I’m French native speaker. I believe I can speak fluent English but I know want to discover English poetry. Where should I start ?
English the language or English the nationality?
The language
Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry is taught at both grade school and university level in America. The prose is very approachable for everyone and it’s considered foundational to understanding his contributions to several literary genres.
Plus, it will give you something to talk about with cute Goths.
Just like French (Parisian, Acadian, Quebecois, Creole, etc.), English has a lot of variants (British, Canadian, American, AVE, Australian, etc.).
I would stick with poets that would be taught in high schools from the region whose English you learned. If you feel like you are still understanding the points they are trying to make, then I would branch out to other “Englishes”.
I am personally not a huge fan, but Robert Frost is probably a decent place to start.
a decent place to start
Thank you. That is exactly what I’m looking for. I have time to find later a poet I would like.
What is AVE English by the way?
AAVE (I made a typo) is “African-American Vernacular English”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English
TIL
I second the suggestion of Frost as good beginning. Robert Browning and John Keats are also approachable British poets.
For Americans, depending on your taste in literature, you might enjoy Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
It realized during the night that it’s obvious I teach a literature course. None of my suggestions are light and happy poets.
So let me add Maya Angelou to the list. If you want to read children’s poetry, try Dr Seuss and the Mother Goose nursery rhymes.
