The document provides an overview of the history of English poetry from Anglo-Saxon times to the present day. It summarizes the key characteristics of each major era, including the alliterative verse of Old English poetry, the heroic epics like Beowulf in the Anglo-Saxon period, the rise of rhyme and meter in Middle English, the sonnets and metaphysical poetry of the Renaissance, the neoclassical heroic couplet in the Restoration, the rise of Romanticism and emphasis on emotion, and modern poetry's turn toward experimentation and symbolism. The eras show poetry evolving in form and increasingly grappling with social and philosophical issues.

1. ENGLISH POETRYENGLISH POETRY
Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

2. ANGLO-SAXON (OLD ENGLISH)ANGLO-SAXON (OLD ENGLISH)
ERAERA
450 - 1066450 - 1066
► much of poetry was intended to bemuch of poetry was intended to be chantedchanted byby
the scopthe scop
► bold, strong, elegiac in spirit, emphasizes sorrowbold, strong, elegiac in spirit, emphasizes sorrow
and ultimate futility of life and helplessness ofand ultimate futility of life and helplessness of
humans before the power of fatehumans before the power of fate
► composed without rhymecomposed without rhyme
► verse has four stressed syllables alternating withverse has four stressed syllables alternating with
an indeterminate number of unstressed syllablesan indeterminate number of unstressed syllables
► Structural alliterationStructural alliteration

3. BEOWULF (8BEOWULF (8thth
-10-10thth
century)century)
► Begins and ends with the funeral of a great kingBegins and ends with the funeral of a great king
► Composed against background of impendingComposed against background of impending
disasterdisaster
► Describes exploits of Scandinavian cultural hero inDescribes exploits of Scandinavian cultural hero in
destroying the monster Grendel, Grendel’s motherdestroying the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother
and a fire-breathing dragonand a fire-breathing dragon
► Beowulf is shown both as glorious hero and saviorBeowulf is shown both as glorious hero and savior
of the peopleof the people
► Old Germanic virtue of mutual loyalty betweenOld Germanic virtue of mutual loyalty between
leader and followersleader and followers
► Weakening of the sense of the ultimate power ofWeakening of the sense of the ultimate power of
arbitrary fatearbitrary fate
► Injection of Christian idea of dependence on a justInjection of Christian idea of dependence on a just
GodGod

4. A PERILOUSA PERILOUS path, it proved, he trodpath, it proved, he trod
who heinously hid, that hall within,who heinously hid, that hall within,
wealth under wall! Its watcher had killedwealth under wall! Its watcher had killed
one of a few, and the feud was avengedone of a few, and the feud was avenged
in woful fashion. Wondrous seems it,in woful fashion. Wondrous seems it,
what manner a man of might and valorwhat manner a man of might and valor
oft ends his life, when the earl no longeroft ends his life, when the earl no longer
in mead-hall may live with loving friends.in mead-hall may live with loving friends.
So Beowulf, when that barrow's wardenSo Beowulf, when that barrow's warden
he sought, and the struggle; himself knew nothe sought, and the struggle; himself knew not
in what wise he should wend from the world atin what wise he should wend from the world at
last.last.
Excerpt from Chapter XLII, BeowulfExcerpt from Chapter XLII, Beowulf

5. MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIODMIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD
1066-14851066-1485
►Poems continued to be written in forms likePoems continued to be written in forms like
the Old English alliterative, four-stress lines.the Old English alliterative, four-stress lines.
►Poetry expressing a mystical longing for,Poetry expressing a mystical longing for,
and union with, the deityand union with, the deity
►Allegory; tales of chivalry and adventure,Allegory; tales of chivalry and adventure,
chivalric idealization of love in medievalchivalric idealization of love in medieval
romanceromance
►Chaucer’s nonalliterative verseChaucer’s nonalliterative verse

