The Rattle Bag: An Anthology of Poetry

Bys: Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney

Book Overview

The Rattle Bag is an anthology of poetry (mostly in English but occasionally in translation) for general readers and students of all ages and backgrounds. These poems have been selected by the simple yet telling criteria that they are the personal favorites of the editors, themselves two of contemporary literature's leading poets. Moreover, Heaney and Hughes have elected to list their favorites not by theme or by author but simply by title (or by first line, when no title is given). As they explain in their Introduction: "We hope that our decision to impose an arbitrary alphabetical order allows the contents [of this book] to discover themselves as we ourselves gradually discovered them - each poem full of its singular appeal, transmitting its own signals, taking its chances in a big, voluble world." With undisputed masterpieces and rare discoveries, with both classics and surprises galore, The Rattle Bag includes the work of such key poets as William Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Lewis Carroll, Dylan Thomas, Wallace Stevens, Elizabeth Bishop, and Sylvia Plath among its hundreds of poems. A helpful Glossary as well as an Index of Poets and Works are offered at the conclusion of this hefty, unorthodox, diverse, inspired, and inspiring collection of poetry.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 057111976X
• ISBN13: 9780571119769
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 1.1" x 5.3"
• Age Range: 8 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 3 and higher

Customer Reviews

My favorite book!

I picked this anthology up at a local bookstore without any expectations; I just hoped to get more exposure to poetry in general. Once I started reading this, though, I couldn't put it down. The more random organization makes this a truly exciting read, as you never know what to expect from poem to poem (until you're familiar with all the poets). I discovered multiple new favorite poets from this anthology, which has sent me on a never-ending cascade of poetry chasing. I can't wait to re-read this!

Quite a valid anthology

In short: I have always loved this book, and I return to it often. The editors have assembled a wondrous array of world poems that , IMHO, succeed in meeting the goal of the text: To in some way present the joy of poetry to young people. I happen to be a non-poet in my 50's and The Rattle Bag is an ongoing source of joy in my life, because it is a thoughtful and vibrant collection. In long[er]: Mssrs. Hughes and Heaney are who they are, and the collection here certainly makes some sort of statement about their own views of poetry as it might be encountered by young people. This collection reminds me of Harry Smith's Folkways Anthology of Folk Music... each individual piece is valid in its own way, but the collection adds up to more than the sum of its parts. On the other side: the editors chose to present the poems in order, sorted alphabetically by title, which tends to minimize any sense of editorializing. In the end, it's the kind of anthology that can be opened to any page and enjoyed for any length of time, and it'll move anybody regardless of age.

A Wonder

This collection is a masterpiece, and its companion volume the School Bag is every bit as good. While the collection includes many classics, the various obsessions of the editors have led them to uncover works that you are unlikely to have read before. I return to this anthology again and again.

Well done

A fascinating collection, more useful for insights into the favorites of two of the more important poets of the late 20th century than for anything else. While bowing down to no old chestnuts out of misplaced respect, the collection also suffers from a preferance for poets from Ireland and the United Kingdom and some choices seemingly inspired by multi-culturalism and little else. Nonetheless, the collection does have some wonderful pieces that would be hard to find on one's own, as well as a fantastic tribute to Shakespeare by including several passages from his plays and none of the sonnets.