Author: George Beaumont
Publisher:
Published: 2015-07-01
Total Pages: 816
ISBN-13: 9781330546680
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Excerpt from A Book of English Poetry This book has been made in response to the wishes of teachers who need a collection of English prose and poetry in a single volume and who desire to have the selections provided with notes. It contains no selection not included in its predecessors, English Poetry (1170-1892) and English Prose (1137-1890). The condensation of the two volumes has been made with care, and it is believed that no selection has been omitted which is necessary in a rapid survey course. For the texts previous to Chaucer translations have been made and printed side by side with the texts. These translations of course have not all the qualities of the originals, but an attempt has been made to preserve not only the metrical form but also the tone and general manner. Where the original had poor rhymes, or loose syntax, or undignified diction, such features have been permitted in the translation, though it was not always possible to reproduce each at the exact point of its appearance. The effort to preserve the tone of the original has often rendered the task of translation or paraphrase difficult because of the necessity of excluding ideas and sentiments foreign to the original as well as diction out of harmony with it. The briefer and simpler notes are placed on the same page with the text, because the editor feels that turning frequently to the back of a book to consult notes or a glossary disturbs the readers enjoyment and thereby interferes with, if it does not destroy, the effect of a piece of literature. The more elaborate notes, containing general information about the texts or authors, or discussing difficulties, or quoting interesting parallels, are placed at the end of the volume for the same reason - that is, to avoid interference with the enjoyment of the reader while he is engaged in reading. They may be consulted beforehand, in preparation for reading, or later, in explanation of difficulties that have not been solved- by the reader himself. In the case of a few poems, the no.tes are purposely elaborate, because the poems themselves are either especially difficult, or especially suggestive in diction, or especially loaded with allusions; but in general the editor has striven to keep the annotations down to a practical minimum. That he has not always succeeded in this effort, he is only too well aware. There are many of the notes which he himself would disregard in reading and in teaching. But no one has yet discovered exactly what number of grains of sand makes a heap, and the present editor has not even been able to maintain strict consistency in regard to what knowledge may safely be assumed as possessed by students or easily accessible to them. Every student of English should possess a copy of Webster's Secondary School Dictionary or the Standard Desk Dictionary. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
