How long does it take to read Sound and Sense?
an introduction to poetry
Sound and Sense by Laurence Perrine takes about 6 hours 20 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.
About 6 hours 20 minutes
A weekend read
First published 1956. 345 pages, about 94,875 words.
13 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 10 hours 33 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 6 hours 20 minutes |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 3 hours 57 minutes |
The page count is the median across 11 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
Sound and Sense is Laurence Perrine's classic introduction to reading, understanding, and appreciating poetry. Widely used in classrooms for decades, the book teaches readers how poems create meaning through both sense (what the poem says) and sound (how the poem uses rhythm, imagery, structure, and musical devices). Perrine breaks down poetry into clear, approachable concepts, helping readers learn to: Recognize how poetic language differs from ordinary speech: Understanding imagery, figurative language, symbolism, and tone: Analyze rhythm, meter, rhyme, and other sound devices: Interpret poems thoughtfully without over-or under-reading: Appreciate how meaning and music work together to create emotional impact: The book blends explanation, examples, and guided analysis, making it a foundational text for students, teachers, and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of how poetry works.
Subjects: American poetry, Collections, English poetry, Poetics, Poetry, History and criticism
