Top 10 Famous English Poets

Top 10 Famous English Poets is a compilation of ten poets who are long-standing in the world of English literature and the ones whose legacies have been paving the way for the glorious tomorrow. Each of these poets may not have been discovered or looked into when they were alive but as time went by, their greatness was found.

From here, we will Get to know the Top 10 Famous English Poets.

Top 10 Famous English Poets

These authors have been chosen with careful consideration combining their legacy that has been left behind for the future of English literature, a such we have varied authors who have contributed to many of the themes found in English literature As such Top 10 Famous English Poets presents you with:

William Shakespeare-Bard of Avon

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. he is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English Language. As such in the Top 10 Famous English Poets list we have to mention such a great author. He has a great legacy of literature each just as great as the other which includes 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and a few other poems.

His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more frequently than any other playwright. His influence on poetry is also profound and far-reaching.

It was his poems, particularly his sonnets, that have become renowned for their forms of human themes such as love, death, time, and memory. Time has passed but these are still studied till today and enjoyed throughout different cultures around the world.

he is known for his four-line verse and two successive lines of verses with a rhyme scheme of abab, cdcd, efef, gg. This was a significant departure from the Italian Sonnet from Pupularised Petrarch.

Not only that, Shakes pears poems have given us words to express his vision of beauty and love. It is estimated that Shakespeare invented thousands of words by combining or contorting Latin, French, and other roots to create new words.

One can’t disagree that Shakespeare’s influence far extends beyond his era greatly affecting our world today too. He is unmatched in his contribution to the English language among his peers.

William Shakespeares 5 Best Poems:

1. Sonnet 27 – “Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed”

   

2. Sonnet 116 – “Let me not to the marriage of true minds”

   

3. Sonnet 129 – “Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame”

   

4. Sonnet 130 – “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”

   

5. Sonnet 106 – “When in the chronicle of wasted time”

   

Each of these Poems showcases Shakespeare’s mastery of the form of the sonnet and his ability to explore such complex themes with depth and sensitivity.

William Blake- Seminal Figure In The History Of Poetry

In the Top 10 Famous English Poets, we mention An English poet, painter, and printmaker who remains a seminal future in the whole history of poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age, William Blake. Born and raised in Soho, London, Blake’s work was unrecognized during his lifetime.

But that didn’t last long, his influence grew posthumously. His prophetic works form a significant part of English Poetry, combined with his visual artistry that has led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to strongly say that Far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced.

Blake’s diverse and symbolic collection of Rich works embraces the imagination as “The body of God” His blend of poetry is unique and visual art that characterized by his vision produces mystical blend of poetry and visual art.

Even today his influence is strong and is moving the hearts of many artists and writers.

Willliam Blake’s 5 Best Poems:

1. The Tyger

   

2. London

   

3. The Little Black Boy

   

4. Holy Thursday

   

5. A Poison Tree

   

Each of these poems shows Blake’s unique ability to combine, deep and often challenging themes with such beautiful language which is only one of the reasons why he is in the Top 10 Famous English Poets.

John Keats- English Romantic lyric poet

John Keats was born on October 31. 1795, was an English poet and also a key figure in the second generation of Romantic poets, alongside Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Keat’s Work became highly influential after his death at the age of 25 from tuberculosis. He is best known for his odes, including “Ode to a Nightingale” and “Ode On a Grecian Urn”, these are highly valuable because of their vivid imagery and philosophical aspirations. One of the most Famous English Poets list deserves his name for such expertise.

For his technical and intellectual achievement through poetry, he became recognized in poetry in the 20th century. Even today his poems and letters remain among the most popular and most analyzed throughout the English literature.

John Keats’s 5 Best Poems

1. To Autumn

   

2. On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer

   

3. Ode to a Nightingale

   

4. Ode on a Grecian Urn

   

5. Fancy

   

Each of these poems showcases Keats’ mastery and ability to explore complex themes with depth and sensitivity compact with a find poetic form.

