THE EVOLUTION OF ENGLISH POETRY: FROM CHAUCER TO THE ROMANTIC ERA

Abstract

The trajectory of English poetry from the medieval period to the Romantic age 
demonstrates profound transformations in style, form, and thematic focus. Beginning 
with Geoffrey Chaucer, whose Canterbury Tales exemplifies early narrative ingenuity 
and lyrical experimentation, English poetry laid the groundwork for exploring human 
nature, social dynamics, and ethical reflection. During the Renaissance, poets such as 
Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare expanded formal techniques, rhyme 
schemes, and classical influences, enriching poetic expression. The Neoclassical 
period, represented by figures like Alexander Pope and John Dryden, emphasized 
rationality, structure, and societal ideals. In contrast, the Romantic era heralded a focus 
on personal emotion, imagination, and a profound connection with nature, with poets 
such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley 
exemplifying this shift. This study examines how historical, cultural, and intellectual 
developments shaped the evolution of English poetry, demonstrating the interplay 
between societal change and artistic innovation that underpins the enduring richness of 
the English literary tradition.