The Blue Poetry Book

Introduction to The Blue Poetry Book

The Blue Poetry Book is a collection of poems, edited by Andrew Lang, which was first published in 1891. The book is part of Lang’s series of color-coded books, which includes The Red Fairy Book and The Green Fairy Book. The Blue Poetry Book includes poems from a variety of poets, including Shakespeare, Tennyson, Wordsworth, and Keats, as well as lesser-known poets. The purpose of the book is to introduce children and young people to good poetry that is suitable for them.

Selection of Poems in The Blue Poetry Book

The selection of poems in The Blue Poetry Book is excellent. Lang has chosen poems that are both beautiful and accessible for young readers. The book includes a range of poems, from ballads to sonnets, and from long epic poems to short lyrical pieces. The poems are organize thematically, with sections on love, nature, adventure, and more. Each section includes an introduction by Lang, which provides some context for the poems and helps readers understand their significance.

Language and Style

The language and style of the poems in The Blue Poetry Book are varied, reflecting the different periods and styles of the poets. Lang has chosen poems that are easy to understand, even for young readers, but that also have depth and richness of meaning. Some of the poems, such as Wordsworth’s “Daffodils” and Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale,” are well-known for their beautiful imagery and evocative language. Others, such as “The Minstrel Boy” by Thomas Moore, are more straightforward but still have a powerful emotional impact. Overall, Lang has done an excellent job of selecting poems that are both beautiful and accessible.

Themes

The themes in The Blue Poetry Book are varied and reflect the interests and concerns of young readers. Love is a major theme in the book, with poems about romance, courtship, and marriage. The section on nature includes poems about the beauty of the natural world, as well as poems about the destructive power of nature, such as Robert Browning’s “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” The section on adventure includes poems about brave knights, heroic deeds, and daring exploits. There are also sections on childhood, friendship, and patriotism. The variety of themes in the book ensures that there is something for every reader.

Illustrations

The Blue Poetry Book is beautifully illustrate, with black and white drawings by H. J. Ford. The illustrations add to the appeal of the book and help bring the poems to life. They are not overly detail, but they capture the mood and tone of the poems. The illustrations also help break up the text and make the book more visually appealing.

Audience

The Blue Poetry Book is an excellent introduction to poetry for young readers. The poems are easy to understand and are written in a style that will appeal to children and young people. The book is suitable for readers of all ages, but it is particularly well-suite to children and young people who are just starting to develop an interest in poetry. The book is also a good resource for teachers and parents who want to introduce their children to poetry.

Conclusion

The Blue Poetry Book is an excellent collection of poems for children and young people. Andrew Lang has do an excellent job of selecting poems that are both beautiful and accessible, and the book is well-organize thematically. The illustrations add to the appeal of the book, and the language and style of the poems are varied and interesting. The book is suitable for readers of all ages but is particularly well-suite to children and young people who are just starting to develop an interest in poetry.