Poetry 101

March 1, 2019
Like the others in the Adams 101 series (such as Ethics 101, 2017), this handy little primer is consciously written as an antidote to dull and pedantic textbooks. Its aim is to teach the user how to read, understand, and ultimately write poetry. Even while examining the painstaking intricacies of poetic meter, rhyme scheme, and form, Poetry 101 maintains a light yet instructive air. From ancient Greeks to Rap and Slam, major poets, genres, and movements are covered in short chapters of about four pages each. Major themes and influences are summarized in an entertaining but informative way. This is a useful guide and quick reference work for anyone interested in poetry, particularly students with little experience reading or writing it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)