The transitional poetry period, which lasted from the early 17th to the mid-18th century, was a time of great change and experimentation in English literature. This period saw the rise of new poetic forms, such as the heroic couplet and the mock-epic, as well as the use of new poetic devices, such as satire and parody. The following are the characteristics of transitional poetry period:
Form:
- Use of heroic couplets
- Use of blank verse
- Use of the mock-epic
Themes:
- The tension between the old order and a new social, intellectual and political order
- The power of religion and religious ideas
- Love, desire, and sexuality
- The conflict of passion and reason
- The power of nature and the sublime
Style:
- Ornate and elaborate diction
- Use of paradox, antithesis, and other rhetorical devices
- Allusions to classical literature and history
- Use of satire, parody, and burlesque