About the book
Breath Lines takes a fresh and down-to-earth approach to encounters with poetry. In these accessible, non-technical essays, Jan Schreiber offers insightful strategies for reading and understanding works that many people have found challenging. The essays address critical areas of poetic craft and interpretation: the content of poems, including narrative techniques and the voices a poet creates; the character and power of verse lines and the problems attending the translation of metrical poems; challenges of interpretation, including complex philosophies and obscure references; and a look at the future of the art, hinted by the competing styles and allegiances of contemporary writers.
Each essay offers pertinent verse examples to illustrate metrical, rhetorical, and stylistic issues. Schreiber’s commentaries explain how a reader’s careful attention can be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings embedded in apparently simple poems—and how readers can thereby experience an emotional impact not always perceived on a first reading.
Designed for writers, students, and passionate readers, Breath Lines: How Poems Work and Why They Matter offers guidance into some of the art form’s more arcane mysteries, written by a distinguished poet and critic.
Editions of Breath Lines
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807183939
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807184318
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807184028
- PDF
- ISBN 9780807184325
Read an Excerpt
Breath Lines takes a fresh and down-to-earth approach to encounters with poetry. In these accessible, non-technical essays, Jan Schreiber offers insightful strategies for reading and understanding works that many people have found challenging. The essays address critical areas of poetic craft and interpretation: the content of poems, including narrative techniques and the voices a poet creates; the character and power of verse lines and the problems attending the translation of metrical poems; challenges of interpretation, including complex philosophies and obscure references; and a look at the future of the art, hinted by the competing styles and allegiances of contemporary writers.
Each essay offers pertinent verse examples to illustrate metrical, rhetorical, and stylistic issues. Schreiber’s commentaries explain how a reader’s careful attention can be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings embedded in apparently simple poems—and how readers can thereby experience an emotional impact not always perceived on a first reading.
Designed for writers, students, and passionate readers, Breath Lines: How Poems Work and Why They Matter offers guidance into some of the art form’s more arcane mysteries, written by a distinguished poet and critic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breath Lines about?
Breath Lines takes a fresh and down-to-earth approach to encounters with poetry. In these accessible, non-technical essays, Jan Schreiber offers insightful strategies for reading and understanding works that many people have found challenging. The essays address critical areas of poetic craft and interpretation: the content of poems, including narrative techniques and the voices a poet creates; the character and power of verse lines and the problems attending the translation of metrical poems; challenges of interpretation, including complex philosophies and obscure references; and a look at the future of the art, hinted by the competing styles and allegiances of contemporary writers.
Each essay offers pertinent verse examples to illustrate metrical, rhetorical, and stylistic issues. Schreiber’s commentaries explain how a reader’s careful attention can be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings embedded in apparently simple poems—and how readers can thereby experience an emotional impact not always perceived on a first reading.
Designed for writers, students, and passionate readers, Breath Lines: How Poems Work and Why They Matter offers guidance into some of the art form’s more arcane mysteries, written by a distinguished poet and critic.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Breath Lines?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: poetry and poets
Where can I read a sample of Breath Lines?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807183939
How long is Breath Lines and how many pages does it have?
Breath Lines has 246 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Breath Lines?
Jan Schreiber
Who is the Publisher of the book Breath Lines?
LSU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Breath Lines is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807183939) and hardcover(ISBN 9780807184318) and paperback(ISBN 9780807184028) and pdf(ISBN 9780807184325)
Where can I buy Breath Lines online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Breath Lines from below
Where can I buy Breath Lines?