6. The Knight’s Tale (lines 1-16)The Knight’s Tale (lines 1-16)
Once on a time, as old stories tell to us,Once on a time, as old stories tell to us,
There was a duke whose name was Theseus:There was a duke whose name was Theseus:
Of Athens he was lord and governor,Of Athens he was lord and governor,
And in his time was such a conquerorAnd in his time was such a conqueror
That greater was there not beneath the sun.That greater was there not beneath the sun.
Very many rich countries had he won;Very many rich countries had he won;
What with his wisdom and his chivalryWhat with his wisdom and his chivalry
He gained the realm of Femininity,He gained the realm of Femininity,
That was of old time known as Scythia.That was of old time known as Scythia.
There he married the queen, Hippolyta,There he married the queen, Hippolyta,
And brought her home with him to his country.And brought her home with him to his country.
In glory great and with great ceremony,In glory great and with great ceremony,
And, too, her younger sister, Emily.And, too, her younger sister, Emily.
And thus, in victory and with melody,And thus, in victory and with melody,
Let I this noble duke to Athens rideLet I this noble duke to Athens ride
With all his armed host marching at his side.With all his armed host marching at his side.
Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his tyme swich a conquerour,And in his tyme swich a conquerour,
55 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,
What with his wysdom and his chivalrie;What with his wysdom and his chivalrie;
He conquered al the regne of Femenye,He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
That whilom was ycleped Scithia,That whilom was ycleped Scithia,
1010 And weddede the queene Ypolita,And weddede the queene Ypolita,
And broghte hir hoom with hym in hisAnd broghte hir hoom with hym in his
contree,contree,
With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
And thus with victorie and with melodyeAnd thus with victorie and with melodye
1515 Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,
And al his hoost, in armes hym bisyde.And al his hoost, in armes hym bisyde.

7. THE RENAISSANCETHE RENAISSANCE
1485-16601485-1660
►Poetry was generally less important (earlierPoetry was generally less important (earlier
part of 16part of 16thth
century)century)
►Sir Philip Sidney inaugurated the vogue ofSir Philip Sidney inaugurated the vogue of
the sonnetthe sonnet
►Motif of poetry: the idealization of theMotif of poetry: the idealization of the
belovedbeloved

8. ►2 poetic tendencies toward end of 162 poetic tendencies toward end of 16thth
and inand in
early part of 17early part of 17thth
centuries:centuries:
a. Metaphysical poetsa. Metaphysical poets
b. Cavalier poetsb. Cavalier poets

9. Metaphysical poetsMetaphysical poets
► wit, inventiveness, and a love of elaborate stylisticwit, inventiveness, and a love of elaborate stylistic
maneuvers, subtle argumentations, paradoxicalmaneuvers, subtle argumentations, paradoxical
stylestyle
► Metaphysical concerns are the common subject ofMetaphysical concerns are the common subject of
their poetry, which investigates the world bytheir poetry, which investigates the world by
rational discussion of its phenomena rather thanrational discussion of its phenomena rather than
by intuition or mysticism.by intuition or mysticism.
► rigorous verse appeals to the reader’s intellectrigorous verse appeals to the reader’s intellect
rather than emotionsrather than emotions

10. Cavalier poetsCavalier poets
► much of their poetry is light in style, and generallymuch of their poetry is light in style, and generally
secular in subject; avoid the subject of religionsecular in subject; avoid the subject of religion
► attempt no plumbing of the depths of the soulattempt no plumbing of the depths of the soul
► treat life cavalierly and sometimes they treat poetictreat life cavalierly and sometimes they treat poetic
convention cavalierly tooconvention cavalierly too
► life is far too enjoyable for much of it to be spentlife is far too enjoyable for much of it to be spent
sweating over verses in a studysweating over verses in a study
► They use direct and colloquial languageThey use direct and colloquial language
expressive of a highly individual personality, andexpressive of a highly individual personality, and
they enjoy the casual, the amateur, thethey enjoy the casual, the amateur, the
affectionate poem.affectionate poem.

11. RESTORATION & 18RESTORATION & 18THTH
CENTURYCENTURY
1660-17891660-1789
►Writers reacted against the imaginativeWriters reacted against the imaginative
flights and the ornate or startling styles andflights and the ornate or startling styles and
forms of previous eraforms of previous era
►Admiration for Ben Jonson and his disciplesAdmiration for Ben Jonson and his disciples
►Literature in general was characterized byLiterature in general was characterized by
reason, moderation, good taste,reason, moderation, good taste,
simplicitysimplicity
►Literary period was divided into three: agesLiterary period was divided into three: ages
of Dryden, Pope, Johnsonof Dryden, Pope, Johnson

12. Age of DrydenAge of Dryden
► Poetry was characterized by easy, sociable style.Poetry was characterized by easy, sociable style.
► John Dryden’s poetry set the tone of the new ageJohn Dryden’s poetry set the tone of the new age
in achieving new clarity and establishing a self-in achieving new clarity and establishing a self-
limiting, somewhat impersonal canon oflimiting, somewhat impersonal canon of
moderation and good taste.moderation and good taste.
► Satire became the dominant poetic genre of theSatire became the dominant poetic genre of the
ageage
► His polishedHis polished heroic coupletheroic couplet became thebecame the
dominant form in longer poemsdominant form in longer poems
** Heroic couplet - refers to poems constructedHeroic couplet - refers to poems constructed
from a sequence of rhyming pairs of iambicfrom a sequence of rhyming pairs of iambic
pentameter lines. The rhyme is always masculine.pentameter lines. The rhyme is always masculine.

