"Emblem poem" and OED2 -- definition and dates?

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Sun Feb 5 17:01:09 UTC 2006


 From another list:

"emblem poem - A type of shaped poem which used the words to create a
picture related to the words in the poem or to extend or reinforce
its meaning. The term was in use in the 17th Century. (See also
pattern poetry, shaped poems, concrete poetry)"

<http://www.poetrykit.org/pkl/lexicon/E.htm>http://www.poetrykit.org/pkl/lexicon/E.htm

OED2 has emblem poem 1963-, and emblem book 1870-.  It also does not
have the above meaning, but only:

6. attrib. emblem book, a book containing drawings with accompanying
interpretations of their allegorical meaning; so emblem poem, writer, etc.

Joel

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



More information about the Ads-l mailing list