This document discusses romantic poetry and provides context about poets from the romantic era in England. It defines what a poem is, noting that poems use rhythm, imagery, and symbolism to express feelings and ideas. The document explains that poetry is one of the oldest forms of literary expression. It then discusses some romantic poets like William Blake, William Wordsworth, and Charlotte Smith. These romantic poets used nature in their writing not just to describe the natural world but to convey strong emotions.

1. Romantic poetry
BY M . MKHIZE

2. WHAT IS A POEM?
POEM: A piece of writing or an oral
composition, often with a metrical and
rhyme structure. In a Poem, the
expression of feelings and ideas is
typically given intensity or flavour by the
use of distinguishing diction, rhythm,
imagery and symbolism.

3. CONT…
 POET: The act of writing poetry is very old. Perhaps it is
the one of the oldest forms of literary expression.
 Thousands of years ago, in Latin (spoken in the ancient
Roman Empire), poēta meant: “a writer of verse, poet,
playwright, person of great skill” (according to the
playwright, Plautus).
 In an even older literary culture, Ancient Greece, the
verb poeion (ποιεῖν) means to create.

4. Romantic Poets
Left: William Blake;
William Wordsworth;
Centre: Charlotte Smith
Right: Elizabeth Acton; Robert
Burns

5. These poets represent the Romantic Era
in English poetry –
– that is, poetry written in English.
But what did these poets write about? NATURE:
They did not
just describe
trees, lakes,
rivers and
flowers
THE ROMANTIC
POETS’ USE OF
NATURE:
They used natural
imagery to express
strong feelings

6. REFERENCE LIST
Dr J. V. Starfield, 2016.
Romantic Poetry, Lecture 1. University of Johannesburg:
English Department