Donne, Dryden, and Pope: 17th Century English Poets

The great poets of the seventeenth century are noteworthy in their innovations in engaging with earlier literature to promote their own ideas. As we explore why they are still relevant, we'll also answer the following questions:

1. How did John Donne's love poems reflect the inward shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance?
2. What was particularly innovative about John Dryden's translation of Virgil's Aeneid?
3. How did Alexander Pope use poetry to transform the medieval story of Abelard and Heloise?

This week's episode of The Pillars is generously sponsored by Alex Bahary.