Que 1. Compare the general characteristics of the Elizabethan age and Neoclassical age.
Introduction Of Neo-classical Age
Neoclassical literature has been written in a period where social order was undergoing a tremendous change. In the so-called Enlightenment Period, people believed that natural passions aren’t necessarily good; natural passions must be subordinated to social needs and be strictly controlled.
Authors believed that reason was the primary basis of authority. They believed that social needs are more important than individual needs. It is quite on contrary to its preceding age, in which emphasis was laid on individualism rather than the socialism.
Characteristics Of Neo-Classical Age
Influence of Materialism
When Pope declares the limits of man, he also sets, by implications, the limits for the artist:
“Know then thyself, presume not God to scan
The proper study of mankind is man!”
But Pope echoes only dominant philosophical thoughts here. After the Renaissance, Platonism and Christian Humanism, we find in the Neoclassical age, the dominance of Materialism and Empirical Science.
The ruling thought of the age is shaped by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Joseph Butler. The philosophical empiricism of the age propagated through the writings of Bacon, Hobbes and Locke were supported and strengthened by the advancement of empirical science.
Under the influence of empirical philosophy and experimental science, writers of the age narrowed both their vision of man and view of life. The affairs of men, their politics, their morals, and manners became the chief concern.
Although the concern with politics was present in the time of Shakespeare also, his and his contemporaries’ treatment was ideal and utopian. But the treatment of Neoclassical writers was practical rather than utopian.
Imitation of Classics
One of the most important features of the Neoclassical literature is the imitation of the classics of ancient Greek and Roman literature.
Although the Renaissance writers had imitated the classics, whereas Renaissance writers mere derived inspirations from the classics rather than copying the models of the past, the Neoclassical writers strictly adhered to the authority of their models. Thus Neoclassical literature can be called as ‘Traditional’.
The Neoclassical writers like Dryden, Pope, Swift, and Johnson were convinced that excellence and perfection in the literary art have been attained by the Roman writers of antiquity, thus they can only copy the models of perfection and excellence.
Concept of Nature
The concept of nature was also an important characteristic of the Neoclassical age. By nature, they never meant the forest nature, but for them, nature meant the general human nature.
The general human nature was not what the ordinary men and women felt and thought, but the standard view of human nature as held by Homer and Horace.
Like their static view of the world, the Neoclassical writers thought of human nature also was something static and standard, which is the same in all men and remains the same at all times. Thus their view of nature as well as of man, world, and genre was static and standard.
Concept of Man
The Neoclassical literature considers man as a limited being, having limited power. A large number of satires and works of the period attack the man for his pride and advise him to remain content with his limited power of knowledge. Thus man in Neoclassical literature remains a being of limited means and power.
Literary Forms
Among the Neoclassical forms of literature, the most famous were the essay, both in verse and prose. While drama declined and almost disappeared during the later part of the period, Novel made its beginnings. The literature of the age was mostly comic and satiric. An important failure of the age was to produce tragedy.
Neoclassical Drama
Neoclassical drama falls into two phases-
- Restoration Drama (later 17th century)
- Sentimental Drama (18th century)
In the Restoration Age, drama rose in the form of Comedy of Manners. But in the second phase, it declined as the Elizabethan dramas like those of Shakespeare were reproduced and age itself did not produce drama. Thus the decline of drama happened.
The New Restraint
Writers started inventing new words and regularising vocabulary and grammar. Complex bodily metaphysical language such as Shakespeare used in his major tragedies was clarified and simplified. Moreover, the plays of Neoclassical age compared to those of Shakespeare plays are of single plot-line and are strictly limited in time and place.
Age of Reason
Neoclassical Period is often called the Age of Reason. Thinkers of this age considered reason to be the highest mental faculty and sufficient guide in all areas. Both religious beliefs and morality were grounded on reason. In literature also, the reason is predominant in the Neoclassical age. Emotions and imaginations are also present but in a controlled way.
Let's Discuss Elizabethan Age...
Introduction
This period is generally regarded as the greatest in the history of English Literature. Historically, we note in this age, the tremendous impetus received from the Renaissance from the reformation & from the exploration of the new world.
