Poetry, arguably, has a greater range of conceptual meaning than perhaps any other term in English. At the most basic level everyone can recognise it - it is a kind of literature that uses special linguistic devices of organization and expression for aesthetic effect. However, far granderclaims have been made for poetry than this - such as Shelley's that the poets "are the unacknowledged legislators of the world", and that poetry is "a higher truth".In this Very Short Introduction, Bernard O'Donoghue provides a fascinating look at the many different forms of writing which have been called "poetry" - from the Greeks to the present day. As well as questioning what poetry is, he asks what poetry is for, and considers contemporary debates on itsvalue. Is there a universality to poetry? And does it have a duty of public utility and responsibility?ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, andenthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. | Poetry: A Very Short Introduction by Bernard O'donoghue, Paperback | Indigo Chapters