Poetic diction: A study of eighteenth century verse

This study invites listeners to reconsider the often‑dismissed poetry of the eighteenth century, challenging the lingering label of an “age of prose and reason.” By tracing how critics from Wordsworth to Arnold shaped our perception, the author reveals how that era’s verse was both product and protest of its cultural moment. The narrative balances scholarly insight with clear, conversational explanations, making the complexities of literary history feel approachable.

Divided into concise chapters, the book examines everything from the theory of diction itself to specific devices such as Latinisms, archaic forms, compound epithets, and personification. Each section draws on vivid examples that illustrate how poets crafted a language distinct from everyday speech while still enriching it. Listeners will come away with a refreshed appreciation for the nuanced artistry that defined eighteenth‑century verse and an understanding of why its “poetic diction” deserves a second look.