The Rhythms of English Poetry

Examines the way in which poetry in English makes use of rhythm. The author argues that there are three major influences which determine the verse-forms used in any language: the natural rhythm of the spoken language itself; the properties of rhythmic form; and the metrical conventions which have grown up within the literary tradition. He investigates these in order to explain the forms of English verse, and to show how rhythm and metre work as an essential part of the reader's experience of poetry.

Derek Attridge

PART ONE: Approaches 1 Traditional Approaches 2 Linguistic Approaches PART TWO: Rhythm 3 The Rhythms of English Speech 4 The Four-Beat Rhythm 5 The Five-Beat Rhythm PART THREE: Metre 6 What is a Metrical Rule? 7 The Rules of English Metre 8 Metrical Rules and the Structures of Language PART FOUR: Practice 9 The Functions of Poetic Rhythm 10 Rhythm at Work: Some examples Appendix: Rules and Scansion Bibliography Sources of examples Index