Dryden's poems documented the tumultuous politics of the late seventeenth century. his first important poem commemorated the death of oliver cromwell. two years later, his next important poem celebrated the return of charles ii.

despite the historical subject matter of his poems, dryden used forms and styles that would become popular in the eighteenth century. his poems often featured , rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter. his verses paved the way for the infamous wit of alexander pope.