Canadian poetry

Canadian poetry is poetry written in Canada, by Canadians. There are two distinct branches of Canadian poetry: French-Canadian poetry (mostly written by Québécois authors) and English-Canadian poetry.

French-Canadian Poetry

Early verse

The first book written in verse by a Canadian was Épîtres, Satires, Chansons, Épigrammes et Autres Pièces de vers by Michel Bibaud, published in 1830. However, like most poetry written before the second half of the 19th century, it is mostly interesting for its historical value.

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End of 19th century

Octave Crémazie is considered the father of French Canadian poetry. His poetry and that of his follower Louis Fréchette are romantic of form and patriotic in inspiration. At the same time, Pamphile Le May was writing intimist poetry about the simple farm life and Alfred Garneau wrote his feelings.

Related Topics:
Octave Crémazie - Louis Fréchette - Pamphile Le May - Alfred Garneau

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The Montreal School

L'École littéraire de Montréal is not a literary school per se but more of a group of poets that met regularly. In reaction to the earlier following of the romantic Victor Hugo, they took later schools (such as the Parnassian or symbolism) as their masters. The most talented among them was certainly Émile Nelligan, a yound poet who stopped writing at only 20 years of age due to mental illness.

Related Topics:
Victor Hugo - Parnassian - Symbolism - Émile Nelligan

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The terroir

Outside Montreal, other poets, such as Nérée Beauchemin continued Pamphile Le May's depiction of the life of the habitants. Then came the powerful Alfred Desrochers, a precursor to the "pays" school of poetry of Gaston Miron.

Related Topics:
Nérée Beauchemin - Alfred Desrochers - Gaston Miron

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