Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

What makes a poem a poem?

  • 10-04-2014 1:44pm
    #1
    ThirdMan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,700 ✭✭✭


    I'm reading Heaney's translation of Beowulf at the moment, and if it was written in normal paragraphs it would be all the same to me. I have a 'prose poetry' of the The Illiad at home somewhere, but to me it reads the exact same as any of the 'verse' translations that I've read. I suppose in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. The important thing is to enjoy them, but I'm just curious as to what exactly is going on.


Comments

  • #2
    Niall Keane
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭Niall Keane


    What differentiates the poetic from the prosaic! ;)


  • #3
    SamAK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭SamAK


    For me, a poem is a poem when the writer strives to say as much as possible in as few words as possible.


  • #4
    Rory Gallagher
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 292 ✭✭Rory Gallagher


    SamAK wrote: »
    For me, a poem is a poem when the writer strives to say as much as possible in as few words as possible.

    That's actually a good definition.


Advertisement