English Literature

 The Restoration Period (1660-1700)

 The Augustan Age or, The Age of
Pope (1700-1745)
 The Age of Sensibility or, The Age of
The Neoclassical Period Johnson(1745-1785)

1660 - 1785
 The Neoclassical Period Characteristics of the Period
1660 - 1785

 After the Renaissance period ended a new period started named as Neoclassical period. The word ‘Neo-Classical’ is merged with the
two words ‘Neo’ and ‘Classical’. Neo implies ‘new’ and classical denotes the ‘Roman and Greek classics’.

 The period is referred to as Neo classics as writers of this period looked back at the art forms of the classical age. They imitated the
ancient Greek and Roman literary tradition but lacked the originality of the writers of that period. They started to follow the
classical writers such as Homer, Virgil, Platon, Aristoteles, Sokrates etc.

 When Charles II was restored to the English throne in1660, he ruled a nation weary of revolution and civil war, eager to
enjoy the worldly pleasures denied by the somber Puritans. He led the strong reaction to the somber Puritan way of life by
reopening the theaters. The 18th century was an age of transition , marked by the beginning of the Industrial Revolution
and the emergence of the British Empire .

 In 1665, the plague ravaged Britain , and the following year a fire destroyed most of London , and both events were thought to
be the vengeance of Divine Provi­dence. A series of wars against the French between 1689 and 1763 brought Britain the huge
domains of Canada and India, but shortly afterwards, she lost her thirteen American colo­nies. In such a volatile age, great
fortunes were amassed as poverty multiplied. The 18th century was a great age of advance in the physical sciences,
with most discoveries being taken as proof of divine law and order. In literature there was a great emphasis on order and
rules, particularly rules proposed by Aristotle, and correctness became more important than using creative imagination.
 The Neoclassical Period Characteristics of the Period
1660 - 1785

The general features of this age are:

 The writers of this age lacked originality and followed ancient Greek and Roman tradition.
 Much attention is paid to technical perfection rather than innovation or natural genius
 Human beings are given most importance. The literary ideal of the age is "art for humanity's sake", not " art for art's sake".
 Sophistication in thought and style is emphasized.
 Writers had the conservative approach as they were following the past.
 Rationalism is the main characteristics of the literature written during the Neoclassical age.
 Writers creating the work which was based on a rational approach rather than imagination and fantasy.
 Poetry was more satirical and less imaginative.
 People in England would meet at the coffee house and talk about productive things. It started the British tradition of
‘afternoon tea
 Neoclassical writers have used Allusions to convey the message to the audience. All writers were well versed and
educated. They have immense knowledge of religion, biblical elements, and classical literature.
 In 1662 the Royal Society was founded to promote scientific research. Sir Isaac Newton was a member of it.
 Industrialization began in England.
 In 1695 the press was made free. Everyone was given liberty to express his or her views.
 The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1689. It restricted monarch's power and enhanced parliament's power.
 The Neoclassical Period Ages
1660 - 1785

 The Neoclassical Age has three shorter ages within it which are discussed here separately:

 1) The Restoration Period (1660-1700)

 2) The Augustan Age or, The Age of Pope (1700-1745)

 3) The Age of Sensibility or, The Age of Johnson(1745-1785)

 The Neoclassical Period The Restoration Period (1660-1700)
1660 - 1785

 The period from 1660 to 1700 is called the Restoration Period because monarchy was restored in England, and
Charles II came back to England from his exile in France and became the King. It is also known as the Age of Dryden
because Dryden was the most significant literary figure of the age. The Puritans who were previously controlling the
country were finally defeated. As a result, a reaction was launched against whatever they held sacred. All restraints
and discipline were casted away, and a tide of indecency and frivolity (hoppalık) swept the country. Since Charles II
and his followers had enjoyed a gay life during their exile in France, they introduced same foppery (züppelik) and
looseness in England as well.

