Here's why there isn't a formal "Spenserian poets" group:
* Spenser's influence was broad but not a single style: While many poets were inspired by Spenser's use of language, allegory, and intricate rhyme schemes, they often developed their own distinct styles.
* No clear movement or group: There wasn't a specific group of poets who explicitly identified themselves as "Spenserian" in the way that, for example, the Romantic poets did.
However, poets who are often considered to have been influenced by Spenser include:
* Later Elizabethan poets: These include poets like Michael Drayton, George Chapman, and William Browne, who incorporated Spenserian elements into their work.
* The Metaphysical poets: While not directly "Spenserian," poets like John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell borrowed from Spenser's use of allegory, complex imagery, and philosophical themes.
* Romantic poets: The Romantics, including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, acknowledged Spenser's influence, particularly his use of language and his romantic themes.
To understand Spenserian influence, it's important to look at specific aspects of his work:
* The nine-line stanza: Spenser's distinctive stanza, known as the Spenserian stanza, became a model for many poets.
* Allegory: Spenser's use of allegory to explore moral and political themes inspired many later poets to employ similar techniques.
* Romantic elements: Spenser's emphasis on love, beauty, and nature, and his use of elevated language, contributed to the development of Romantic poetry.
Rather than thinking of a specific "Spenserian poets" group, it's more accurate to consider the impact of Spenser's work on poets across various eras and movements. He served as a major inspiration, influencing not only the style of his contemporaries but also shaping the evolution of English poetry throughout history.