What is a Great Poet?

What is a Great Poet?

The work examines the criteria by which a poet may be deemed great, arguing that such greatness is measured by qualities including originality in theme treatment, perennial charm, refined execution, and a distinct personal style. It opens by questioning whether any poet in America has reached this high standard, before narrowing the inquiry to the most illustrious poets of the English tradition. The author contends that in English literature “poet” must be reserved for those who work in metrical verse, a definition which excludes prose writers and reaffirms the importance of formal poetic expression. The essay defends a canon of exemplary poets—from medieval figures to the Romantic era—by asserting that only a few have achieved the enduring voice that shapes literary tradition. In doing so, the text outlines both the difficulty and the necessity of delimiting such a list, acknowledging inevitable national biases yet justifying a focus on English poets. The author presents a list of twelve (later amended to thirteen, with one considered less deserving) that includes figures whose works have not only displayed sublime technical mastery but have also set the course for generations of writers. Central to the discussion is the idea that a great poet must consistently exhibit a force and freshness that reinvigorates literature. The distinctive capabilities of powers of expression—those that make the work resonate across time—are likened to a vital generative principle analogous to genius in nature. This genius is described as an innate quality that distinguishes a blossoming talent, capable of diverting the stream of literary influence into new, unexplored channels. Using examples, the essay contrasts poets such as Dryden and Pope against less enduring figures. Dryden is celebrated for his ability to marshal grand, martial images and lofty sentiments, his work marked by an intellectual and moral vigor that unsettles less robust contemporary tastes. Pope, though sometimes derided by modern critics, is defended through his demonstrable command of satirical wit and technical precision. The work also briefly evaluates other figures like Scott and Marlowe, noting that while their contributions may be significant stylistically or narratively, they do not always meet the stringent hallmarks of poetic greatness established by the author. Furthermore, the text acknowledges the temporal nature of literary taste. It warns that contemporary popularity does not necessarily equate with lasting value. The author argues that the true measure of a great poet lies in the longevity and universality of his work—a quality that survives shifts in public opinion and the transient preferences of democratic readership. Consequently, the essay champions the defense of the established canon, asserting that abandoning these high artistic standards in favor of popular convenience risks the degradation of literary culture. In sum, the work posits that greatness in poetry is not reducible to immediate emotional appeal or the transient whims of a mass audience. Instead, it is characterized by a deep, almost elemental quality—an originality, vigor, and clarity of expression that continually renews its influence, regardless of the era. The piece ultimately serves as both a critical examination of current literary trends and a passionate plea for the preservation of a refined standard of poetic excellence.

By Edmund Gosse · First published 1880 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Essay, Literary History · 4,584 words

First lines

The answer to the question, "Has America produced a Poet? " which was published in the _Forum_, called forth a surprising amount of attention from the press in England as well as in America. It was quite impossible, and I did not expect, that such an expression of personal opinion would pass without being challenged. In America, particularly, it could not but disturb some traditions and wound some prejudices. But in the present instance, as always before, it has been my particular fortune to find that where criticism -- by which I mean, not censure, but analysis -- is candid and sincere, it meets in America with sincere and candid readers. In parenthesis, I may add, that when literary criticism of this kind is ill received in America, the fault usually lies with that unhappy system of newspaper reverberation by which "scraps" or "items," removed from their context and slightly altered at each fresh removal, go the round of the press, and are presently commented upon by journalists who have never seen what the critic originally wrote. In reading some of the principal articles which my essay called forth, I find one point dwelt upon, in various ways, in almost all of them. I find a fresh query started as to the standard which we are to take as a measurement for imaginative writers; and it seems to me that it may be interesting to carry our original inquiry a step further back, and to ask, What is a great poet?

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What is a Great Poet? is listed on Textopian as an essay by Edmund Gosse, dated 1880 CE.

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poetry · literary criticism · aesthetics · art · analysis · evaluation · imagination · language · expression · innovation · form · creativity

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