Pure Poetry

What is beauty? Can it only be viewed in physical form, or can it be something deeper, an idea or feeling? Perhaps there is no better way to explore these questions of beauty than through poetry. Author Sheila Griffin Llanas discusses eight poems and poets, with chapters on William Shakespeare, Phillis Wheatley, Edgar Allan Poe, and five others. Accompanied by biographical information on the poet and end-of-chapter questions for further study, Llanas closely examines each poem, including detailed analysis of form, content, poetic technique, and theme, encouraging readers to develop the tools to understand and appreciate poetry.

Is death the end, or a new beginning? Should it be feared, or embraced? Or is it simply a ceasing to exist? What better way to examine this great unknown than through poetry. Author Stephanie Buckwalter explores eight poems and poets, with chapters on John Donne, Emily Bronte, Walt Whitman, and five others. Accompanied by biographical information on the poet and end-of-chapter questions for further study, Buckwalter unravels each poem, including detailed analysis of form, content, poetic technique, and theme, encouraging readers to develop the tools to understand and appreciate poetry.

Nature poetry discovers the deep connection between humanity and nature. Beyond describing the wild beauty found in nature, the poetry discusses nature's impact on humans and people's impact on nature. Author Sheila Griffin Llanas explores eight poems and poets, with chapters on William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and five others. Accompanied by biographical information on the poet and end-of-chapter questions for further study, Llanas closely examines each poem, including detailed analysis of form, content, poetic technique, and theme, encouraging readers to develop the tools to understand and appreciate poetry.

Humans express love in countless ways, through physical actions, emotional reactions, or heartfelt words. Capturing the perfect words to show a person's love can be challenging, yet poets have done it for hundreds of years. What is love to a poet? Author Paula Johanson discusses eight poems and poets, with chapters on William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emily Dickinson, and five others. Accompanied by biographical information on the poet and end-of-chapter questions for further study, Johanson closely examines each poem, including detailed analysis of form, content, poetic technique, and theme, encouraging readers to develop the tools to understand and appreciate poetry.