The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse
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Author Description
Offering both familiar poems and some fascinating unfamiliar ones, this anthology contains over 250 poems that deal with Christianity. Ranging from the Anglo-Saxon masterpiece "The Dream of the Rood" to the works of modern poets such as T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Sir John Betjeman, and John Berryman. Davie has chosen works from around the world, including several women poets--such as the Elizabethan Countess of Pembroke and Emily Dickinson--as well as the four men whom he describes as "the masters of the sacred poem in English": George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Christopher Smart, and William Cowper. Stressing the importance of "the plain style" in Christian poetry throughout the ages, Davie also offers a large selection of congregational hymns.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This anthology investigates the evolution and stylistic consistency of Christian verse in the English language across several centuries. Donald Davie, a noted poet and critic, compiles over 250 poems to argue for the significance of the "plain style" in sacred poetry. By selecting works from the Anglo-Saxon period through the twentieth century, he establishes a framework that highlights the continuity of theological expression and formal restraint in religious writing.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological selection of over 250 poems ranging from the Anglo-Saxon era to modern poets.
- A specific focus on the "plain style" as a defining characteristic of effective Christian verse.
- Inclusion of diverse voices, including women poets and congregational hymn writers.
Scope Limits
- The collection is restricted to poetry written in or translated into English.
- It does not provide a comprehensive history of Christian theology, focusing instead on the aesthetic and literary tradition of the sacred poem.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics often note the scholarly rigor Davie brings to his selection process, particularly his emphasis on the "masters" of the sacred poem. Readers frequently highlight the utility of this volume as both a historical survey and a curated guide to the development of religious poetic forms.
Page Count:
352
Publication Date:
2003-10-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192804863
ISBN-13:
9780192804860
Poetry
Literary Criticism
Anthology
Christian literature
