The Beginnings of Poetry

Chapter 2: PREFACE

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

About This Book

The author examines poetry as a social institution rather than as art instruction or metaphysical origin, using historical and comparative methods. He defines poetry as rhythmic utterance and argues rhythm is the essential feature; traces a dualism between communal, collective forms and individual artistic expression; analyzes communal genres such as ballads, refrains, work and bridal songs, and dance, noting devices like incremental repetition and improvisation; surveys the effects of Christianity and scientific thought on poetic roles; outlines early differentiations into lyric, drama, and epic; and sketches the modern triumph and revival of the individual artist alongside communal traditions.

PREFACE

The opening pages of this book contain, so one may hope, an adequate answer to the objections of those who may have been led by its title to expect a more detailed treatment of poetic origins and a closer study of such questions as the early forms of rhythm, the beginnings of national literatures, and the actual history of lyric, epic, and drama. Not these problems have been undertaken, interesting and important as they are, but rather the rise of poetry as a social institution; whether or not a definite account of this process has been obtained must be left for the reader to judge.

F. B. G.

9 September, 1901.