Survey of Poetry Authors and their Unique Styles
1. William Shakespeare Shakespeare wrote his plays in a style called blank verse, which is a pattern of
lines without rhyme. He used iambic pentameter, a specific rhythm. Although most of his plays
followed this pattern, there are parts with different types of poetry or plain prose. Shakespeare's
sonnets also used iambic pentameter, except for Sonnet 145, which used iambic tetrameter. His
writing style and choice of rhythm were common in his era, influenced by other writings of the time.
2. Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson writes in a unique way that can be puzzling for some. Two things
that make her stand out are her use of capital letters and dashes in poems. She uses dashes to
highlight things, show missing words, or replace commas and periods. Emily also capitalizes nouns
without a clear reason. She skips helping verbs and connecting words, and her pronouns can be
unclear. Despite these quirks, she creates impressive effects by compressing language. Dickinson, who
read Webster's Dictionary in isolation, uses unusual words in her poems. She employs various types of
rhyme sparingly, making her distinct from other poets of her time.
3. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou's writing is difficult to categorize because she didn't stick to a specific
style or rhyming scheme. In many of her poems, she used a simplified form of English called Black
Secular, along with metaphors related to slavery. She employed a call and response format, creating
verbal interaction with the reader. Poems like 'Still, I Rise' and 'Sepia Fashion Show' protested the
government's ban on teaching Black Secular in schools and highlighted existing racism in America.
Some argue that her poems, including 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' and 'Phenomenal Women,'
follow a blues-based model with verses and a repeated "chorus," reflecting her likely influence from
blues music, a genre born from the expression of grief and storytelling by slaves.
4. Robert Frost Robert Frost wrote in a blend of old-fashioned 19th-century style and modern 20th-
century techniques. He was a contemporary poet who combined traditional meter with New England
language. As he aged, his writing became more abstract, influenced by his religious and political
views. Frost included personal details in his poems, often depicting everyday life in New England. His
love for New Hampshire is clear in many poems, considering it one of the best states. Critics attribute
his regionalism to his realistic approach rather than political beliefs. Frost, a highly renowned poet,
received four Pulitzer Prizes. He stayed true to his unique style, avoiding trends, and expressed the
world in simple detail without experimental techniques.
5. Langston Hughes Hughes, in his poems, used the music, rhythm, and images of his African-
American heritage. He employed jazz and blues styles to shape his poems, differing from the goals of
the typical black middle-class. Criticizing assimilation and skin-color prejudices, he depicted the "low-
life" with themes of loneliness, despair, and humor. Popular poems like "The Blues," "Still Here," and
others reflect the influence of jazz and blues, showcasing his unique style
6. John Keats Keats uses expressive language in his poems, creating a rich and musical style. He
incorporates various poetic tools like alliteration, metaphors, and personification to build rhythm.
Some of his famous works include "Ode on Melancholy," "Ode on a Grecian Urn," "Ode to Autumn,"
and others. His popular sonnets include "Bright Stars! Would I were steadfast as Thou Art" and "When
I have Fears that I may Cease to be."
7. Lord Byron Lord Byron played a key role in the Romantic Movement, bringing unique ideas about
life and nature to literature. While his early work, "Fugitive Pieces," faced criticism, his later pieces,
like "The Prisoner of Chillon" and "Darkness," gained global acclaim for discussing reality without
embellishments. He skillfully used various literary techniques in his diverse works to explore themes
of love and nature.
8. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry is known for expressing his feelings and thoughts uniquely in
his writing. Instead of using simple words, he liked to play with different styles like free verse and
hexameter. His published works show his versatility, ranging from epic poems to sonnets. In his early
works, he focused on teaching moral lessons, but later on, he explored religious beliefs and cultural
values. Henry used allegory and various literary elements like imagery, similes, metaphors, and sound
devices. His writings often touch on themes like humanity and nature, life and death, art and culture,
and the struggles of life.
9. Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson had a successful writing career influenced by his early
exposure to literature. His works reflect his unique philosophy centered around nature, literature, and
religion, particularly in transcendentalist writings. Unlike British Romanticism, American
transcendentalism emphasized the connection between nature, the divine, and humanity. Emerson's
philosophical writings focus on self-reliance, the relationship between man and God, and a positive
outlook. Despite his poetry being considered stern and instructive, it is acclaimed for its use of motifs,
symbolism, imagery, and allusions. The common themes in his writings include spirituality, nature,
individualism, originality versus imitation, and the philosophy of life.
10.Walt Whitman After starting as a journalist and later becoming a poet, he contributed significantly
to literature. Despite facing life challenges, he earned a prominent spot among great poets due to his
clear style and thoughtful ideas. Experiencing the loss of his parents and the harshness of the Civil
War gave him a deep understanding of the irreplaceable nature of life. As a result, he focused on
themes like loss, death, and suffering in his poetry. His poems often touch on love, freedom, beauty,
humanity, and the natural world. He frequently used visual imagery, similes, metaphors, and sound
devices in his writing. Additionally, he skillfully employed cataloging to showcase his profound insight
into human thought.
