Books:
* The Comic Sense of Henry James (1960): His first book, a close examination of James's use of humor and satire.
* The Poetry of John Ashbery (1970): A groundbreaking analysis of the work of the contemporary poet.
* The Revolution in Poetics (1969): A major study of modern American poetry, focusing on the impact of the avant-garde on poetic forms and language.
* The Tone of Theory (1981): An influential exploration of the relationship between literary theory and critical practice.
* Beyond the Revolution in Poetics (1983): A continuation of his earlier work, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of modern poetics.
* The Theatricality of Criticism (1990): A critical examination of the role of performance and theatricality in literary criticism.
* Against Literature (1991): A provocative defense of the importance of literary experience over literary theory.
* The Literary Imagination (1992): A collection of essays on a range of literary topics.
* The Rhetoric of Literary History (2002): A study of the ways in which literary history is constructed.
* The Art of Literary Criticism (2005): A guide to the practice of literary criticism.
Other works:
* He also edited several important anthologies, including The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism and The Modern Tradition: A Guide to the Literature of Our Time.
* His essays and reviews have been published in numerous journals and periodicals, including The New York Times, The New Republic, and The Nation.
Poisel's work is characterized by its wit, erudition, and willingness to challenge conventional thinking. He was a major figure in American literary criticism, and his work continues to be influential today.