Specifically designed for survey and genre courses, this anthology provides comprehensive coverage of the English poetry tradition, ranging chronologically from Beowulf to recent works by Margaret Atwood and Seamus Heaney. The editors have chosen poems that best reflect their period and genre, and while focusing on the finest work by major poets, their choice includes selective treatment of minor figures.

An ideal text for both students and teachers, the volume also contains a historical introduction by M. L. Rosenthal, concise headnotes on each author, and an extended essay on prosody by Sally Gall