A Way with Words IV

Understanding Poetry

By: Prof. Michael D. C. Drout

Narrated by: Prof. Michael Drout

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In A Way with Words I, II, and III, Professor Michael D.C. Drout increased listeners' understanding of the way literature works, of the rhetoric that in many ways defines people's lives, and of the intricacies of grammar, all while maintaining a lively tone that conveys the professor's infectious enthusiasm for the subject.

In part IV of this fascinating series, Professor Drout submerses listeners in poetry's past, present, and future. Addressing such poetic luminaries as Milton,Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, these lectures explain in simple terms what poetry is while following its development through the centuries.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2008 Michael D.C. Drout (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

A phenomenal start to an appreciation for poetry.

Before this series I knew nothing about poetry at all. This was a fantastic voyage.

I love Professor Drout!

I will be listening to this one several times. Listening to an hour or two a day is best in my opinion. It contains so much information its a lot to take in at once but It is so well done I can't speak highly enough of it.

Brilliant, even if you're new to poetry

Professor Drout takes you through poetry in such a way that your appreciation for it takes on new heights.
Cape Town
South Africa

informative but hard to finish and understand

I have enjoyed every single book from Prof. Drout. This book in particular integrates the history of poetry starting from the Anglo-Saxon until the 21st century with its' respective icons. I really enjoy listening his interpretation of poetry. However, this is undeniably a difficult read.

Mission Accomplished

Dr. Drout is one of the best professors in the Modern Scholar series. Very clear and passionate about his field. If you want to learn more about poetry, but don’t know where to begin, I would highly recommend this course.

Excellent work

This is an excellent book. Professor Drout is an excellent writer, as well as reader of his lucid writing. I only wish he would follow up with another one of modern and contemporary work.Jane Simon, drsimonsays.blogspot.com.

love drout

Listening to this but literally made me want to look up the professor and go to the school where he instructs. great read

Perfect introductory overview of Poetry as a whole

I tried listening to this a while ago and got turned away by the Old English readings the professor did. For some reason they annoyed me and I ended up getting bored and turning off. I'm sure Beowulf is great but whatever.

I've always found this "poetry" thing mystifying, even after taking classes and learning. I always felt like it was a great art form but always seemed somehow esoteric, elite, "beyond me," intellectual, overly literary. Something I just couldn't ever hope to understand, being kind of poorly read.

After actually hunkering down and listening through the entire lecture series, I feel very confident in going on, and feel I have a very solid and excellent background knowledge now from which to proceed. You get the entire history of poetry from ancient til now, as well as detailed explanation of the technical aspects (all done in a friendly, fun way).

By the end of the course, if you've paid attention, you will know most of the major poets in every era, have a grasp on the progression through history of the development, and have almost a well rounded grasp on what poetry is and why it is.

Best of all, it may take you from someone like me who just kind of is curious about it, and finds it kind of "boring" at times, to someone who actually WANTS to sit down and read poetry and think about it. I "Get it" now, Well recommended.

Drout Rules!

Gotta love Drout - such a great teacher. This installment of the Modern Scholar explain poetry very clearly for the uninformed (like me). Best is the explanation of iambic pentameter, meter, etc. The only problem I have is that he devoted almost a whole lecture to John Donne and spent only 4 minutes on Milton - even though the chapter was entitled Milton. But that aside - Drout still rules!

How Do I Love Thee...

When a man who is both master in his field and yet acutely in touch with his humanity sets out to help educate and inspire others to share and understand his passion, all that can remain is a great work of academia and art combined into eight and a half very enjoyable hours. Thank you for being my professor of poetry, Dr. Drout!