William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Though he is most renowned for his plays, Shakespeare’s poetry also remains to be popular. He wrote sonnets throughout his career for a private readership. He also wrote two long narrative poems, which were published in the 1590s, and … Read more
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788 – 1824), commonly known as just Lord Byron, was a British poet. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic Movement in early 19th century England. Byron first achieved fame with the publication of the first two cantos of his narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in … Read more
A sonnet is a poem of 14 lines usually written in iambic pentameter and traditionally associated with the theme of love. 13th century Italian poet Giacomo da Lentini is credited with the invention of the sonnet. The most influential early sonneteer was Italian scholar Petrarch. The Petrarchan Sonnet consists of an 8-line octave, which usually … Read more
William Blake (1757 – 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker, who remained largely unknown during his lifetime but rose to prominence after his death and is now considered a highly influential figure in the history of poetry and one of the greatest artists in Britain’s history. Blake’s most renowned work in poetry is … Read more
Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (1904 – 1973), known by his pen name Pablo Neruda, was a Chilean poet and politician. He became known as a poet when he was only 10 years old and when he was 19, his poetry collection Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair made him a household name … Read more
Rudyard Kipling (1865 – 1936) was an English author who wrote some of the most well known short stories, novels and poems. He worked in India for seven years from 1882 to 1889, and the influence of his time in the east can be seen in many of his works. Kipling’s clarity of style, his … Read more
Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888 – 1965) was a British writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for “his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry”. He is known for infusing poetry with high intellectualism and is regarded by many as the most erudite poet of his time in the English language. Born in … Read more
Originally the term elegy was used to describe any verse written in elegiac couplets, a poetic form used by ancient Greek poets. At that time, elegies covered a wide range of subject matter and were not necessarily regarding death. With time, the term was used for a poem which told mournful experiences; and according to … Read more
William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939) was a leading figure of 20th century literature who remains Ireland’s most famous poet. In 1889, Yeats met Maud Gonne, an English-born Irish revolutionary, suffragette and actress. Yeats fell deeply in love with her but she turned down at least four marriage proposals from him; and instead married Major … Read more
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) was an English writer who is considered one of the greatest poets in the English language. Romanticism was a cultural movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and lasted for around 50 years. It focused on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of the past … Read more