A Closer Look at the Art of Poetry Writing Throughout Human History

Poetry writing is at the heart of what it means to be human, and this look at poetry throughout history may show you why it’s so important. Only a very small percentage of human history is recorded – but once we learned how to express ourselves with language, and later in the form of drawn and written symbols, the experiences of our ancestors were immortalised. We have learned from the artful expressions of early humankind that they were much like us. In fact, the discovery of palaeolithic cave art dating back to around 64 000 years ago shows us that our ancestors, just like we are now, were intent on making their mark in the world. Humans, if anything, want to be known and are wired for expression and connection – and this is precisely what poetry writing gives us. This article offers a brief glimpse into ancient poetic expression and how it has evolved, contributed to society, and granted us a keen understanding of where we come from.

What We Consider Poetry Writing Today

How people engage with poetry and perceive it is subjective. The consensus, however, seems to lean along the lines that poetry entails literary expression – generally in written form, but it can also be incorporated into music or oral performances. It utilises language to convey an idea, but unlike straightforward storytelling, devices like imagery, symbolism, rhyme, rhythm, and figurative descriptions are used. Poetry explores between the lines, defining the space where meaning is lost and the unsaid is neglected. It helps us express tangible and intangible things, such as joy, love, loss, and every experience in between. Poems are usually presented in a structured form of stanzas and offer a musical flow that is naturally appealing to humans – our eyes and ears seem to follow content in this form much easier. It also packs a punch because it relies on brevity and symbolism to create various layers of meaning in a single sentence, so the reader can interpret the piece as they see fit. A single poem will have a different meaning for every person who engages with it, and it’s easy to underestimate how truly powerful that is. Poets have penned ancient epics for thousands of years, and it’s for the same reason our early ancestors drew on cave walls – they wanted the world to share in their experiences.

Poetry in Early Civilisations

The art of expression emerged from early oral traditions, where people would gather around the flickering fires of their settlements and share stories of their day’s travels and hunts, or relay the mystical lore passed down from their own ancestors. Soon, this tapestry of tales was given a pattern so that it could be memorised, sung, and retold repeatedly. In cultures across the globe, a phenomenon developed – poetry. Ancient civilisations like the Sumerians and Greeks are where we first see the dramatic verses that narrate great tales. We then see a similar trend throughout ancient China, along with Acadian, Hebrew, and African poetry. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to The Iliad, fantastical stories give us insight into the immense creativity that has existed in humankind all along. We then see a change to chivalry, honour, and the ballads of lonely knights in the medieval era, soon after followed by Shakespeare’s works and the captivating art revival of the Renaissance period. As cultures shifted, so did the type of poetry that was written. Songs of a successful mammoth hunt turned into comparing a loved one to a summer’s day – and ancient poetry writing has not changed much since.

Modern Multi-faceted Art Forms that Include Poetry

Every generation within every culture faces a new world, and we see this reflected in the poetry writing of the time. Modern poetry has, in many ways, broken free from more traditional structures and is often associated today with activism and counter-cultural movements. From social media snippets and snapshot captions to the lyrics of our favourite songs, we see poetry all around us, even if just in bite-size form. What hasn’t changed, however, is the bravery it takes to express oneself, which is why poets and poetry writing is to be celebrated and embraced.

Do you want to learn more about poetry or read a few of the inspired pieces in our collection? Click here.

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