Storytelling elements

[Gwenzilla]

On Sun, 7 Jan 1996, Louise Agnes Cain wrote:

> Can someone direct me to a book/subject/phamplet which discusses the 
> forms of poetry used in Ireland, Scotland and Wales?
> 
Well, this may not be the perfect answer to your query, but in my 
opinion, the very best book on poetic forms out there, period, is Miller 
Williams' _Patterns of Poetry_, Louisiana State University Press, 1986, 
ISBN 0-8071-1330-1. It doesn't postulate on how poetic forms in Ireland, 
Scotland and Wales developed, but it does list many of the traditional 
Celtic forms, with examples, and attempts to show how the form might have 
been used. It's subtitled "An Encyclopedia of Forms," and it's been one 
of the little books I keep beside my desk and just can't do without since 
I had to use it for a college class years ago. The book pays more 
attention to the Welsh forms than Irish and Scottish, and you will find 
discussion of Italian forms and some French forms as well as the standard 
English forms. Overall, it's a good reference book with a lot of fine 
examples. Hope this helps.

Blessings and music,
Gwen

 Gwen Knighton            gwynfyd at max.tiac.net            (bard for hire)
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|   I have news for you; The stag bells, winter snows, summer has gone.  | 
|   Wind high and cold, the sun low, short its course, the sea running   |
|   high. Deep red the bracken, its shape is lost; the wild goose has    |
|   raised its accustomed cry. Cold has seized the blackbirds' wings;    |
|         Season of ice, this is my news. (Ireland, 9th century)         |
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