THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
Another period in the history of English Literature is Eighteenth Century (1700-1784) which is consisted of two sub periods;
- The Age of Pope (1700-1744)
- The Age of Johnson (1744-1784)
It is also called Augustan Age or Classical Age in history due to so many literary creations and opposite to the previous styles such as exaggerated and whimsical style of Elizabethan and Puritan age. This era consist of the group of writers who adopted the style of ancient classical writers. This was actually the age of reason which reflects the independency of the present-day writers having a good sense of literature. Queen Anne ascended to the throne in 1702 and later on George-I, George-II and George-III ruled over the England whole century. In this era the first daily newspaper was started, Cabinet government established and war with France happened in 1756 were major political aspects.
- Genres of the Eighteenth Century; (Age of Pope)
As far as genre of the Age of Pope (1700-1744) is concerned there was poetry, drama and prose in which the eminent genre of the phase was prose.
Major Figures and Works of the Age of Pope in genre of Poetry:
It was the classical poetry time when period was dominated by the Age of Pope till 1744 where main matter of discussion was life of society and cultural aspects. Most prominent name in the age was Alexander Pope (1688-1744) who was a Catholic by religious aspects. He wrote his master piece ‘The Rape of the Lock’ in 1712 a poem which is considered to be one of the great works in the History of English Literature. It was a mock heroic all about story of the stealth of Lock of Miss Arabella by Lord Peter. Another prominent work was ‘Essay on Criticism’ in 1711 description of Ancients and their relation with nature. He also wrote a satire ‘The Dunciad’, in which he criticized the literary incompetence. Pope also wrote another great poem ‘The Essay on Man’ in 1732 in a beautiful style. In the last he wrote against his enemies in ‘Imitations of Horace and Epistle’. He wrote in epigrammatic style which has been appreciated in 20th century.
Mathew Prior (1664-1721) was another poet of the age he was a politician. He wrote long poems such as, ‘Solomon on the Vanity of the World’ and ‘Alma or the Progress of the Mind’ a thoughtful kind of poems.
Lady Win Chelsea (1660-1725) was a follower of Pope. Her ‘Nocturnal Reverie’ was a prominent work in that age.
James Thomas (16?-17?) was another poet of the age who wrote ‘The Seasons’ in 1726 a nature poem written in blank verse.
John Gay (1685-1732) also a poet of this age a writer of lyrics and couplet. His well-known work was ‘Rural Sports’, ‘Black Eyed Susan’ and ