The Issue of Hardy's Poetry

Critics are unable to clearly place Thomas Hardy among major poets but are unwilling to classify him as a minor poet and therefore fail to recognize both his innovations and his influence. Hardy's novels were very innovative in style and content but are usually ignored when considering his poetry. The novels support his classification as a major poet while most of his poetry would be considered light verse if by a secure major poet. Hardy had the advantage of being approachable through his verse which modernized 19th-century poetry and therefore he became a minor but influential poet.