Women's Poetry Guide
Introduction
Women’s poetry is a rich and diverse tradition that spans more than two millennia. From Sappho’s fragments to the polished verses of the eighteenth century, from the passionate lyrics of the Romantics to the experimental forms of modernism and the diverse voices of contemporary poetry, women poets have created works that have expanded the possibilities of poetic expression. Yet for much of literary history, women’s poetry was neglected, dismissed, or simply forgotten. The recovery of women’s poetic tradition has been one of the great achievements of feminist literary criticism.
Early Women Poets
Sappho (c. 630–c. 570 BCE)
Sappho of Lesbos was the greatest lyric poet of the ancient Greek world. Only fragments of her work survive, but those fragments — passionate, sensuous, intensely personal — have exerted an enormous influence on women’s poetry. Her celebration of love between women has made her a particularly important figure for lesbian and feminist poets. The Sapphic stanza, named after her, has been used by poets for more than two thousand years.
Early Modern Poets
The first woman to publish a volume of original poetry in English was Isabella Whitney in the sixteenth century. Her collection The Copy of a Letter (1567) included love poems and satires that challenged conventional representations of women. The Renaissance saw women poets such as Mary Sidney Herbert (1561–1621), whose translations of the Psalms were influential in shaping English devotional poetry, and Aemilia Lanyer (1569–1645), whose “Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum” offered a feminist revision of the Passion narrative.
The Eighteenth Century
The eighteenth century saw the emergence of professional women poets. Aphra Behn (1640–1689) was one of the first English women to earn her living by writing, and her poetry is notable for its erotic frankness and its defiance of convention. Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (1661–1720), wrote poetry that explored the constraints of domestic life and the creative ambitions of women. Her poem “The Spleen” is a remarkable exploration of female melancholy and creativity.
The Romantics
The Romantic period produced several important women poets. Charlotte Smith (1749–1806) revived the sonnet form and influenced the younger Romantics, including Coleridge and Wordsworth. Mary Robinson (1757–1800) was a celebrity poet whose work engaged with political and social issues. Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838), known as L.E.L., was one of the most popular poets of her day, though her critical reputation has only recently been recovered.
The Victorians
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was the most celebrated poet of the Victorian period, more famous in her lifetime than her husband Robert Browning. Her Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850) — the sequence that includes “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” — is one of the most beloved works of Victorian poetry. Her verse novel Aurora Leigh (1856) is a feminist epic that traces the struggles of a woman poet to claim her vocation, and it has been recognised as one of the most important works of nineteenth-century women’s literature.
Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
Christina Rossetti is among the finest of Victorian poets. “Goblin Market” (1862), her most famous poem, is a strange and haunting narrative about two sisters tempted by goblin men selling enchanted fruit. The poem has been read as an allegory of temptation, a commentary on female desire, a critique of consumer culture, and a queer text about sisterly love. Rossetti’s devotional poetry, including works such as “Up-Hill” and “Remember,” is also remarkable for its precision, its emotional restraint, and its spiritual intensity.
Modernism
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) is one of the most original poets in English. Living in almost complete seclusion in Amherst, Massachusetts, she wrote nearly 1,800 poems, only a handful published in her lifetime. Her poetry is characterised by its compressed diction, its unconventional punctuation and capitalization, its off-rhymes, and its exploration of death, immortality, nature, love, and the inner life. Dickinson’s radical formal experiments were decades ahead of their time, and she is now recognised as one of the most important American poets.
Marianne Moore (1887–1972)
Moore was a central figure in American modernism. Her poetry, notable for its formal precision, its collage-like structure, its syllabic verse, and its attention to the natural world, influenced generations of later poets. Moore was also an influential editor of The Dial magazine.
H.D. (Hilda Doolittle, 1886–1961)
H.D. was associated with the Imagist movement and developed a distinctive style that combined classical allusion, modernist fragmentation, and feminist consciousness. Her later work, including the long poem Helen in Egypt, reimagined classical myth from a female perspective.
