Routledge Revivals The Anatomy of Poetry It is impossible to appreciate poetry fully without some knowledge of the various aspects of poetic technique. First published in 1953, with a second edition in 1982, this title explains all the usual technical terms in an accessible manner. Marjorie Boulton shows that it is possible to approach a poem from a business-like perspective without losing enjoyment. This reissue will be of particular value to students of English Literature as well as those with a general interest in the specifics of poetry. The Anatomy of Poetry Marjorie Boulton With a Foreword by L. A. G. Strong First published in 1953 Second edition 1982 by Routledge & Kegan Paul This edition first published in 2013 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 1953, 1982 Marjorie Boulton The right of Marjorie Boulton to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Publisher’s Note The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent. Disclaimer The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact. A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 82003651 ISBN 13: 978-0-415-72224-7 (hbk) ISBN 13: 978-1-315-85836-4 (ebk) THE ANATOMY OF POETRY by MARJORIE BOULTON with a foreword by L. A. G. STRONG Revised edition First published in 1953 by Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited 39 Store Street, London WC1E 7DD, 9 Park Street, Boston, Mass. 02108, USA, 296 Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park Melbourne, 3206, Australia and Broadway House, Newtown Road Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1EN Reprinted 1955, 1959, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977 and 1979 Second edition revised and reset 1982 Set in Bembo, 10 on 12pt by Rowland Phototypesetting, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Printed in Great Britain by Redwood Burn Ltd, Trowbridge, Wiltshire © Marjorie Boulton 1953, 1982 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Boulton, Marjorie. The anatomy of poetry. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Poetics. I. Title. PN1042.B61982 808.1 82-3651 ISBN 0-7100-9087-0 AACR2 To HENRY TREECE the best teacher I ever had and a most loyal and understanding friend CONTENTS FOREWORD BY L. A. G. STRONG PREFACE PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION I THE IMPORTANCE OF FORM II THE PHYSICAL FORM OF POETRY III RHYTHM: (A) METRE IV RHYTHM: (B) VARIATION: COUNTERPOINT V PHONETIC FORM: (A) RHYME VI PHONETIC FORM: (B) ONOMATOPOEIA VII PHONETIC FORM: (C) INTERNAL PATTERN VIII FORM IN INTONATION IX THE USE OF REPETITION: (A) INTELLECTUAL EFFECT X THE USE OF REPETITION: (B) PURE MAGICAL EFFECT XI INTELLECTUAL FORM: THE MAIN TYPES OF POETRY XII INTELLECTUAL FORM: LOGICAL SEQUENCE XIII INTELLECTUAL FORM: THE USE OF ASSOCIATIONS XIV INTELLECTUAL FORM: THE TWO MAIN PATTERNS OF IMAGERY XV SOME TRADITIONAL VERSE FORMS XVI FREE VERSE XVII THE CHOICE OF WORDS XVIII TWO POEMS ANATOMIZED XIX HOW NOT TO APPROACH POETRY XX SOME TWENTIETH-CENTURY TECHNIQUES