Answer:
It came to be believed in the eighteenth century that nature was best understood through reason, so poetry became more closely aligned to reason.
But why reason?
The Age of Reason (Enlightenment) in England was a widespread intellectual and literary movement that took place in Europe and England. The movement was shaped by the idea of rationalism (reliance on reason as the best guide for belief and action).
Some characteristics:
- No Passionate Lyricism
- Rationalism
- Scholarly Allusions
- Heroic Couplets
- Realism
- Adherence to Classical Rules
- Morality