Sylvia Plath- Famous Confessional Poet

An American poet, novelist, and short story writer born on 27, October 1932. Her name is Sylvia Plath from Boston, Massachusetts. Credited to advancing the genre of confessional poetry. One of the most Famous English Poets list has to have her name because of her unique powerful poetry of revolution.

Her Poetry is known for having a raw and powerful exploration of complex personal themes. her painfully honest poetry explores the idea of the self that is seeking to highlight those persistent threats, that are questioning a woman’s identity.

Her Poems span the themes of her mental health, family, motherhood, and other relationships, especially her marriage to a fellow writer Ted Hughes. Her poetry is heavy in them yet incredibly skilled so it is beautiful to read.

These are all obvious reasons why she has become one of the most acclaimed poets of the 20th century. At Plath’s brutal best, she tapped a source of power transforming her poetic voice into a raving avenger of womanhood and innocence.

In conclusion, it can be said that her poetry is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and her work continues to resonate with readers even now, offering a deeply personal yet universally relatable exploration of the human condition. We can easily say that she is one of the most Famous English Poets

Sylvia Plath’s 5 Best Poems

1. The Colossus

   

2. Daddy

   

3. Ariel

   

4. Lady Lazarus

   

5. Tulips

   

Through beautiful and stark language all these poems of Plath’s have expressed deep emotional and psychological states, displaying her unique ability.

Oscar Wilde- Iconic Figure From Late Victorian Society

Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish Poet born on 16 October 1854. In the early 1890s, he became one of the Famous English Poets and playwrights.

He was known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress, and glittering conversation skills. As such, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his time. At the height of his fame, and success he was prosecuted for gross indecency with men.

After two trials, he was convicted and sentenced to two years of hard labor. After his release, he immediately left for France forever leaving Ireland or Britain.

Wilde’s writing reflected his own self, it was flamboyant and there was exploration of the themes of aestheticism and he put a lot of emphasis on beauty for its own sake. His work has since long embodied the spirit of the decadent school of the nineties.

as such we can say Wilde’s work continues to resonate with authors and offer a rich source of inspiration and a prime example of a model for pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling. The Top 10 Famous English Poets list highly regards him for his great works unique to only himself.

Oscar Wilde’s 5 Best Poems

1. The Grave of Keats

   

2. Sonnet to Liberty

   

3. Her Voice

   

4. The Ballad of Reading Gaal

   

5. Ravenna

   

Wilde’s unique ability to combine beautiful and deep language is shown through these poems which often have challenging themes.

John Donne- Representative of The Metaphysical Poets

John Donne was an English poet, soldier, scholar, and secretary born into a recusant family. he later became a Celric in the Church of England. He is considered the preeminent representative of metaphorical and sensual style including sonnets, love poems religious poems, and many more. he is also known for his sermons.

Donne’s poems are often explorations of spiritual and philosophical themes. His poetry evolved a lot in his lifetime making him among one of the most famous English Poets. His early works are noted for having, erotic and love poems, while his later works give more religious and spiritual themes.

The shift in focus from sensual to divine is a key characteristic of his Poetic evolution. One of the defending features seen in his poetry is the use of conceits which are extended metaphors that link two seemingly unrelated ideas. he always used this technique in a unique and thought-provoking way.

As such it can be said that John Donne is a poet known for his intellectual rigor and innovative language with exploration of both sensual and spiritual themes.

John Donne’s 5 Best Poems

1. A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy’s Day

   

2. The Canonization

   

3. Batter my heart, three person’d God

   

4. A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

   

5. No Man Is an Island

   

Showcasing in these poems is Donne’s unique ability to combine language with deep and challenging themes. The Top 10 Famous English Poets list has listed him for making such challenging themes and his unique evolution throughout his life.

John Milton- 17th Century Historian, Journalist and Poet

John Milton, Born on December 9, 1608, is considered one of the most intellectual English poets. He also is considered the most significant English author after William Shakespeare.

His most famous work is “Paradise Lost” widely regarded as the greatest epic poem in English literature.  Milton’s works are noted for their sensual and metaphorical styles.

