Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg were two of the most influential figures in the Beat Generation, a literary movement that began in the 1950s. They were both writers who explored themes of spirituality, freedom, and non-conformity in their works. Kerouac is best known for his novel On the Road, while Ginsberg is best known for his poem Howl. Together, they helped to define the Beatnik movement and its values.