Back to: Literary Movements in English Literature
Table of Contents
Introduction
They were the members of the aristocracy. They got their name from the supporters of King Charles-I in the 17th century, who was later executed as a result of civil war.
They were known as Royalists. Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew, Sir John Suckling and Richard Cove Lace are known as Cavalier poets or Cavalier Lyricists, with the notable exception of Robert Herrick, who was a Clergyman.
The other poets of this group lived at the court of Charles-I. They favoured the king and the court party as against the Puritans and the Parliament but they did not use their poetry, as a means of propaganda against the foes of the king. They kept their royalism away from their poetry.
They were lyrical poets and chiefly dealt with love, beauty, and war. With the exception of Robert Herrick, who wrote both religious and secular poems, the other Cavalier poets dealt only with secular themes.
Characteristics of Cavalier Poetry in English Literature
- The Cavalier poets wrote short lyrical poems but did not like sonnets.
- Cavalier lyricists did not write as professionals for publicity. They wrote carelessly and their poetry was immature.
- They used direct language in the poetry which expressed a highly individualistic personality. In more detail, the Cavaliers, while writing, accepted the idea of the Renaissance (Read more about Renaissance Poetry).
- They avoided the subject of religion, apart from making one or two graceful speeches.
- They avoided discovering the depths of the soul.
- Cavalier poetry’s main thematic concern is the pleasure. Many poems favour living in moments and are often erotic in nature. Moreover, as Cavalier poets were aristocrats, Cavalier poetry focuses on the cultural life that aristocrats led.
- The tone of Cavalier poetry is light. It focuses on eroticism and matters of culture. Cavalier poetry is often written from the perspective of a military or aristocratic person, giving it a graceful flair.
Famous Cavalier Poets
Robert Herrick
He was one of the greatest Cavalier lyricists. He was the chief of those who gained inspiration from Ben Jonson & called themselves “the sons of Ben”. His two volumes of poems are “Noble Numbers” & “Hesperides”. Both are collections of short poems. His poems are religious as well as secular.
Thomas Carew
He was a reputed wit of his times. He was known as the courtly & polished love poet. His famous poems are: “Ask Me No More” & “Upon a Ribbon Tied about His Arm”.
Sir John Suckling
He ruined himself in the royalist cause. He was rich, brilliant & witty. His best-known poem is “Why so pale & wah fond lover?”
Richard Lovelace
Like Suckling, he was also rich & brilliant & ruined himself in royalist cause. He prepared his volume entitled “Lucasta” in prison.