It was marked by a strong national spirit, by patriotism, by religious tolerance, by social content, by intellectual progress & by unbounded enthusiasm.
Such an age of thought, feeling & vigorous action, finds its best expression in the drama; & the wonderful development of the drama, culminating.
Though the age produced some of the excellent prose works, it is essentially an age of poetry; & the poetry is remarkable for its variety, its freshness, its youth & romantic feeling.
Characteristic Features of Elizabethan Age :
1. Revival of Interest in Greek Literature
The ardent revival in the study of Greek literature brought a dazzling light into many dark places of interest. The new classical influences were a great benefit. They tempered & polished the earlier rudeness of English Literature.
2. Abundance of Output
The Elizabethan age was rich in literary productions of all kinds. Singing is impossible when one’s hearts undeclared & at any moment one may be laid prostrate.
Not till the accession of Queen Elizabeth, did a better state of things began to be. In the Elizabethan age, pamphlets & treatises were freely written.
Sometimes writers indulged in scurrilous abuses which were of personal character.
But on the whole, the output of the literature was very wide, & after the lean years of the preceding epoch, the prodigal issue of the Elizabethan age is almost embarrassing.
3. The New Romanticism
The romantic quest is, for the remote, the wonderful & the beautiful. All these desires were abundantly fed during the Elizabethan age, which are the first & the greatest romantic epoch (period).
According to Albert, “there was a daring & resolute spirit of adventure in literary as well as the other regions, & most important of these was an un-mistakable buoyancy & freshness in the strong wind of the spirit. It was the ardent youth of English Literature & the achievement was worthy of it.”
4. Translations in Elizabethan Age
The Elizabethan age witnessed translation into English of several important foreign books. Many translations were as popular as the original works.
Sir Thomas North translated Plutarch’s Lives & John Florio translated Montaigne’s Essais.
No less popular were the translations in poetry. E.g. Metamorphoses by Arthur Golding, Arisoto Orlando Furioso by Sir John Harrington, Tasso’s Terusalom Liberata by Richard Carew.
5. Spirit of Independence
In spite of borrowings from abroad, the authors of this age showed a spirit of independence & creativeness.
Shakespeare borrowed freely, but by the alembic of his creative imaginations, he transformed the dross into gold.
Spenser introduced the ‘Spenserian Stanza’, & from his works, we got the impression of inventiveness & intrepidity.
On the whole, the outlook of the writers during the age was broad & independent.
6. Development of Drama
During the Elizabethan Age, drama made a swift & wonderful leap into maturity. The drama reached the splendid perfection in the hands of Shakespeare & Ben Jonson, though in the concluding part of the age, particularly in Jacobean Age, there was a decline of drama standards.
Popularity of Poetry
Poetry enjoyed its hey-day during the Elizabethan age. The whole of the age lived in a state of poetic fervour.
Songs, lyrics & sonnets were produced in plenty, & England became nest of the singing birds. In versification, there was a marked improvement.
Melody & Pictorialism were introduced in poetry by Spenser.
7. Prose and Novel
For the first time, prose rose to the position of first rate importance.
“Even the development of poetical drama between 1579 A.D. -1629 A.D., is hardly more extraordinary than the sudden expansion of English prose & its adaptation to every kind of literary requirement.”
The dead weight of the Latin & English prose acquired a tradition & universal application.
English Novel made its first proper appearance during this age.
Que 2. Who is your favorite writer and the favorite text from the Neoclassical Age?
How is he/she different from the writers of Elizabethan Age
and Romantic Age?
Jonathan Swift is my favorite writer and his Gulliver's travels is my favorite
text from the neoclassical age. Now let's discuss how Jonathan
Swift is different from Elizabethan age and Romantic age.
Characteristics Of Jonathan Swift
He is considered one of the leading satirists in the English language. His poetry is less known than his prose works. Originally, he published his work under the pseudonyms such as Isaac Bickerstaff, Lamuel Gulliver, M. B Drapier. He also published his works anonymously. He mastered the two styles of satires: Juvenalian satire and Horatian satire.
His ironic and satirical writing style and deadpan has attained an adjective “Swiftian.” A Modest Proposal is considered as one of the harshest and best satirical work.
