Poetaster

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pəʊɪtæstə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. A practitioner of verse writing who is generally regarded as lacking genuine skill or artistic value in their compositions
2. One who engages in poetry with a reputation for producing inferior or trivial works, often dismissed by critics
3. A creator of poetry who is often viewed as lacking authentic talent or depth in their literary efforts

Etymology: The tale behind "poetaster" is one of literary rivalry and a certain sharpness of tongue. This word was first coined in the late 16th century by the English playwright Ben Jonson, who wielded it as a weapon during the so-called "Poetomachia" or "War of the Theatres" — a fierce contest among playwrights and poets in London. Jonson used the term to deride his contemporaries, mocking those he considered inferior or pretentious versifiers rather than true poets. The construction of "poetaster" reveals its biting intent. It takes "poet," from the Latin "poeta" (meaning "poet"), and adds the pejorative Latin suffix "-aster," which was used to indicate something flawed or inferior — as in "philosophaster" (a fake philosopher) or "medicaster" (a quack doctor). Thus, a "poetaster" is quite literally a would-be poet of little talent: someone who apes the outward trappings of poetic craft without possessing its true spirit or skill. Jonson's invention quickly caught on in English, and by the early 17th century, it had become a favored term of literary criticism, hurled at amateur versifiers and self-important dabblers. It has retained that sense ever since, always tinged with the original scorn Jonson intended. The word stands as a reminder that language can be as much a tool of rivalry and satire as of art.

Synonyms: hack poet, mediocre poet