E-Book Overview
Translated by G. S. Smith and Marina Tarlinskaja. Edited by G. H. Smith with Leofranc Holford-Strevens. When we read a poem composed in blank iambic pentameter, it reminds us of Shakespeare. When we read a poem composed in long lines without rhyme or rhythm, we think of Whitman. In this ground-breaking study of the history of European versification, M. L. Gasparov shows how such chains of association link the poetry of numerous languages and diverse ages. Examining poetry written in 30 languages (from Irish to Belorussian) and over several millenia (from classical Latin and Greek to the experiments of the contemporary avant-garde), the book traces the ways in which the poetry of English, French, Russian, Greek and other European languages has developed from a single common Indo-European source. The account is liberally illustrated with verse examples, both in their original languages and in translation.
E-Book Content
When we read a poem composed in blank iambic pentameter, it reminds us of Shakespeare. When we read a poem composed in long lines without rhyme or rhythm, we think of Whitman. In this ground-breaking'Study of the history of European versification, M. L. Gasparov shows how such chains of association link the poetry of numerous languages and diverse ages. Examining poetry written in 3 0 languages (from Irish to Belorussian) and over several millenia (from classical Latin and Greek to the experiments of the contemporary avant-garde), the book traces the ways in which the poetry of English, French, Russian, Greek and other European languages has developed from a single common Indo-European source. The account is liberally illustrated with verse examples, both in their original languages and in translation. Academician M. L. Gasparov is Senior Research Fellow at the Academic Institute of the Russian Language, Moscow, and holder of the State Prize of The Russian Federation. G. S. Smith is Professor of Russian at Oxford University, and Fellow of New College. Marina Tarlinskaja is a Research Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle. A History of European Versification A H I S T O R Y OF EUROPEAN VERSIFICATIO N M. L. G A S P A R OV TRANSLATED BY G . S. S M I T H AND M ARINA T A R L IN S K A JA EDITED BY G . S. S M IT H WITH L E O F R A N C H O L F O R D -S T R E V E N S CLAREN D O N PRESS 1996 · O XFO RD . Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford 0x2 6dp- Qxford -New York Athens Auckland Bangkok Bombay Calcutta Cape Town Dar es Salaam Delhi Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madras Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi Paris Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto and associated companies in Berlin Ibadan Oxford is a trade mark of Oxford University Press Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © M . L Gasparov iy y 6 English translation © G. S. Smith and Marina Tarlinskaja iy y 6 Editorial matter © G. S. Smith iy y 6 A ll rights reserved. No part o f this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in anyform or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press. Within the UK, exceptions are allowed in respect o f anyfa ir dealingfo r the purpose of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, iy8 8, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms o f the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms and in other countries should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Gasparov, M