beat poets: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, academic, cultural
Quick answer
What does “beat poets” mean?
A group of American poets in the 1950s and 1960s who rejected conventional social and literary values, emphasizing spontaneous expression, spiritual exploration, and rejection of materialism.
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Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of American poets in the 1950s and 1960s who rejected conventional social and literary values, emphasizing spontaneous expression, spiritual exploration, and rejection of materialism.
More broadly, any poets or writers who adopt the rebellious, free-form, and countercultural style associated with the original Beat Generation. Sometimes used to describe modern performers who combine poetry with jazz or other improvisational arts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and refers primarily to American cultural history. In British English, it is used almost exclusively as a reference to this American movement. In American English, it can sometimes be applied more loosely to contemporary similar styles.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a specific historical avant-garde. In American English, it may have slightly more immediate cultural resonance.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard in literary and cultural studies contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “beat poets” in a Sentence
[The/These] beat poets [verb: rejected/embraced/wrote]Beat poets such as [Allen Ginsberg]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beat poets” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The festival aims to beatify the legacy of the beat poets.
- Modern performers often try to beat a path first trodden by the beat poets.
American English
- He tried to beat the system, just like the beat poets did.
- They wanted to beat their ideas into a new form of art.
adverb
British English
- He read his work beat-poet style, with intense, rhythmic delivery.
- The manifesto was written very beat-poet, full of raw emotion.
American English
- She performed beat-poet fast, her words tumbling out in a stream.
- He argued beat-poet passionately against commercialism.
adjective
British English
- His beat-poet sensibility was evident in the rambling, confessional style.
- The café had a distinctly beat-poet atmosphere.
American English
- She adopted a beat poet aesthetic, with black turtlenecks and berets.
- The book is a beat-poet manifesto for the digital age.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, cultural studies, and American history courses to discuss post-war counterculture.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions about poetry, music, or 20th-century history.
Technical
A defined term in literary history and American studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beat poets”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beat poets”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beat poets”
- Using 'beat poets' as a common noun without capitalisation when referring to the specific movement (preferred: the Beat poets).
- Confusing them with the 'Lost Generation' (1920s) or the 'Hippies' (1960s-70s).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the core movement was American, centred in New York and San Francisco. While it influenced writers worldwide, the term specifically denotes the US group.
No, it is not an acronym. The term was coined by Jack Kerouac and has multiple suggested meanings, including 'beaten down' and in tune with the 'beat' of jazz.
Carefully. You can say a modern poet has a 'beat poet style' or is 'influenced by the beat poets', but calling them a 'beat poet' typically places them in the historical mid-20th century movement.
Allen Ginsberg's poem 'Howl' (1956) is arguably the most famous single work. Jack Kerouac's novel 'On the Road' (1957) is also a seminal Beat Generation text.
A group of American poets in the 1950s and 1960s who rejected conventional social and literary values, emphasizing spontaneous expression, spiritual exploration, and rejection of materialism.
Beat poets is usually literary, academic, cultural in register.
Beat poets: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːt ˌpəʊ.ɪts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiːt ˌpoʊ.əts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for this proper noun term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the musical BEAT of jazz that inspired them, and how they felt BEATEN down by mainstream society.
Conceptual Metaphor
REBELLION IS A NEW RHYTHM; NONCONFORMITY IS A JOURNEY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary association of the term 'beat poets'?