Poetry anthologies are collections of poems written by different poets, selected by the editor. They can be organized chronologically, thematically, or by culture. Some anthologies aim to include the best-known poets, while others focus on lesser-known writers or specific themes. The internet has led to a growing interest in poetry from other cultures. Diversity is becoming an increasingly popular organizing principle for anthologies, inviting readers to consider opposing viewpoints and dissimilar experiences.
A multitude of types of poetry anthologies abound. What they have in common is that they are all collections of poems written by different poets. Beyond that, however, a wide variety of reasons, some logical and some highly personal, determine which poems are included in each individual poetry anthology. Ultimately, it is the editor or compiler of the anthology who selects the poems that will share pages.
An anthology can be organized chronologically, culturally, thematically, or in many other ways. Some anthologies aim to include the best-known, best-loved, or most influential poets who have written in a particular language or from a particular cultural perspective over the centuries. Others move away from such broad stories, narrowing the scope to a type of writer or poem that can be defined very narrowly, such as 19th-century Irish poets or the anti-war poems of the 1919s.
Longtime favorites of English teachers, anthologies are often used to introduce students to a range of poetic styles and voices. Teachers often look for a poetry anthology that features the best-known and most important poets recognized throughout the ages. Recently, however, some poetry anthologies created for classroom use have taken the position that including the same poets over and over makes their continued fame a self-fulfilling prophecy, and have begun interleaving lesser-known poets writing on topics which may be of interest to student readers.
In recent years, some poetry lovers have collected their favorites into thematic, often whimsically arranged collections in the hope that a playful or even affectionate approach will attract the attention of new readers. An anthology of poems about gardens, poems about pets, or poems about long-distance running, for example, might pique the interest of people with a special interest in those areas. These types of anthologies typically compile well-known poems featuring those who may be completely unknown to most readers; as the theme is the main organizer, a range of voices and visions is more appropriate.
The internet has introduced people of all cultures to incredible artistic wealth elsewhere. This has naturally led to a growing interest in writing from other cultures. A visit to the poetry section of any bookstore will yield collections of poetry written by or about political activists, folklorists, Islanders, or any other offering. Many of these collections celebrate poetry written or loved not by academics but by people with more common roots, which many contemporary poetry aficionados consider a plus.
Just as thematic similarities can be the reason a poetry anthology is produced, diversity can also be an organizing principle. Anthologies that address a range of opposing viewpoints or dissimilar experiences are becoming increasingly popular as a way to invite readers to consider that a narrow viewpoint does not invite understanding. A poetry anthology that compiles poems written by Arab and Jewish poets, for example, ultimately demonstrates a profound commonality rather than the broad differences it so often dwells on.
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