Notable PoetsContains a glossary of poetic terms.
For best results search poetic form: form name
ex. poetic form: sestina
Many entries have links to authors and examples of this form of poetry
There are many types of poetry sites including elementary and juvenile ones. Stay away from .k-12 domains.
* Use tabs to access academic journals and (reference) books
* Use labels to the right of each article to identify criticism.
* Ignore plot summaries and book reviews.
*Be sure to check "full text articles"
American Poetry of the 20th Century by
This book offers contextual material relating to over thirty poems written by Americans over the last century. It is of note that the poems do not themselves appear in the text. Each entry offers some or all of the following context information: biographical, societal, scientific and technological, religious, and historical. The entries also begin with a general, "content synopsis" section. Each entry contains discussion questions and a list of essay ideas. Some of the poems discussed are, Frost's Birches, Giovanni's My House, Wallace Steven's Sunday Morning, and Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California. The text offers illustrations and photographs of several of the poets.
Critical Survey of Poetry: American Poets by
Contains 408 articles on some of America's best-loved poets, including Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound, E.E. Cummings and Gwendolyn Brooks. New poets covered include Sherman Alexie, Sandra Cisneros, Alberto Rios and Shel Silverstein.
Critical Survey of Poetry: Contemporary Poets by
A two-volume set that profiles 200 major poets throughout history and the world, and includes an analysis of their significant individual poems or collections.
Magill's Survey of World Literature by
Offers profiles of major writers outside the United States from all time periods, accompanied by analysis of their significant titles of fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction.
Notable African American Writers, Second Edition by
Provides a three volume set that examines African Americans who wrote centuries ago, as well as modern storytellers whose work reflects the changing global landscape, providing an overview and more in-depth context to the stories of over 100 acclaimed African American authors.
Notable American Women Writers by
Provides a two volume set that examines hundreds of American women writers, from Colonial America to present day, concentrating on women writers of literature, including novels, short stories, poetry, and drama.
Poetry for Students by
Provides analysis of the most frequently studied poems in literature courses. Contains author biography (if attributed), poem text, poem summary, themes, style, historical context, critical overview, and criticism.
Poets American and British by
Provides information on the lives and works of classic poets. Entries include biographical information, critical analysis, and bibliographies of key primary and secondary works.
World Poets by
Includes articles on numerous poets from around the world, accompanied by essays on various genres and schools of poetry.
Poetry and Drama by
Describes many of the most potent elements of language, beyond the realm of prose, and invoke the power of cadence, lyricism, and drama to recount all aspects of the human condition.