The 18th century was a significant period for poetry, marked by the rise of the Augustan poets in England. This era emphasized reason, order, and clarity, often reflecting the values of the Enlightenment. Poets like Alexander Pope and John Dryden focused on satire and social commentary, using structured forms such as the heroic couplet. Romanticism began to emerge towards the end of the century, shifting the focus to emotion and nature. Poets like William Blake and William Wordsworth started to explore personal feelings and the beauty of the natural world, laying the groundwork for the Romantic movement that would dominate the 19th century.