What is meant by 'Poet Laureate'?

Question

I read some history of English Literature and found out that Mr. Alfred Lord Tennyson was once a poet laureate of England. What is meant by 'Poet Laureate'?

Answer 1

It is a title given to a favorite poet.

A Poet Laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events. The plural form is poets laureate.
In England, the term has for about centuries been the title of the official poet of the monarch, appointed for life since the time of Charles II. Poets laureate are appointed by many countries. In Britain there is also a Children's Laureate.

Answer 2

The post started in the reign of that great patron of the arts, Charles II and the term comes from the ancient Greek custom of placing a crown of laurel leaves on the head of those who have achieved success. The poet laureate is poet by appointment to the monarch. In other words, court poet to the Queen. The post of poet laureate is an honorific one and when the last poet laureate, Ted Hughes, died the first person picked as his successor, Seamus Heaney, politely turned down the post and it went instead to its current incumbent, Andrew Motion. While it is an honour to be poet laureate, it can be a poisoned chalice, as the poet is expected to come up with compositions for state occasions, these works being published, and sometimes inspiration wears thin. The position is one which lasts for a lifetime and there is a splendid memorial service at Westminster Abbey when one dies, attended by an impressive array of public figures.

Answer 3

His name is Alfred, Lord Tennyson not Mr Alfred Lord Tennyson. He was addressed as "Lord Tennyson". He was indeed a Poet Laureate. This means that he was considered the best poet in the country at that time. This position is appointed by the government but only after approval by the royal court. "Laureate" comes from the laurel wreaths placed on peoples heads in Greek times celebrating that they did something wonderful.

Answer 4

The Poet Laureate is a poet chosen by the Monarch to write poetry on behalf of the Crown and Nation.

Not sure who the present Poet Laureate is.

There is only a small stipend attached to the job, so do not all rush at once. Anyway there's no vacancy at present.

The idea of a Poet Laureate goes back in time to when British Chieftains, Kings, Lords etc., employed Bards.

Answer 5

'Laureate' is a Latin adjective meaning 'adorned with laurel'. Laurel was sacred to Apollo and was used - formed into the shape of a crown - to honor poets and heroes.
In the UK the king or queen has an official poet who, at appropriate times will pen some words supposedly summing up the mood of the country. Andrew Motion is the current poet laureate - but he will be replaced by a new one in 2009.
One of his most recent acts as Laureate was to pen a poem called 'Regime Change' protesting at the Iraq war.

Answer 6

In England the poet laureate is the official court poet, appointed by the sovereign. Originally his duty was to compose odes in honour of the sovereign's birthday and in celebration of state occasions, in return for £200 a year and a butt of sack. The first actually appointed to the title was Ben Jonson. The term arose from the ancient custom in the universities of presenting a laurel wreath to graduates in rhetoric and poetry.

Answer 7

If you think about it break up the word laureate .It means the one wearing the laurels , in other words since roman times the one wearing the highest accolade associated with Apollo the God of poetry the |Laurel Wreath
So this goes to the Best poet in the land

Answer 8

A Poet Laureate is a poet formally appointed via a central authority and is generally envisioned to compose poems for State activities and different government activities. interior the united kingdom the term has for hundreds of years been the call of the coolest poet of the monarch, because of fact the time of Charles II. Poets laureate are appointed via many countries. In Britain there is likewise a baby's Laureate and interior the united states there's a pupil Poet Laureate. Etymology In historical Greece the laurel grew to become into sacred to the god Apollo, and grew to become into used to kind a crown or wreath of honour for poets and heroes. this custom has for the reason that grow to be known, the two in fact and as a metaphor. The be conscious laureate or laureated for this reason got here in English to point eminence or association with glory (cf. Nobel laureate). Laureate letters have been as quickly as the despatches saying a victory. The term laureate grew to grow to be linked with tiers provided via eu universities (the term baccalaureate for the degree of bachelor reflects this concept). As a royal degree in rhetoric, poet laureate grew to become into provided at eu universities interior the middle a while. The term might additionally examine with the holder of this type of degree, which known skill in rhetoric, grammar and language. in accordance to the historian Edward Gibbon, Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca, 1304–seventy 4) of Rome, perhaps ultimate widely used for his sonnets to the honest-haired, blue-eyed Laura, took the call of "poet laureate" in 1341 for the poem "Africa".

Answer 9

Not 'Mr Alfred Lord Tennyson' He was ennobled by Queen Victoria as 'Alfred, Lord Tennyson'

Answer 10

A poet officially appointed by a government.