[Fragile_Illusions]

I was just wondering how you, personally, read your way through collections of poems. I've just found my Sylvia Plath anthology, so that's where this question's come from.

I tend to go through and pick out the poems with names that interest me most. (Probably not the best method )

[MoreTeaVicar?]

(Original post by Fragile_Illusions)
I was just wondering how you, personally, read your way through collections of poems. I've just found my Sylvia Plath anthology, so that's where this question's come from.

I tend to go through and pick out the poems with names that interest me most. (Probably not the best method )

Interesting question.

It depends what the anthology is, really. If it's a poet that I'm familiar with, Rupert Brooke for example, then I'll go to the ones that I like the most, or the ones that sound most interesting. If it's a collection of poems by various authors then I make myself open the book at a random point and read the poem on that page. By doing that I've 'discovered' some really great poetry and found a liking for a style or poet that previously I hadn't given much thought.

By the way - good choice with the Sylvia Plath. I admire her so much.

[JCC-MGS]

I start at the beginning and read through to the end. Anthologies are arranged in a certain order for a reason (generally)

[Cinnabar]

I tend to (rightly or wrongly) treat anthologies as a literary buffet, dipping into them here and there, reading whatever takes my fancy at that moment.

For me, poetry is something to be eaten in small morsels - too much at one time and I feel I don't appreciate it to its entirety.

[hr30]

I'm a cover to cover reader

[ArcadiaHouse]

I'll usually read the most famous/well-known poems first then dip in and out of it until I'm done. If I've never heard of the poet before, just cover to cover.

[ehc]

It's not the most logical or useful way of doing it, but the one that looks most visually appealing on a page, or the shortest.
I do get round to reading all of them, but I just tend to take the lazy option first.

[Nia228]

Well, if its a collection that includes writers who I particularly enjoy - then I read those poems first. Otherwise I tend to go about them based on my mood/ what rhyme structure i'm interested in at that point in time.

If its a collection with only one poet (like Keats) then I would start at the beginning because it is probably ordered the way it is for a reason.

[Allie J]

I read all books cover to cover. However, if I've read the poems before and I can't be bothered to read them all, I'll go to a particular one. I tend to read a maximum of three poems in one go (if they are a page or less - longer and I'll just read maybe one) so that I can fully appreciate them.