the way literature works, of the rhetoric that in many ways defines people's lives, and of the intricacies of grammar, all while maintaining a lively tone that conveys the professor's infectious enthusiasm for the subject.

In part IV of this fascinating series, Professor Drout submerses listeners in poetry's past, present, and future. Addressing such poetic luminaries as Milton,Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, these lectures explain in simple terms what poetry is while following its development through the centuries.

©2008 Michael D.C. Drout (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC Poetry

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All stars
Most relevant  
I'm a beginner in poetry, in fact not even that, never studied it, never liked it.

Yet on advice from an excellent writing blog, I decided to learn a little of it.

I've listened to Drout before, on Rhetoric and on grammar, so I knew what I would get. An enthusiastic teacher of his subject, something needed for a slightly reluctant learner.

I won't be a poet, yes I know it, and that, I don't mind. But, for a means of expanding writing skill and writing mind, to not learn some, I'd be blind.

It's an excellent course, not a survey, yet he presents in time orderly fashion. He explores technique through the ages: stress and meter, rhyme and slant, enjambment, ceasura, measure and more; then, relates their use to each age, each poet and explores the effects bought about.

This review I'm writing after one listening to the entire course.

Will I listen again?
Yes, for my purposes, I will and side track down some poets he brings up.

If you are new to poetry, perhaps looking to learn to expand writing skill or just to learn why poetry is fussed over, this is the right course.

You are not bombarded with hours of inaccessible readings.

You are given a delightful feast of techniques, and how poets used them; each course served in proper order so that you can savour the flavour of effects each poet did favor.

Don't let my crime of rhyme put you off giving time-to listen to this course and learn something new!

Excellent course

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I've been working through several poetry books, which range from comprehensive but dry (Peter Whitfield's The History of English Poetry) to fun and practical (Stephen Fry's An Ode Less Travelled). Professor Drout's is different again, thorough and passionate. More than anything, he also pays more attention to pre-written and pre-English writing (as an Anglo-Saxon scholar, he's unusually qualified to do this), but more than anything he reminds everyone that poetry is to be experienced. Highly recommended.

The professor I always wanted to have

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Would you consider the audio edition of A Way with Words IV to be better than the print version?

For me it would be, but there is also accompanying reference material via the website.

What did you like best about this story?

Not a story. It really gave me some helpful impressions of noteworthy poets, throughout the history of poetry.

Have you listened to any of Michael Drout’s other performances? How does this one compare?

He's always so excited & impassioned about his subject matter that I would be encouraged to try out listening to another audiobook even if if wasn't an area i had previously thought to seek out.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No - Far too long & I would also go off to further research some of the mentioned poets.

Any additional comments?

A book I will come back to over time & listen to relevant parts.

Enjoyed a Lot!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've always wanted to know more about poetry, how it works in different ways and why one type of poetry is so different from another. I have always been slightly intimidated by the rules and codes about this form of storytelling and although I have dabbled in the past, I have never really given my attention to it - until now!

I found this book/course by Michael Drout to be compelling and exciting and I listened to it in 3 days in between other busy activities. I didn't understand it all and didn't look at the notes at the time but now intend to listen again this week, read the literature that comes with it and makes notes on what I now understood and what remains unclear.

I now feel I can read poetry with much improved confidence and I feel inspired to learn more about poetry and the poets that speak to me.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be captivated by poetry and how to understand it better.

Any additional comments?

The only element missing in the book for me was a more in depth analysis of the meanings of some of the poetry. I would have loved to hear a greater interpretation of some of the poems and their less obvious hidden meanings and the devices used by the poets. I appreciate that would have made the book much longer (fine by me) or perhaps this could be the subject of the next piece by Michael Drout!

I am captivated

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Drout is the English teacher I wish I had. I've listened through most of these lectures at least twice and now have a new list of poets who I'm excited to investigate and the tools I need to enjoy them.

Really recommend this title. I'm not an English scholar; I merely had a passing interest and I found this very accessible. I will definitely be listening to the other titles in this series.

Enlightening and entertaining

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