Preface
Part I. The Nature of Poetry: 1. The deep roots of speech
2. Rhythm
3. Symbolising
Part II. In the Beginning: 1. Dance
2. The earliest poetry
3. Work songs
4. Mnemonics
Part III. Rites, Bards, Ballads: 1. Praise, propitiation, magic
2. Rites, myths and epics
3. Living books
4. Ballad and folk song
Part IV. Maid of All Work: 1. Integral with life
2. Every man a poet
3. The oral poet and his audience
4. Education
5. Branches of knowledge
Part V. Patriotism and Politics: 1. Eulogies
2. A new weapon of war
3. Nationhood fostered
4. Propaganda
5. Printed ballads, poets and popsongs in politics
Part VI. Dissent and Protest: 1. Ancient China, Greece and Israel
2. Christian and medieval
3. The sermons, Piers Plowman and Robin Hood
4. Ballads and broadsides
5. The Romantics and the industrial revolution
6. Shuttle and cage
7. America
8. The twentieth century
Part VII. The Printed Poem: 1. The impact of printing
2. The age of industry
3. Technology, science and poetry
4. Poetry for a minority?
Part VIII. Uses of Poetry: 1. To the poet
2. To the reader
3. To society
4. Poetry as therapy 5. Agenda for the arts
Bibliography
Index.

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