How did Roy Campbell and William Plomer change English-language poetry in South Africa?

In the 1920s, Roy Campbell and William Plomer fundamentally shifted the trajectory of English-language poetry in South Africa by rejecting the prevailing trends of their time. Prior to their emergence, poets writing in English typically attempted to describe the African landscape using the romantic conventions of 19th-century English poetry.1

Campbell and Plomer acted as satirists who debunked the shallowness and sentimentality that characterized South African verse during that period. Their contributions differed in style:1

• Roy Campbell: Known for his vigorously extroverted verse, which often carried a note of menace. His work, such as the long symbolic poem The Flaming Terrapin (1924), helped stimulate the emergence of a new generation of English poets in the decades following World War II.12
• William Plomer: An acutely observant writer who approached his craft with greater restraint. He experimented with rhythm and diction in works such as Notes for Poems (1927) and Visiting the Caves (1936).1

Together, their work provided a necessary departure from colonial romanticism, paving the way for more modern and diverse expressions in South African literature.1