When the most prolific poets throughout history come to mind, you’ll probably think of icons like Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman—and, of course, William Shakespeare! Many consider the Stratford-upon-Avon actor, playwright, and poet to be the greatest writer in the English language. As we celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday this year, have you ever wondered if The Bard would enjoy today’s poetry? Shakespeare himself wrote, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
We suspect that Shakespeare certainly would like today’s poetry! Read on, fellow poets, to learn why.
Shakespeare Supported Other Writers
Shakespeare was a prominent supporter of his contemporaries in the Elizabethan-Jacobean writing community. Notably, he was close to fellow poet and playwright Ben Jonson—and was even godfather to Jonson’s son! Shakespeare also encouraged up-and-coming writers like Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, collaborating with and editing their work. We believe he would continue to support contemporary poets and poetry much as he did in his own time.
Shakespeare’s Topics Withstand the Test of Time
While Shakespeare’s writing is over 400 years old, the themes within his works remain timeless. He explored universal topics such as love, death, ambition, power, fate, and free will—subjects that still drive modern poetry. We’re confident that Shakespeare would recognize, appreciate, and enjoy contemporary interpretations of the very themes he once wrote about.
Shakespeare Could Relate to Current Events
Much like modern poets who spent much of 2020 writing in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shakespeare, too, endured quarantine during the bubonic plague. With local theaters closed for six months, he turned his focus to poetry. Given that many of today’s poems continue to reflect pandemic experiences, Shakespeare would likely find contemporary writing relatable.
Shakespeare Was an Inventor of Words
Beyond his storytelling genius, Shakespeare was also a masterful wordsmith, credited with introducing more than 1,700 words to the English language. As a lover and innovator of words, we bet he’d be fascinated by the new terms and expressions that continue to emerge today.
People Still Write the Shakespearean Sonnet
One of the most recognizable forms of poetry is the sonnet—perfected and popularized by none other than William Shakespeare. The Elizabethan (or Shakespearean) sonnet consists of 14 lines, typically in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, many of which remain widely studied today, particularly Sonnet 18:
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate. / Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, / And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
While Shakespeare’s preferred poetic form has been around for centuries, poets today still embrace it! The rhythmic structure of the sonnet allows each new generation to craft modern interpretations while keeping the tradition alive. Shakespeare would not only recognize today’s sonnets—he’d likely be flattered by their continued relevance.
Poets, whenever you doubt your own work, remember that literary legend and known friend of the arts, William Shakespeare, would probably enjoy your writing! As he once wrote, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
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