Jonathan Swift’s Writing Style
Great Satirist
The life of Jonathan Swift overlapped a turn of a century. He is widely recognized as the greatest writer in the history of English literature, even though Swift has also written a prolific number of poems and appears to be well-versed in poetry, he is more generally known for his prose fiction. His best prose fiction includes A Tale of Tub, The Battle of Books, and Gulliver’s Travels.
He also wrote short essays and political pamphlets, including A Modest Proposal. The works of Jonathan Swift fall under the category of satire. He employed sarcasm and irony to expose folly and stupidity in politics, society, and human nature.
One of the best satirical prose fictions of Swift is Gulliver’s Travel. In Gulliver’s, Lamuel Gulliver travels to four different places where he encounters four different kinds of peoples. In the book, he satirizes human nature, politics, religious practices, and irrational practices of science. The book is also considered as a political and scientific allegory. It employed lots of irony and sarcasm.
Diction
Jonathan Swift employed simple and prosaic diction in his writing style. He also deviates from the typical syntax pattern and choice of words, but this happens in very rare cases. His normal writing is very simple and has no peculiarities in this respect. Swift intended to link the language with politics, history, and religion. He employed the middle style in his pamphlets. With this style, he avoided the extremes of the writing style of fanaticism and licentiousness used by decadent courtiers.
Sir Walter Scott commented on the writing style of Jonathan Swift, saying that his writing style consists of simple and naked words and appears to be expressive, clear, and strong. His style is familiar with no vulgarity and meanness. It is beautiful with ornamentation or affectation.
Ironic And Satirical Tone For Social Construction
Certainly, the works and writings of Jonathan Swift do not focus on the technicalities of language. It rather focuses on the satirical tone and harsh irony in his satire. In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift skillfully imitates and awfully pessimistic policymaker or an economist. In the essay, he satirically advocates the case of eating children of Ireland as a solution to the problems of poverty and overpopulation. Throughout the essay, Jonathan Swift abstains from his altering the role of the character, which is so straight-faced. It creates an absurd sarcasm.
In the essay, Swift harshly satirizes the heartlessness and ridiculousness of the true economists and politicians who made new imprudent and radical measures for improvement in the economy and forgets to talk about the problems and suffering of penniless and improvised Irish.
Even though the measures were not that extreme as the extreme satire of Jonathan Swift, the follies of the politicians and economists are imitated in an asinine and sarcastic manner. As the pieces of satire are the only commentary without any explanation, Swift gives his own personal ideas and opinions at the end of the work to make people understand the underlying message. This marks his ingenious and brilliance. For example, in the essay, he writes that:
“Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither clothes, nor household furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance…….”
Moreover, he also satirizes the politicians for their heartlessness by saying that they are not ruling for the sake of their countries for themselves. As he writes:
“…..Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing..”
He focuses on the moral learning of the upper class and says that we must educate the landlords to have mercy over the poor people. He also says that if the spirit of honesty, industry and skill is put into our shopkeepers, the world would be a far better place than it is now. As he writes:
“….if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it.”
Considering the above passage, one can say that the writing style of Jonathan Swift is not only ironic and filled with amusing satire. It is also important and meaningful to invoke social change that is entirely based on common sense. The manner of satire he introduces in his works evokes consideration and amusement both. The most important thing in his works is the popularity of humor. Even though most readers did seem to enjoy the exhausting political refutation, the humor in his works is enjoyed widely. It also has a major influence on shaping public opinion.
Format Of Writing
The style of Jonathan Swift in his parodies is determined by the format of what is being deceived. For example, the format of “A Modest Proposal” is actually in the form of a political pamphlet. In this essay, he employed a formal and non-florid language. He wrote the entire document in the professional format. When the essay begins, it explains the situations in which a mock plan is suggested, and facts are employed to support it.
Similarly, in the prose fiction Gulliver’s Travels, the style of the work is like an adventure and travel story. The story is narrated in the first person. The book is written in simple style and form shared by the stories of his time. The genre he was mimicking, he did not get too far as his works would have been appeared as stupid. In its place, he adapts his form to the contexts of the conventions so that to satirizes the politics, fillies of human nature, religion, and society, not the conventions themselves. In other words, Swift did not intend to make fun of the genre or the adventures of Gulliver’s to the ridiculous places and also the characters employed in Gulliver’s travels. The characters he employed are allegorical and represent the follies of human nature.