Contemporary Women Poets
The late twentieth century saw an explosion of women’s poetry. Sylvia Plath’s Ariel (1965) transformed confessional poetry with its exploration of female anger and desire. Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) moved from formal verse to increasingly political poetry that addressed feminism, race, and sexuality. Audre Lorde (1934–1992) combined Black feminism, lesbian identity, and poetic innovation. Contemporary poets such as Carol Ann Duffy (the first woman Poet Laureate of the UK), Mary Oliver, and Alice Oswald continue to expand the possibilities of women’s poetry.
Early Women Poets
Women have been writing poetry in English since the Middle Ages. The earliest surviving English poem by a woman may be the work of the anonymous “wife” who wrote “The Wife’s Lament” (c. 10th century). In the early modern period, poets such as Mary Sidney Herbert and Aemilia Lanyer wrote accomplished verse that engaged with the literary conventions of their time.
Aphra Behn (1640–1689) was a significant poet as well as a playwright and novelist. Her poetry was admired for its wit and its frank exploration of female desire.
The Romantic and Victorian Periods
The Romantic period was not hospitable to women poets, but some important work was produced. Anna Letitia Barbauld, Charlotte Smith, and Felicia Hemans were among the most popular poets of the period.
The Victorian period was a golden age for women’s poetry. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most widely read poets of the century. Christina Rossetti is now recognised as one of the finest poets of the period.
Modern and Contemporary Women Poets
Modern and contemporary women poets have built on these foundations. Sylvia Plath was a central figure in the development of confessional poetry. Adrienne Rich’s work moved from formal mastery to political engagement. Rita Dove, Kay Ryan, and Tracy K. Smith have served as U.S. Poet Laureates.
The Confessional Poets
The confessional poets of the 1950s and 1960s included important women writers. Sylvia Plath’s Ariel (1965) is one of the most powerful collections of the century. Anne Sexton’s work was equally frank about mental illness, sexuality, and family.
Confessional poetry was controversial. It was criticised for its subject matter and for its emotional intensity. But it opened up new possibilities for women’s poetry.
The Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s produced important women poets. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, and Audre Lorde were central figures.
Contemporary Women Poets
Contemporary women poets continue to expand the possibilities of the form. Mary Oliver’s nature poetry is widely loved. Rita Dove and Tracy K. Smith have served as U.S. Poet Laureates.
Poetry and Politics
Women poets have been at the forefront of politically engaged poetry. Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and others have written poetry that is explicitly political without sacrificing formal ambition. The tradition of politically engaged women’s poetry continues to flourish, with contemporary poets such as Claudia Rankine and Warsan Shire writing poetry that speaks directly to the political crises of our time. The range and vitality of women’s poetry in the twenty-first century is greater than at any point in literary history.
FAQ
Who is the most famous woman poet in English?
Emily Dickinson and Elizabeth Barrett Browning are among the most famous, but “most famous” depends on context. Contemporary poets such as Mary Oliver and Carol Ann Duffy also have enormous readerships.
What are the major themes of women’s poetry?
Women’s poetry addresses the full range of human experience, but recurring themes include love and desire, the body, domestic life, motherhood, creativity, religion, nature, and the experience of marginalisation.
What is the relationship between women’s poetry and feminist politics?
Women poets have often used their work to explore and challenge the constraints placed on women. From the Renaissance to the present, poetry has been a vehicle for feminist consciousness and critique.
Why were women poets historically less recognised than men?
Women poets faced the same obstacles as women writers in other genres: limited access to education, exclusion from literary networks, and prejudice against women’s intellectual abilities. Their work was often dismissed or ignored.
How has women’s poetry changed in the twenty-first century?
Contemporary women’s poetry is more diverse than ever in terms of race, nationality, sexuality, and form. Digital publishing and social media have created new platforms for poets, and the poetry world has become increasingly globalised.
For a comprehensive overview, read our article on Alice Walker Guide.
For a comprehensive overview, read our article on Atwood Guide.