Poetry Militant

work by O’Dowd

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

"Poetry Militant" is a prose pamphlet written by Bernard Patrick O'Dowd in 1909. O'Dowd, a political and philosophical radical, argued in this work that poets should serve as educators, propagandists, and indoctrinators. This perspective marked a shift from the prevailing bush ballads in Australian poetry, introducing a more philosophical tone. O'Dowd's work aimed to imbue poetry with a sense of purpose beyond mere aesthetics, advocating for its role in shaping public thought and conviction. The term "militant" in this context refers to an intense devotion to a cause, suggesting an active and forceful approach to promoting ideas through poetry.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Bernard Patrick O’Dowd
…an important prose pamphlet “Poetry Militant” (1909), O’Dowd, a political and philosophical radical, argued that the poet should educate, propagandize, and indoctrinate. His later work included The Bush (1912), a long poem about the Australian nation; Alma Venus! and Other Verses (1921), social satire in verse; and The Poems:…
Read More
…an important prose pamphlet “Poetry Militant” (1909), O’Dowd, a political and philosophical radical, argued that the poet should educate, propagandize, and indoctrinate. His later work included The Bush (1912), a long poem about the Australian nation; Alma Venus! and Other Verses (1921), social satire in verse; and The Poems:…
Read More