Writings
Under the influence of Temple, Swift started writing short essays. When Temple died in 1699, he had completed the tasks of editing and publishing Temple’s memoir. He then grudgingly accepted the post of secretary and Chaplain to Earl of Berkeley. When he made the journey to the estate of Earl, he was informed that the post had been filled by someone else. Though discouraged, he was resourceful and rested on his priestly qualifications. He soon found a work of ministering to a small congregation situated 20 miles outside of Dublin.
He preached, gardened, and worked for the next ten years on the house given to him by the church. He also started writing again. He published his first political pamphlet titled A Discourse on the Contests and Dissensions in Athens and Rome.
Swift anonymously published his book A Tale of Tub and The Battle of Books in 1704. A Tale of Hub became widely popular among the public; however, it was criticized and disapproved by the Church of England. Apparently, the book criticizes religion and church; however, it was intended as a parody of pride. When Tories came into an authority in 1710, Swift gained more reputation because of his writings. Tories asked Swift to join them as an editor of their official paper, Examiner.
After some time, Jonathan Swift turned out to be completely immersed in politics. He started writing some harsh and well-known pamphlets on politics. These pamphlets include The Conduct of the Allies. The pamphlet was an attack on Whigs. In the series of letters to Stella, his beloved, Swift inscribed his personal thoughts and feelings about the Tory government. These letters were later published as The Journal to Stella.
Conclusion
To conclude, Jonathan Swift is regarded as one of the leading authors of the English language. He contributed to define and perfect the style of parody and satire. Jonathan Swift combines humor with satire and irony and achieves his desirable result. His works employed misanthropic and biting political and social criticism with irony, grotesque mimicry, and sarcasm.
The presence of his works until the present age is the testament of brilliancy and ingenious. He highlights the fundamental follies of human nature and satirizes them almost 400 years ago; however, in the present age, it is still not resolved and in need to be made more explicit to the coming generation.
Que 3. Describe any one thing about this age which you look upto.
In English literature the period from the later half of the 17th century to the end of the 18th century, is called the period of Neo-classicism. In Elizabethan age Sidney and Ben-Jonson were classicists. The general trend of that age was that of romantic excesses and extravagances. A natural relation against thus tendency is seen in the metaphysical poets. True the Elizabethan and the Metaphysical enormously helped towards the evolution of Neo-classicism in England.
Politically the most important factor responsible for this change was the influence of France or English manners of life. Boileau, Rapined and Bossu formulated their theory of poetry based on the authority of Aristotle. The most important thing which the Neo-classicists emphasized was the precept follow nature. In an Essay on criticism Pope says “First Follow Nature and Your Judgement Frame by her Just Standard, Which is Still the Same”.
The other characteristic feature of Neo-classicism are a thorough study of the ancient writers and rigid observance of the rules evolved by them. Correctness they meant, the technical perfection only after getting labour. It is their belief that true fluency ease in writing comes from art not from chance, as they move easiest who have learnt to dance. What is more in 18th century criticism, the critics were very careful in the choice of diction. They believed that the language of poetry should be elevated. This led to the formulation of poetic diction as distinct from the language of prose. The meaning of wit according to Pope is “True Wit in Nature Advantage Dressed, What apt was Thought But Never so Well Expressed”.
Conclusion
So this is the neo-classical age highly influence to Jonathan swift, alexander pope, olive goldsmith. And the age of classical, satire and age of prose. So first the first half of the eighteenth century is remarkable for the rapid social Development in England. Important age for English literature.. The middle and later stages of the
Eighteenth century shows a minor Renaissance that touched nearly all Europe. The increase in wealth and comfort coincided with general uplifting of the standard of the human intellect. In France particularly it was well marked, and it took for its sign and seal the labours of the Encyclopedists and the social amenities of the older salons. Many of the leading English writers, including Gibbon, Hume, and Sterne, visited Paris, which was the hub of European culture.
Que 4.Share your presentation presented in the class.
Attach it with your blog.
Thank You
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