Table of contents |
2 The Medieval Mind 3 Renaissance Poetry 4 Restoration and 18th century 5 The Romantic Age 6 Victorian Poetry 7 World War I 8 Modern Poets |
Early Poets
The English renaissance followed the continental renaissance by several hundred years, but when it finally arrived, it was with a vengeance. This period saw the flowering especially of English drama, but reawakened an interest in the works of classical antiquity, again including Virgil, as well as a number of Greek and Latin philosophers.
In poetry, the Romantic movement emphasized the creative expression of the individual and the need to find and formulate new forms of expression. William Wordsworth, whose key work is The Prelude, was perhaps the prime mover in these endeavors for a number of years. In this, he was closely rivalled by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was first Wordsworth's mentor but soon his friend and close companion. Together, the two published Lyrical Ballads, which attempted to employ rustic language to typify its subject of common, everyday occurrences. Nevertheless, the collection opened with Coleridge's almost-epic, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
The Medieval Mind
Renaissance Poetry
Restoration and 18th century
The Romantic Age
Victorian Poetry
World War I
Modern Poets
Reference:
See also English literature.