13. Age of PopeAge of Pope
►Deeply conservative but also playful;Deeply conservative but also playful;
developed classicism and literarydeveloped classicism and literary
conservativismconservativism
►The works cast a strange light on modernThe works cast a strange light on modern
times by viewing them through the screen oftimes by viewing them through the screen of
classical myths and formsclassical myths and forms
►Pope’s poetic lines reflect ease, harmony,Pope’s poetic lines reflect ease, harmony,
grace and the quality of precise but nevergrace and the quality of precise but never
labored expression of thoughtlabored expression of thought

14. Age of JohnsonAge of Johnson
►A respect for the good judgment of ordinaryA respect for the good judgment of ordinary
people and for standards of taste andpeople and for standards of taste and
behavior independent of social statusbehavior independent of social status
►Poets most tried to see and representPoets most tried to see and represent
naturenature, understood as the universal and, understood as the universal and
permanent elements in human experience. permanent elements in human experience.

15. THE ROMANTIC AGETHE ROMANTIC AGE
1789-18371789-1837
►Romantic age stressedRomantic age stressed emotionemotion overover
reason; subordination of reason toreason; subordination of reason to intuitionintuition
and passionand passion, the primacy of the, the primacy of the
individualindividual willwill over social norms ofover social norms of
behavior; the preference for thebehavior; the preference for the illusion ofillusion of
immediate experienceimmediate experience as opposed toas opposed to
generalized and typical experiencegeneralized and typical experience

16. ►Theme: world of simple, natural things, inTheme: world of simple, natural things, in
the countryside or among people;the countryside or among people;
preference for ordinary, everyday languagepreference for ordinary, everyday language
(Wordsworth)(Wordsworth)
►Bent on the strange, the exotic, theBent on the strange, the exotic, the
mysterious (Coleridge)mysterious (Coleridge)

17. Second generation of Romantic poets wasSecond generation of Romantic poets was
revolutionary:revolutionary:
► Satirical spirit and sense of social realism (Byron)Satirical spirit and sense of social realism (Byron)
► Shelley’s poetry expresses his 2 main ideas:Shelley’s poetry expresses his 2 main ideas:
1. external tyranny of rulers, customs or1. external tyranny of rulers, customs or
superstitions is the main enemysuperstitions is the main enemy
2. inherent human goodness will, sooner or later,2. inherent human goodness will, sooner or later,
eliminate evil from the world and usher in aneliminate evil from the world and usher in an
eternal reign of transcendent loveeternal reign of transcendent love
► Keats’ poetry is a response to sensuousKeats’ poetry is a response to sensuous
impressions, an awareness of immediateimpressions, an awareness of immediate
sensationsensation

18. THE VICTORIAN ERATHE VICTORIAN ERA
1837-19011837-1901
►Notable poets were absorbed in socialNotable poets were absorbed in social
issuesissues
►Tennyson’s poetry: problems of religiousTennyson’s poetry: problems of religious
faith, social change and political powerfaith, social change and political power
►Browning’s poetry: intellectuality andBrowning’s poetry: intellectuality and
bracing harshnessbracing harshness
►Arnold’s poetry: sorrowful, disillusionedArnold’s poetry: sorrowful, disillusioned
pessimism over the human plight in rapidlypessimism over the human plight in rapidly
changing timeschanging times

19. 2020thth
century to the presentcentury to the present
Two notable poets of the modern periodTwo notable poets of the modern period
combined tradition and experiment:combined tradition and experiment:
►Yeats - more traditional; developed anYeats - more traditional; developed an
honest, profound and rich poetic idiom.honest, profound and rich poetic idiom.
►Eliot – expressed despair over the sterility ofEliot – expressed despair over the sterility of
modern life through a mass of symbolicmodern life through a mass of symbolic
associations with legendary and historicalassociations with legendary and historical
eventsevents

20. Successive generations of poets:Successive generations of poets:
►Used private or esoteric symbolism (poetryUsed private or esoteric symbolism (poetry
was barely intelligible to any but a smallwas barely intelligible to any but a small
group of readers)group of readers)
►Characterized by experimentalismCharacterized by experimentalism
►The Movement: poets sought to appeal toThe Movement: poets sought to appeal to
the common reader with a nonsentimentalthe common reader with a nonsentimental
poetry of the everyday, written in colloquialpoetry of the everyday, written in colloquial
languagelanguage