Poetry in the Modern Period

Modern poetry is difficult to lump into one explanation or category. Styles, form, and technique varied greatly. Despite these differences, there are some characteristics that most literature of the era possesses. The traditional values of the past or of society were often rejected or challenged. Many poets wrote of a sense of alienation, loss, or despair. Lastly, there can also be seen an emphasis or focus on the complexity and depth of the human mind. Of the numerous great poets of the Modern period, very few escaped the emotional or physical trauma that two world wars wrought across the globe.

Essential Questions

• How does poetry reflect the social values of the Modern period?
• How did poets in the modern world change poetry?