 As a result, the people were deprived of the old Elizabethan spirit with its patriotism, creative vigor and the love of
adventure and romance. Moreover, the Puritan spirit with its moral discipline and love of liberty also became a thing
of the past. The writers of this period made two important contributions to English literature. The first was in the
form of realism and the second was a tendency to preciseness.
 Two political parties-the Whig and the Tory-were formed. The Whigs were against the king and for the Protestants.
The Tories supported the king and the Catholics.

 Charles II remained in power till his death in 1685 when James II, another son of Charles I, ascended the throne. He
was a Catholic and most of the people who were Protestants wanted to dethrone him. In 1688 there was the Glorious
Revolution against him. He fled to France. Willhelm III of France and his wife Mary, the son-in-law and daughter of
James II, came to power. William ruled England till his death in 1702.
 The Neoclassical Period The Restoration Period (1660-1700)
1660 - 1785

Literary Features of the Period :

Influenced by the French writers of the time and in reaction against the puritanical suppression of the earlier
ages, in this age there was an absolute departure from the literary tradition of the Renaissance Period (1500-
1660). This age encouraged literary freedom and wild pleasures of this world. The liberty it allowed often
turned indecent. Realistic drama was predominant. Writers widely used heroic couplet instead of blank verse.
Mechanical perfection was the chief concern of the poets. The writers were more artificial rather than original.
The age experienced a transition from renaissance ideals to neoclassical ideals. The main spirit of the age was
satiric.
 The Neoclassical Period The Restoration Period (1660-1700)
1660 - 1785

The Restoration Poetry

The Restoration Poetry was mostly realistic and satirical. It was mostly written in the heroic couplet, of which
Dryden was the greatest master. He was the most important figure of the Restoration Period and made great
achievements in the fields of poetry, drama and prose. In fact, he was the only poet of his age worth
mentioning. He wrote in a lucid and forceful style that laid the foundation of the classical school of poetry in
England.
 The Neoclassical Period The Restoration Period (1660-1700)
1660 - 1785

The Restoration Drama and Prose

Restoration drama showed entirely new trends due to the long break with the past. It was extremely influenced by the new
age that was deficient in poetic feeling, imagination, and emotional approach to life. Rather, it focused on prose as the
medium of expression, and had a realistic, intellectual and critical approach to human life and its problems.

The Comedy of Manners was the most famous form of drama during the Restoration Period. It portrayed the sophistical life of
society’s dominant class—its insolence (küstahlık), gaiety (gösteriş,eğlence), intrigue and foppery (züppelik). The most
popular Restoration dramatist was William Congreve. He wrote the best comedies, for instance, Love for Love and The Way of
the World. The chief writer of heroic tragedy was Dryden. His famous tragic plays include Tyrannic Love, All for Love, and The
Conquest of Granada.

In the field of prose, the Restoration Period held its head higher than poetry and drama. A unique prose style evolved for the
first time. This style could be used for plain narrative, practical business, and argumentative exposition of intricate topics.
Dryden was the dominant leader and practitioner of that new prose style. Other famous prose writers of the period were
John Bunyan, John Tillotson, William Temple, Thomas Sprat, and Viscount Halifax. Besides Dryden, John Bunyan was the
greatest prose writer of the age. His most famous work is The Pilgrim’s Progress.
 The Neoclassical Period The Augustan Age or, The Age of Pope
1660 - 1785 (1700-1745)

This age is called Augustan Age because the writers of this period imitated the style and elegance of the writers
who wrote in Italy during the reign of the Emperor Augustus (27 B.C - 14 A. D).This span of time is also called
The Age of Pope because Alexander Pope was the best exponent of imitating Augustan literature. During these
years England was ruled by Queen Anne (1702-14), George-I (1714-27) and George-II (1727-60). The important
events of the period were :

Scotland was annexed to England.

