Where did free verse poetry originate? From the outset, two widely accepted theories have been proposed. On the one hand, it has been argued that the form of verse originated in Antiquity as a widely available poetic tradition stretching back to Ancient Greece. On the other hand, there is an argument that the form of free verse did not emerge until the 19th century Romantic period, when writers such as William Wordsworth and Lord Byron started to revolt against the overly constrained forms of the past.
The antiquity theory holds merit due to its basis in the more general development of metrical poetry over the thousand-year period since the Greeks. Ancient writers such as Homer and Sappho composed in a form of verse featuring different lengths of line and no fixed margin, creating a style which could be considered a precursor to the form of free verse which would later emerge. Later writers such as Catullus and Horace were also seen by some as developing the form, with the introduction of forms such as the alexandrine.
It is the view of many modern historians that the form of free verse only developed in the 19th century, when the form was based on metre but did not fit any of the more traditional forms. Here, it was argued, originality and creativity were much more highly valued than in the past, with sole emphasis being placed on the content of the poem, rather than its form. With free verse, much like prose, poets were now free to express emotions and feelings in their own way, unshackled from the conventions of the past and able to communicate in ways not available before.
Largely, evidence for both theories can be found in the writings of past authors. William Wordsworth is seen by many as a major figure in the development of free verse, and several of his works, such as the Prelude and the Excursion, can be seen as containing elements of the form. Similarly, a number of the Romantic poets of the period, including Byron, Keats and Shelley, wrote poems containing elements of the form, and there are also a large number of Victorian poets such as Tennyson and Browning who composed similar works.
Evidence also exists on the classical front, with the works of Euripides and Horace often referred to as a major influence on the development of free verse. The influence of other writers such as Virgil and Ovid is also often mentioned, although some argue that the form of free verse as we know it today does not appear in their works. Instead, scholars have looked to writers such as Propertius and Catullus as the main figures in the development of the form.
Despite the overlapping evidence, it remains difficult to conclusively determine where the form of free verse originated. Depending on the perspective taken, different weights of evidence can be found to support each theory. Ultimately, however, it is probably safest to conclude that the form did not emerge until the 19th century, when writers were able to break free of the rigid forms of the past to express themselves with more creative license.
Themes
Themes of free verse poetry evolved from the more traditional forms of earlier poems. Along with topics such as love and nature, more personal themes, such as religion, death and memory also began to appear in the works of Romantics.. This trend continued into the Victorian period as poets such as Tennyson and Browning used free verse for their own pithy miniatures and longer narratives, in which personal themes such as mortality and faith were explored. In addition to this offering poets and readers the opportunity to experience something fresh and new, poetry of this era increasingly engaged and addressed pressing social issues, such as industrialism and foreign wars.
Historical Context
It can be said that the existence of the form of free verse is a direct result of the historical background of the era in which it emerged. This is a period in which Europe and its colonies were becoming increasingly urbanised and industrialised, resulting in a degree of alienation, which made it difficult for poets to feel at home within traditional forms of poetry. As a result, they took up the challenge of embracing more experimental forms such as free verse, allowing them to express their individual experiences within a new medium.
Contemporary Use
Today, free verse is used widely by poets and authors in a variety of contexts, from the political to the personal. More traditional forms of free verse, such as the sonnet, still exist, but have largely been superseded by more experimental forms, such as the post-modern, which began to emerge in the mid-20th century. Here writers such as T. S. Eliot and Ezra Pound experimented with imagery, metaphor and narrative to create new forms of poetic expression.
Style
The style of free verse has a range of effects, affording writers the opportunity to meditate upon the form itself and make startling linguistic choices. By exploiting the lack of meter and rhyme, these poets are able to contribute to an age-old tradition of emotive writing and render a unique style that is much freer than that of older poetic forms. Through this, they convey subtle and intricate insights into the human condition in ways which are not as widely possible within traditional poetic forms.
