The Uses of Poetry (Paperback)

Preface; Part I. The Nature of Poetry: 1. The deep roots of speech; 2. Rhythm; 3. Symbolising; Part II. In the Beginning: 1. Dance; 2. The earliest poetry; 3. Work songs; 4. Mnemonics; Part III. Rites, Bards, Ballads: 1. Praise, propitiation, magic; 2. Rites, myths and epics; 3. Living books; 4. Ballad and folk song; Part IV. Maid of All Work: 1. Integral with life; 2. Every man a poet; 3. The oral poet and his audience; 4. Education; 5. Branches of knowledge; Part V. Patriotism and Politics: 1. Eulogies; 2. A new weapon of war; 3. Nationhood fostered; 4. Propaganda; 5. Printed ballads, poets and popsongs in politics; Part VI. Dissent and Protest: 1. Ancient China, Greece and Israel; 2. Christian and medieval; 3. The sermons, Piers Plowman and Robin Hood; 4. Ballads and broadsides; 5. The Romantics and the industrial revolution; 6. Shuttle and cage; 7. America; 8. The twentieth century; Part VII. The Printed Poem: 1. The impact of printing; 2. The age of industry; 3. Technology, science and poetry; 4. Poetry for a minority?; Part VIII. Uses of Poetry: 1. To the poet; 2. To the reader; 3. To society; 4. Poetry as therapy 5. Agenda for the arts; Bibliography; Index.