The first cabinet of England was formed.
The first English daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, appeared in London in 1702.
Number of coffee houses, pubs and clubs was multiplied and people learned the art of living together.
A number of literary associations started. Of them the most famous was The Scriblerus Club. The members of
this club were Alexander Pope, John Gay, John Arbuthnot, Jonathan Swift and Thomas Parnell.
 The Neoclassical Period The Augustan Age or, The Age of Pope
1660 - 1785 (1700-1745)

We also call it the Age of Reason or the Age of Good Sense. The writers of the age produced works of great
significance and merit. The major characteristics of the Restoration period—precision and realism—were carried to
further perfection. It was during the 18th century that for the first time in the history of English literature prose
occupied the front position.

The most important feature of the 18th Century was the origin and development of the novel. This new literary
form, which at present holds a prominent place, was fed and nourished by the great masters such as Defoe,
Richardson, Smollet, Fielding, and others. All these writers laid the secure foundation of this new form.
 The Neoclassical Period The Augustan Age or, The Age of Pope
1660 - 1785 (1700-1745)

The Age of Pope (1700-1744)

The earlier part of the 18th Century is called the Age of Pope, since Alexander Pope was the dominating figure in
that period. The poetry of the Age of Pope is not of a high order. Still, it has some distinct merits such as the
creation of a technically beautiful verse, the clarity of its expression and the finished art of satire.

The famous poets of this age include Alexander Pope (the greatest of all poets of this age), Matthew Prior, John
Gay, Edward Young and others. However, the greatest prose writers of this age were Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift,
Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. The prose of this age exhibits the classical qualities—for instance, vigor, clarity,
and direct statement.
 The Neoclassical Period The Age of Sensibility or, The Age of
1660 - 1785 Johnson(1745-1785)

The Age of Johnson (1744-1784)

The later half of the Augustan Age was dominated by Dr. Samuel Johnson and is, therefore, called the Age of
Johnson. During this age, cracks had begun to appear in the edifice of classicism and there were clear signs of
revolt in favor of the Romantic spirit. It was especially noticeable in the field of poetry. The poets who showed
romantic leanings in their poetry are the precursors of the Romantic Revival. These poets include James Thomson,
William Blake, Thomas Gray, William Cowper, William Collins, and George Crabbe. Due to its Romantic inclinations,
we also call the Age of Johnson as the Age of Transition in English Literature.
The dominating prose writers of this age were Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke, and Edward Gibbon. They were,
indeed, the pillars of the Age of Johnson and represented in themselves the highest achievements of English prose.
After the Age of Johnson came the Romantic Period. The Neoclassical period officially ended in 1798 when William
Wordsworth and S.T. Coleridge published the ‘Lyrical Ballads’.
The Neoclassical Period Restoration or the age of Dryden
1660 - 1785 Major Writers and Their Works

John Bunyan (1628-88):

Pilgrim's Progress (1678), the famous allegory in prose.
The Holy War (1682), an allegory in prose.

John Dryden (1631-1700):

All for love (1678)
The Indian Emperor (1665)

John Locke (1632-1704) :

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)
 The Neoclassical Period The Augustan Age or The age of Pope
1660 - 1785 Major Writers and Their Works

Alexander Pope (1688-1744) :

The Rape of the Lock (1712)
Dunciad (1728)

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745):

The Battle of the Books (1704)
Gulliver's Travels (1726)

Daniel Defoe (1659-1731) :

Robinson Crusoe (1719)

Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) :

Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (1740), the first modern novel.
 The Neoclassical Period The The Age of Sensibility or the age of
1660 - 1785 Johnson
Major Writers and Their Works

Samuel Johnson (1709-84):

Dictionary (1755)
Preface to Shakespeare (1765)

Henry Fielding (1707-54): Started writing novels in The Augustan Age wrote his Tom Jones (1749) and Amelia (1751)
in this period.

Edmund Burke (1729-97):

On American Taxation (1774)
Speech on Conciliation with America (1775)