I think that an important point to note is that the distinction is often not very material at all.
Why would you read a poem? Probably in the hope that it is interesting / striking / moving / enjoyable / that you will learn something / gain something / .
Why would you read a piece of prose? Probably for the same reasons, more or less.
Given this, most of the time you usually shouldn't fuss too much about whether a piece of writing is prose or poetry. Your focus, as an intelligent reader, should be understanding it, absorbing it, interpreting it - hopefully enjoying it, if it is a good piece. And if it is a good piece, does it really matter whether it is more correctly classified as prose or poetry?
3 comments:
I think that an important point to note is that the distinction is often not very material at all.
Why would you read a poem? Probably in the hope that it is interesting / striking / moving / enjoyable / that you will learn something / gain something / .
Why would you read a piece of prose? Probably for the same reasons, more or less.
Given this, most of the time you usually shouldn't fuss too much about whether a piece of writing is prose or poetry. Your focus, as an intelligent reader, should be understanding it, absorbing it, interpreting it - hopefully enjoying it, if it is a good piece. And if it is a good piece, does it really matter whether it is more correctly classified as prose or poetry?
I'm lost by it all. I promise to read more!
Hello Fred,
Nice of you to drop by.
By the way, I really love your blog. Keep writing. :)
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