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Review of “The Intellectual Design of John Dryden’s Heroic Plays”
Ferrick Gray — John Dryden was a prominent poet, dramatist and critic of the late seventeenth century. Today, it is likely that very few have heard of him. Libraries would have pushed his work into the back shelves, if indeed you are able to find them at all. Hence, a breath of fresh air to read such an analysis presented here by (Anne T.) Barbeau.
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Critic? Or—No Critic
Ferrick Gray — We may marvel at the critic, or we may curse them. Not everyone can or will appreciate the role of the critic. As a result, we ask two simple questions. Is the critic necessary?, and if yes: What makes a good critic?
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Deceptive Expectation
Ferrick Gray — The myth of Padora’s Box has changed many times depending on who has told it. Box was introduced later and is a mistranslation of large storage jar. There is also debate as to who actually opened the jar and released the woes upon the world. It seems that Pandora gets the blame. Perhaps the gods wanted to test the first woman on…
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A Letter to James Smith from T. S. Eliot
Ferrick Gray — This essay, or at least these comments, contain extracts from a very short letter from Eliot to James Smith. The letter is dated 21 June 1926 and sent from London.
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The Beauty of the Sestina
Ferrick Gray — The sestina is not the most popular form to write to these days. However, a book of sestinas was published in 2014 which sparked an interest in the form. Admittedly it is a form that takes some time to fully appreciate.
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Why is this Poem so Obscure?
Ferrick Gray — As a reader of poetry, no doubt you have come across one or more poems that troubled you in the manner that you found them quite obscure. In other words, you had difficulty understanding what the poet was on about or actually writing about. Rest assured you are not alone.
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The Importance of READING Poetry
Ferrick Gray — For decades children have been taught to read silently. One can understand the reasons for this exercise, but it certainly does not help us understand or necessarily appreciate what we read. The advantage is that there is silence, but there are many disadvantages associated with this common and insistent practice.
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Points from T. S. Eliot’s “Ezra Pound: His Metric and Poetry”
Ferrick Gray — Scott-James commented on Pound’s work that he used unfamiliar meters whilst scorning the limitations of form and meter. However, this was what Pound was all about. One needed to practice the adaptability of meter to mood. Not only this, one required a trained ear and to use a variety of meters with the original use of language.
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More Riming Couplets Please!
Ferrick Gray — It is without a doubt that the riming couplet has been a useful construct in formal (classical) poetry. It has been altered and adapted over the centuries, but today there is a tendency not to give a great deal of praise or time to this once popular form.
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What is Poetry?
Ferrick Gray — In all honesty, this is the age-old question for which there is no answer. Many people have tried, but no-one has succeeded. Yes, all have failed. The point where failure begins is when personal opinions come into the discussion, đebate or in some cases argument.