Volume : 3, Issue : 4, April - 2014

What is Poetry?

Prabal Jagadeesh Roddannavar

Abstract :

It is an interesting thing that all of us write poetry but most of us do not know how to define it comprehensively and satisfactorily. As Prof G. Basappa observes, when St. Augustine was asked to define poetry, he simply evaded to define it by saying, “if not asked I know, if you ask me I know not.” (p. 16) Yet, some working definition is necessary for understanding the nature of poetry, its composition and function.