Milton’s poetry is greatly renowned for his intellectual depth religious themes and innovative use of language. Throughout his poems, we find many many perspectives built with a deep intellectual perspective unique to Milton’s.

As such we can say that his poetry is widely celebrated for intellectual rigor and innovative use of language through the exploration of both sensual and spiritual themes.

John Milton’s 5 Best Poems

1. Paradise Lost

   

2. Lycidas

   

3. When I Consider How My Light is Spent

   

4. On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity

   

5. Samson Agonistes

   

All these poems are a great show of Milton’s extreme intellectual rigor filled with beautiful language and often challenging themes.

T.S. Eliot- The Greatest Living English Poet and Man of Letters

Thomas Stearns Eliot known as T.S. Eliot, was a renowned poet, essayist, publisher, literary critic, editor, and playwright. he was born on 26 September 1888 in St. Missouri, US, later he moved to England in 1914 and became a British Citizen in 1927.

Elliot is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and also a central figure in modernist poetry for English poetry.  His innovative styles in language, verse structure, and writing style revitalized English poetry.

Eliot’s Poetry is known for portraying a range of profound themes reflecting the complexities of the 20th century like the Damaged psyche of humanity, Power of the literary history, the Changing nature of gender roles, Urban life, and Modernity, Alienation, Disillusionment, and finally Regeneration and Tranquility.

As such these are the reason why Eliot is a great author of his time showing the essence of a world undergoing rapid changes and human response to these transformations.

T.S. Eliot’s 5 Best Poems

1. The Waste Land

   

2. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

   

3. The Hollow Men

   

4. Ash Wednesday

   

5. Four Quartets

   

In these poems, Eliot exemplifies his innovative use of language and form combined with his ability to capture the essence of the human condition in the modern era.

Robert Browning- The Victorian Playwright

A significant English poet and Playwright of the Victorian era, celebrated for the mastery of dramatic monologue and psychological portraiture. he was born in London in 1812 May 7.

He distinguished himself by its irony, characterization, dark humor, challenging vocabulary and syntax, and social commentary. Browning’s poetry delves into the psychological depths of his characters revealing their innermost thoughts and emotions.

It is a strong testament to the power of the dramatic monologue as a literary form to convert complex and most times controversial themes.

Robert Browning’s 5 Best Poems

1. My Last Duchess

   

2. The Ring And The Book

   

3. Porphyria’s Lover

   

4. The Pied Piper of Hamelin

   

5. How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix

   

Browning’s skills in showcasing compelling narratives and exploring the psychological depths of his characters are clear in these poems as such he can easily be one of the most Famous English Poets of all time.

Charles Dickens- English novelist and Social Critic

An English novelist and social critic widely regarded as one of the greatest storytellers of the Victorian era. he was born on February 7 1812 in Portsmouth, England. He rose from humble beginnings and became a literary colossus who is known for his vivid character and commentary with piercing social aspects and intricate plots.

He is known as Charles Dickens. His poetry reflected his keen observation of narrative skills. the themes he writes about are social commentary, exploration of the human condition, and focus on the lives of the poor and the working class.

His poetry is not as well known as his novels but it adds dimension to his literary legacy. As such we can say that Dickens’s poetic works offer valuable insights into this creative min and perspectives on society, his poems are rich with imagery has a strong narrative voice and moral depth that defines his more famous literary works.

Charles Dicken’s 5 Best Poems

1. A Child’s Hymn

   

2. The Ivy Green

   

3. Little Nell’s Funeral

   

4. The Song of the Wreck

   

5. Lucy’s Song

   

All these poems give us a glimpse into the poetic sensibilities of Dickens and evoke emotions through verses in a way only Dickens can making him one of the most Famous English Poets of his era.

A few Words to end our Famous English Poets List

This was the list of some of the most famous English poets of all time, taken from their different themes and legacies of Poetry that they left behind that are unmatched by any other in the world of English literature. If you liked our list be sure to check out our site to find more collections of Poetry.