Neo - classical age in English literature (1660-1798)......

Neoclassical age reached after the decaying of Commonwealth period. During This period monarchy
system continued again all over England .the writers of this period tried to imitate the style of Roman
and Greeks. The combination of the term "neo " which means new and another "classical "as in the day
of Roman and Greek classics. There was the era of enlightenment which emphasised logic and reason.
This period was preceded by renaissance period and followed by romantic era. Before renaissance life
and literature was mainly dictated by the church, however during renaissance science and innovation
was given maim emphasises. In neo classical era a vast difference between the two ideologies can be
witnessed. There are confusion and contrary depiction too. Neo classical period ended in 1798 when
Wordsworth published the romantic lyrical ballad.

**this age can be divided into three small periods**....

1) restoration period or the age of Dryden (1660-1700)

2) the age of Pope or Augustan age (1700-1750)

3) the age of Johnson (1750-1798)

*** characterization of neo classical age **

It was the time of comfortableness in England. It was the beginning of the British tradition drinking tea
and it was the starting point of middle class .for this reason more people were literate. It was the same
time when eight monarchy took throne.

*** the effect of epic poetry ,novels and criticism swept all over Europe during this period. The rape of
the lock by Alexander pope , an essay on dramatic criticism and other novels were popular too.

** drama began to decline during this period. This was the age of theatre so people became attracted
too much towards actor and actresses rather than playwrights. They were losing their interest in plays
and playwrights which were being produced ever. The rise of the novel displaced the drama. Novels
appeared as better way to depict life, manners and ideas.

**Revival of old plays hindered the creation of new plays .the plays of Shakespeare ,beauomont and
Fletcher were revived. Shakespeare like Romeo Juliet, king Lear were given happy endings.

**the drama of the age failed to receive the support of king. William 3 was no patron of the theatre, nor
was queen Anne, nor was the first two Georges, without support of the king. It was difficult for the
dramatists to put their influence over the public of the day.
** moral restraint was followed by the political restraint. As a result of freedom fielding and other
attacked Walpole 'S government a licensing act was passed and censorship was appeared on the drama.
According to the act dramatist couldn't produce plays.

**HEROIC DRAMA ***

Heroic tragedy was called heroic drama. Dryden main supporter of the tragedy called it heroic drama.
Plays were written in the classical model of the rhyming couplet and later in blank verse tragedy. Theme
was based on the struggle between love and honor. The hero and heroine were cast on grand scale and
their dialogues consisted of elaborated speeches in rhymed 10 syallbaled couplets, full of emotions.

*** the place of sentimental and anti sentimental comedies **

sentimental comedies were famous.

1)colley cibber - love's last shift, provoked husband.

2)richard Steele was famous for periodical essays. The lying lover, the tender husband were famous.

3)hugh Kelly =false delicacy

4) Richard Cumberland = he wrote thirty plays. Most of them were tragedies. West Indian and the
fashionable lover were his famous comedies.

5) Sheridan = school for scandal

6) Addison, goldsmith were famous too....