Question

Which classical poet did Keats imitate in his early writing?

• A. William Shakespeare
• B. Edmund Spenser
• C. John Milton
• D. Geoffrey Chaucer

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Edmund Spenser

In his early writing, John Keats was heavily influenced by Edmund Spenser, the famous Elizabethan poet best known for The Faerie Queene. Spenser’s rich, imaginative language and use of vivid imagery appealed deeply to Keats.

• Keats even wrote a piece titled “Imitation of Spenser” around 1814, which reflects the Spenserian style—elaborate descriptions, classical references, and musical verse.

• This influence helped Keats develop his own lush, sensual poetic voice that would become a hallmark of his later masterpieces.