18th-century poetry

18th-century poetry is characterized by its focus on clarity, reason, and elegance, reflecting Enlightenment ideals. Poets often explored themes of nature, society, and human emotion, emphasizing order and reason over tradition. This era saw the rise of formal styles like neoclassicism, valuing structured verse and classical influences, alongside emerging Romantic movements that emphasized individual expression and imagination. Writers such as Alexander Pope and John Dryden exemplify these tendencies with their wit and mastery of form, while later poets like William Blake began to challenge conventions, setting the stage for modern poetic experimentation.