Women’s History Month is the perfect time to look back and celebrate those women who have contributed invaluably to both literature and the world around us. I have therefore compiled a list of my favourite female poets post-1800, all of whom have had an influential role in the shaping of women’s poetry.
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) My poem recommendation: In an Artist’s Studio As one of the most celebrated Victorian poets, I would be shocked if there exists and English Literature student who hasn’t been exposed to Christina Rossetti’s work. Sister of famous Pre-Raphaelite painters Dante Gabriel and William Michael, Christina established herself as a formidable poet in her own right, writing perhaps her most famous poem, ‘Remember’, when she was just nineteen years old. My favourite poem of hers is her sonnet ‘In an Artist’s Studio’, which explores the themes of female objectification and the male gaze through examining the power dynamic between a male painter and his muse.
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950)
My poem recommendation: “Loving you less than life, a little less”
Regarded by her biographer Nancy Milford as ‘the herald of the New Woman’ and a passionate feminist and anti-war advocate, Edna St. Vincent Millay was a pioneering figure for modern American women, known for her strong, politically active personality as well has her significant and skilful writing. Her distinctive poetic voice and innovative exploration of contemporary themes affirmed her status as one of the great early-20th century American writers, and in recognition of her talents, in 1923 she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)
My poem recommendation: Cinderella
Most readers are familiar with Sylvia Plath’s writing, whether it be her poetry or her only novel The Bell Jar, and the tragedies which she faced over her lifetime. Described by Joyce Carol Oates as ‘one of the most celebrated and controversial of post-war poets writing in English’, Plath’s poetic voice is strikingly distinctive, her words precise, reflective, and tinged with the anguish which characterised her short life.
Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
My poem recommendation: Phenomenal Woman
Just like the title of my favourite of her poems, Maya Angelou was indeed a phenomenal woman. As the first female inaugural poet in US History and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by Barack Obama, Angelou was both a celebrated writer and passionate civil rights activist. She is renowned for her poetry which shines a light on the beauty and strength of femininity, and of Black women in particular. Her most famous poem, ‘Still I rise’, encapsulates Angelou’s strong poetic voice and offers a powerful depiction of self-confidence and breaking free from both societal and internal constraints.
Cathy Park Hong (1976-present)
My poem recommendation: They Come
Named as one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2021, my first introduction to Hong’s work was through her essay collection Minor Feelings, which I read in late 2021. Summarised on the cover as ‘a reckoning on race and the Asian condition’, the collection is sharp, insightful, and thought-provoking, and forced me to look both inwards and outwards in directions which I have never explored before. The primary theme of the essays was the reconciling of Hong’s Korean-American identity, which is also the theme which most of her poetry revolves around. Hong’s poetry is unique, linguistically experimental, and powerful, providing an important insight into the experiences of Asian-American people.
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