The Rise and Fall of Meter

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Exploring the evolution of English poetic meter from the late eighteenth century to post-World War I, this work delves into how meter reflects Victorian England's struggles with national identity, class, and education. It highlights the contributions of poets like Gerard Manley Hopkins and Robert Bridges, who navigated their cultural landscape through meter, while others like George Saintsbury critiqued the dominance of specific metrical forms. By examining this complex history, the book reveals the interplay between poetic form and English national culture, reshaping our understanding of modernist poetry.