Lectures on Poetry Read in the Schools of Natural Philosophy at Oxford

"Lectures on Poetry" by Joseph Trapp is a collection of academic talks from the 1700s that looks at all aspects of poetry focusing on its importance and skill. Trapp opens by defining poetry as something worthy of study, recognizing the many layers of its structure like history, ideas, and beauty. He thinks poetry imitates nature and human feelings, is linked to being good, and is from something divine. He hints that poetry teaches lessons and makes people happy, a concept the series of lectures will be based on.