A poet is an author who writes lyric works in poetic form. However, in the broad sense of the word, by this concept it is customary to mean a person who has a rich inner spiritual world, fantasy, and high thinking.
Antiquity
In primitive and ancient times, poetry was the main genre in literature. The most famous works of art of that time were written in poetic or song form, which in its sound and content is close to poetics. The most famous examples of this kind of essay are Homer's Odyssey and Iliad. In primitive and ancient times, the creativity of the so-called storytellers, who drew plots and ideas for their works from folk art, was very popular.
Therefore, at that time it was believed that the poet is a person of a special mentality. Such authors enjoyed special honor and respect. Already in antiquity, competitions were organized by authors who were sophisticated in the ways of expressing their thoughts. A characteristic feature of the poetry of the time under consideration was its monumental and epic character: the authors of the lyric works glorified primarily military victories, feats of commanders and the glory of their fatherland. At this time, the ideas of civic and patriotic education were very strong, therefore, poets were perceived primarily as citizens of their city, poles who are ready to capture the history of their native land in poetic form. No wonder in ancient centuries there was a saying that you should not fight with the city where poets live.
In the Middle Age
In the following centuries, the status of poetry underwent significant changes, although many lyricists focused precisely on the samples of antiquity. So, the tradition of glorifying military exploits, military campaigns and victories has been preserved. However, now poetry has taken on a courteous connotation. At this time, it became customary to believe that a poet is a person who owns the art of owning the word. In connection with the establishment of feudal fragmentation, the idea of a single state receded into the background, so now the authors sought to glorify in the writings of their patron and patron. And if earlier poets were perceived as citizens of their country, who, like warriors, served him as their work, now the poet is a man who praises his master. Lovely, courteous lyrics were greatly developed. The authors praised the cult of the beautiful lady and the knightly deeds in honor of her. In connection with the above changes, the status of the poet, who was now perceived as a servant of art, and not a citizen of his state, also changed.
New time
In the following centuries (17-18 centuries), new directions in literature arose that fundamentally changed the status of the authors of lyric works. In connection with the establishment of the bourgeois order, literature began to be perceived as an artistic craft, as a professional activity. Famous poets of that time adjoined one or another literary direction and wrote their compositions in accordance with the rules adopted for a particular trend. The fundamental difference between the poetry of this era from the lyrics of the previous one is that now poets were officially included in literary life, became supporters of one or another ideological camp. Many famous poets, such as Lomonosov, Sumarokov, Byron, Hugo, became the founders of various poetic movements.
Twentieth Century
In this century, poetic life underwent fundamental changes, which was associated with world wars, the collapse of empires, revolutions. The authors departed from the classical forms of expression of their thoughts and completely abandoned previous ideas and plots. Poems of poets of the first half and middle of this century are distinguished by symbolism, abstractness, and frequent use of neologisms. Such poetic trends as symbolism, acmeism, futurism, completely changed the literary life of the country.
In this century, poets, as well as in previous centuries, adjoined one direction or another, but the difference is that now they began to look differently at their work. Now they believed that their main task was to update the literature with new forms and contents. And only in the second half of the century did the positions of the classical school again take their place in literary life. However, it is traditionally believed that the age of poets is the 19th century, and this statement applies to Western European lyrics.