Final answer:
Earlier poetry was written in a complex and inaccessible manner, making it challenging for modern readers to engage with. Contemporary poetry aims for a balance between accessibility and depth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earlier poetry was written in a complex and inaccessible manner, leading to a lack of reader engagement. Scholars and writers in the Renaissance used rhetorical devices, long sentences, and intricate structures, which made it challenging for modern readers to understand and connect with the poetry.
The use of rhetorical devices, such as diversions and sub clauses, made the sentences long and intricate, adding to the difficulty of understanding the meaning. Moreover, the cultural elite had exclusive access to reading and writing, creating a divide between the educated and the illiterate.
In recent times, poets have started using simpler language and straightforward structures to create a balance between accessibility and depth. This has resulted in greater reader engagement with contemporary poetry.