Neo – Classical period (1660 – 1785 )
This age is called Neoclassical or pseudo – Classical Age to mean the artificiality of writers of this age. They imitated the accident Greek and Roman literary tradition but lacked the originality of the writers of that period.
The neo – Classical Age comprises three shorter ages:
1. The Restoration Period ( 1660 – 1700 )
2. The Augustan Age ( 1702 – 1745 )
3. The Age of Sensibility ( 1745 – 85 )
The Restoration Period (1660 – 1700)
Main Literary Features of the Age:
1. Imitation of the ancient Greek and Roman Writers gives rise to Neo – Classicism.
2. Puritan controls loosen and a wave of foppery and vulgarity sweeps the creative works.
3. Great English epics are written with proper elegance and grandeur.
4. Drama returns with the then French licentiousness and gaiety; it loses Elizabethan seriousness and splendour .
5. Comedy of manners and heroic tragedy became major dramatic genres.
6. Translation of great classical texts starts appearing.
7. Satirical verse becomes popular.
8. Literature of two extremes co – exists: Great epics, like Paradise Lost, and the moral wisdom, like The Pilgrim’s Progress, are written. At the same time sexual comedies, like The Country Wife, are also written.
The Augustan Age (1702 – 1745)
Main Literary Features of the Age:
1. Neo – classical spirit continues .
2. Poetry becomes a visual as well as a verbal art following Horace’s theory “as in painting, so in poetry .” ( “ Ut Pictura poesis ” ) .
3. Precise , formal and elegant become the standard style of writing .
4. Moderation, realism and rationalism become the main principles of creative works.
5. The regular pentameter couplet and blank verse are developed to the best possible perfection
6 . Lyric poetry looses dominance .
7. Satirical verse continues.
8. Satirical prose appears; it blends fact and fiction in new forms, such as , biographies , travelogues , political allegories , and romantic tales .
9. Novels and journalism begin.
10. Translation of great classical texts continues.
11. Wit or inventiveness, and aptness of descriptive images or metaphors become major literary devices.
12. Literature mirrors political awareness.
13. Urban culture overpowers literature.
The Age of Sensibility (1745 – 1785)
Main Literary Features of the Age:
1. The Restoration spirit dies away.
2. The age marks a gradual change in poetic taste and techniques .
3. The heroic couplet and blank verse decline and ballad and lyric revive .
4. Pindaric ode appears .
5. Intellectual Prose writings flourished.
6. The novel takes a definite shape and rises to dominate the literary scene .
7. Poetry shifts its focus from intensely social issues to melancholy, isolation and reflection.
8. Features of romanticism that flourishes in the next age come into view .
9. Literary criticism finds a solid ground .
Major Authors of Neoclassical period
5. Daniel Defoe
Birth : 1659 , London , England .
Death : 24 , April , 1731 , London , England .
Important Information :
# He was a journalist , pamphleteer , merchant and a spy .
# Mostly famous for Robinson Crusoe ( 1719 )
Famous Noble :
# Altlantis Major
# Robinson Crusoe ( 1719 ) – He sold his interests to the publisher .
# Moll Flanders
# The Pirate Gow
# The Storm
# Captain Singleton
# Memoirs of Cavalier
# Rexona : The Fortunate Mistress
# Colonel Jack
# The family in tructor
Famous Essays :
# An Essay Upon Projects
# Conjugal Lewdness
Famous Poems :
# The True – Born English Man : A Satyr .
# Hyman to the Policy
6. Samuel Richardson
Birth : 19 August , 1689 Mac worth , Derbyshire , England .
Death : 4 July , 1761 , Person’s Green , London , England .
Important Information :
# writer , painter and publisher ,
# The first English Novel “ Pamela ” is his best work .
# Pamela is also known as first modern English Novel .
Famous Novel :
# Pamela or virtue of rewarded ( 1740 )
# Clariss : or the history of a young Lady
# The History of sir Charles Grandison .
7. Edmund Burke
Birth : January 12 , 1729 , Dublin , Ireland .
Death : July 9 , 1797 , Bucking Hamshire , G. B.
Important Information :
# He was a philosopher , orator , and a political theorist .
# Member of the House of Commons .
Famous Work :
# Vindication of Natural Society .
#Conciliation with the colonies .
# On the present state of the nation .
# Appeal from the new to the old Whigs .
# Remarks on the policy of the Allies .
# Letters on a regicide Peace .
# Letter to a noble Lord .
# American Taxation .
# Abridgement of the history of England .
Other Authors Of Neo – Classical Period
|
Authors |
Works and important notes |
|
Samuel Butler ( 1612 – 80 ) |
- Hudibras – a satire in verse . |
|
- The elephant on the moon |
|
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John Bunyan ( 162 – 1688 ) Writer , Preacher |
- The Pilgrim‘s Progress – The famous allegory in prose. |
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- The Holy War |
|
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- The Life And Death Of The Mr. Badman |
|
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John Dryden (1631 – 1700) Poet, Playwright, Librettist. |
- All for love |
|
- The Indian Emperor |
|
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- Aureng – Zebe |
|
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- The Wild Galliant |
|
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- An Evening’s Love |
|
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- Tyrannick love |
|
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- Absalom and Architophel |
|
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- The Mistaken Husband |
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- King Arthur |
|
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- Macflecknoe |
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- Marriage A la mode |
|
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- The essay of Dramatic Poesy |
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John Locke ( 1632 – 1704 ) Philosopher and Physician . |
- An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. |
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- Of the conduct of the understanding |
|
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William Wycherley ( 1640 – 1715 ) Poet , Playwright . |
- The country wife |
|
- The Plain Dealer |
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