55 review for The Norton Anthology of Poetry

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Mary Slowik – Oct 23, 2012

   Wow. Did this really take me nearly three years to read, a page or two daily, in the bathroom? Yes... yes it did. Was it worth it? I'd say so. There's a good selection of poets, from Chaucer up to (1970) modern-day, and usually smart picks from each of their bodies of work. It's intentionally tantalizing rather than exhaustive, which naturally made me want to seek out more work by certain poets. "The Ship of Death" is probably my favorite of them all, along with Emily Dickinson's stuff, but that Wow. Did this really take me nearly three years to read, a page or two daily, in the bathroom? Yes... yes it did. Was it worth it? I'd say so. There's a good selection of poets, from Chaucer up to (1970) modern-day, and usually smart picks from each of their bodies of work. It's intentionally tantalizing rather than exhaustive, which naturally made me want to seek out more work by certain poets. "The Ship of Death" is probably my favorite of them all, along with Emily Dickinson's stuff, but that might just reflect my general temperament. In retrospect, there are obviously better and more up-to-date anthologies out there by now, but still, you can't go wrong with a Norton edition.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Bob – Nov 27, 2019

   Take note: This review is of the "Revised Shorter Edition" (660+ pages). That said, my traversal of such an anthology of English language verse was long overdue and this particular title served my purpose well. I wanted to get a feel for the historical development of poetry in my native tongue--from the High Middle Ages through modern free verse. This anthology was short enough to be manageable (I read snippets on a daily basis). However, its relative brevity meant that the selection of poems in Take note: This review is of the "Revised Shorter Edition" (660+ pages). That said, my traversal of such an anthology of English language verse was long overdue and this particular title served my purpose well. I wanted to get a feel for the historical development of poetry in my native tongue--from the High Middle Ages through modern free verse. This anthology was short enough to be manageable (I read snippets on a daily basis). However, its relative brevity meant that the selection of poems included was obviously very subjective. Many great poems I love aren't here. But so long as you're not expecting comprehensiveness, what's here is still, as Mike of "Pat and Mike" would say, "cherce". I'll admit at the top that I still am not a big fan of most of the early verse through the 18th Century. There are some great things there, obviously, but my comfort zone poetically speaking really begins with the Romantics. I was also surprised at how little of the truly modern stuff I cared for. Again, however, there's plenty of great stuff there to enjoy. I'll mention a few I loved that I probably never would have encountered on my own: Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Inversnaid" (REALLY love that one), Ezra Pound's "In a Station of the Metro", Edwin Muir's "The Animals" and "The Brothers", Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", Theodore Roethke's "I Knew a Woman" (wow!), Philip Larkin's "Wants", James Wright's "A Blessing" (a new personal favorite), Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus", and Nikki Giovanni's "Nikki-Rosa" and "A Poem for Carol". These were just the great poems that were new to me. Many familiar favorites (by Frost, Wilbur, Jeffers, Williams, Snyder and on and on) are also included, of course. I was disappointed that no Old English poems and excerpts were presented in translation, but I understand why they were omitted. Too bad, though, because "Beowulf" (I recommend Burton Raffel's translation) is a touchstone not to be missed by anyone who claims a love for English verse. So, if you're looking for a fairly representative traversal of English language poetry, don't hesitate to grab this one (or one of its later editions). Make your own list of favorites and impose it on the rest of us! I, for one, won't complain (although I may argue with you, goodnaturedly, over your choices)!

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Alan Livingston – Aug 04, 2016

   This was one of those college books I treasured long after graduation. It was always on my shelf when I wanted to get a fix of a dose of the best of poetry. Alas, in 2005, it headed for the Gulf of Mexico thanks to Hurricane Katrina. I need to replace it, because I miss it.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Mary – Feb 28, 2019

   Over the course of the last few months I have read The Norton Anthology of Poetry. I liked it a lot because I read some very interesting and engaging poems. I enjoyed reading the book until I got too late in time, and I couldn’t understand the writing anymore. Not only was I fond of reading this compilation of poems, but it also helped to expand my vocabulary. One of the aspects of this book that was intriguing to me, was that the authors were able to expand and write two page poems based solely Over the course of the last few months I have read The Norton Anthology of Poetry. I liked it a lot because I read some very interesting and engaging poems. I enjoyed reading the book until I got too late in time, and I couldn’t understand the writing anymore. Not only was I fond of reading this compilation of poems, but it also helped to expand my vocabulary. One of the aspects of this book that was intriguing to me, was that the authors were able to expand and write two page poems based solely on one specific topic. I rated this book a 3 out of 5 stars because it wasn’t like any regular book, there was no rising or falling action, and no plot. It was just a group of poems. I think that by reading this book I learned a lot about poetry, but I also learned about why I do not love it. In the end, I enjoyed this book because it made me think and reflect about the poems a lot.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Lisa Powell – Mar 19, 2018

   Think this is our edition -- does a fine job, but seems to want to pick a more obscure piece from each poet (or sometimes more obscure poets over traditional favorites), which is not what I'm looking for an a comprehensive anthology. Think this is our edition -- does a fine job, but seems to want to pick a more obscure piece from each poet (or sometimes more obscure poets over traditional favorites), which is not what I'm looking for an a comprehensive anthology.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Jamie is – Jun 24, 2015

   Read for a college course I took at Truman State summer before 10th grade; exposed me to many ideas and literary devices that made a huge impact on me. One of the top most influential books of my life.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Ed Gosney – Sep 13, 2013

   This is over 850 pages and is called the shorter edition. Makes me wonder how long the "regular" edition is. At any rate, there are some classic poems here that everyone should read. This is over 850 pages and is called the shorter edition. Makes me wonder how long the "regular" edition is. At any rate, there are some classic poems here that everyone should read.

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Eileen – Jul 28, 2014

   Only read select poems from in here but this does have a great sampling!

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Casey Boyer –

10. 

    4 out of 5

    James Fleming –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Rebecca –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Sean Lopez –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Nathan Hartz –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Ellie Finlay –

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Lauren –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Katrina Brown –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Neha –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Lee Hall –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Tim –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Edith –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Kim Kaso –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Lauren Day –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Ash Williams –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Thomas –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Rob –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Matthew Bartlett –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Heather Moss –

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    4 out of 5

    Kevin –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    M –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Green Cupcake –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    David –

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    4 out of 5

    Ted –

33. 

    5 out of 5

    Kevin –

34. 

    5 out of 5

    Diana –

35. 

    5 out of 5

    Alynna –

36. 

    5 out of 5

    Freak Trivia –

37. 

    4 out of 5

    Kayte –

38. 

    4 out of 5

    Amy –

39. 

    5 out of 5

    Megan Christine –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    Erica Steele –

41. 

    5 out of 5

    Moshe –

42. 

    5 out of 5

    Darcy –

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    4 out of 5

    Karen F –

44. 

    4 out of 5

    Krystal –

45. 

    4 out of 5

    Derek –

46. 

    4 out of 5

    Whoknew? –

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    4 out of 5

    Ellory –

48. 

    5 out of 5

    Dave –

49. 

    5 out of 5

    Ash –

50. 

    4 out of 5

    Stephanie –

51. 

    4 out of 5

    Seth J. Seegert –

52. 

    5 out of 5

    Denise –

53. 

    4 out of 5

    Stephanie –

54. 

    5 out of 5

    Keira –

55. 

    5 out of 5

    Nikki –