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 historical development and stylistic evolution of Christian verse within the English language. Donald Davie, a noted poet and critic, curates a selection of over 250 poems to argue for the significance of the 'plain style' in sacred poetry. By examining works from the Anglo-Saxon period through the modern era, the text provides a framework for understanding how theological concerns have been articulated through specific poetic forms and congregational hymns.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological collection of Christian poetry spanning from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 20th century.
- A curated selection of congregational hymns alongside formal poetic works.
- Critical commentary on the 'plain style' as a defining characteristic of sacred English verse.
- Inclusion of diverse voices, including Elizabethan poets and modern figures like T.S. Eliot and W.H. Auden.
Scope Limits
- The collection focuses primarily on the English language tradition and does not provide a global survey of Christian poetry in other languages.
- The selection is filtered through the specific critical lens of the editor, prioritizing the 'plain style' over other aesthetic movements.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and readers frequently cite this anthology as a significant reference for the study of religious literature in English. Experts highlight the editor's focus on the 'plain style' as a useful, albeit specific, framework for evaluating the history of Christian verse.
Page Count:
762
Publication Date:
1989-02-01
Publisher:
Oxford Paperbacks
ISBN-10:
0192826409
ISBN-13:
9780192826404
Poetry
Religion
Bible Study
Anthologies
Literary Criticism
Christianity
Anthology
Hymns