Member-only story
7 Moments When Poetry Changed the World
From the Works of William Shakespeare to the Beat Poets’ Counterculture Movement
It is an oft-repeated idea that good writing and poetry can change the world. Whether it be bringing about revolution or simply changing the views of society, poems and poets have made a real difference in this world.
There are many examples of such moments throughout history, but these 7 stand out as some of the most influential:
1. Li Bai — A Hero Among Poets
The Tang Dynasty in China saw the emergence of Li Bai. His poems were spread through word of mouth and quickly became popular among the people. These poems often glorified nature, or made fun of corruption; they also proved that poetry was not only to be reserved for the ruling class. This was one of many moments in history where poetry truly changed the world.
The widespread popularity of Li Bai’s poems helped establish poetry as an art that everyone can enjoy and take part in, not just the elite class. This idea is still present today — who hasn’t at one point written a poem for their loved one?
