Seeks to demonstrate that the study of English poetry is enriched by the insights of modern linguistic analysis, and that linguistic and critical disciplines are not separate but complementary. Examining a wide range of poetry, Professor Leech considers many aspects of poetic style, including the language of past and present, creative language, poetic licence, repetition, sound, metre, context and ambiguity.

Foreword
Preface
Introduction
1. Poetry and the Language of past and present. Examples for discussion
2. The Creative use of Language. Examples for discussion
3. Variations of Poetic Licence. Examples for discussion
4. Foregrounding and Interpretation. Examples for discussion
5. Verbal Repetition. Examples for discussion
6. Patterns of Sound. Examples for discussion
7. Metre. Examples for discussion
8. The Irrational in Poetry. Examples for discussion
9. Figurative Language. Examples for discussion
10. Honest Deceptions. Examples for discussion
11. Implications of context. Examples for discussion
12. Ambiguity and Indeterminacy. Example for discussion
Conclusion
Suggestions for further reading
General Index
Index of sources of examples for discussion