lives of the poets, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “lives of the poets, the” mean?
The title of a famous biographical and critical work by Samuel Johnson, comprising short biographies of 52 poets from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of a famous biographical and critical work by Samuel Johnson, comprising short biographies of 52 poets from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The phrase can also refer generically to biographical works or studies about the lives of poets, modeled after Johnson's work. It often implies a combination of biography and literary criticism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a well-known canonical work, more likely referenced in literary contexts. In American English, recognition may be more limited to advanced literature students and scholars.
Connotations
British: Canonical, foundational, authoritative. American: Scholarly, niche, historical.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; higher in British academic literary circles.
Grammar
How to Use “lives of the poets, the” in a Sentence
[Author]'s 'The Lives of the Poets'a study modeled on 'The Lives of the Poets'to consult 'The Lives of the Poets'Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Referenced in literary criticism, biography studies, and 18th-century literature courses.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of literary discussion.
Technical
A specific title in bibliographic references.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lives of the poets, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lives of the poets, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lives of the poets, the”
- Incorrect article order: 'Lives of the Poets, The' is the formal citation form; in prose, it's 'The Lives of the Poets'.
- Using lowercase for 'Lives' when referring to the title.
- Pronouncing 'lives' as /laɪvz/ (verb) instead of /lɪvz/ (noun, BrE) when referring to the title in a British context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was originally published in ten volumes between 1779 and 1781, but is now commonly referred to as a single work.
In British English, it is traditionally /lɪvz/ (as in 'many lives'). In American English, it is commonly /laɪvz/ (as in 'he lives'), though both pronunciations are understood.
Yes, but it would likely be an intentional allusion to Johnson's work, suggesting a similar approach. A more generic title would be 'Lives of the Modern Poets' or similar.
In alphabetised bibliographies (like library catalogues), the initial article 'The' is often moved to the end for sorting purposes, resulting in the citation form 'Lives of the Poets, The'.
The title of a famous biographical and critical work by Samuel Johnson, comprising short biographies of 52 poets from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Lives of the poets, the is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Johnsonian judgment (derived from his critical style in the Lives)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Samuel Johnson LIVED to write about the LIVES of POETS.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A NARRATIVE (the work structures lives as stories to be judged).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary subject of Johnson's 'The Lives of the Poets'?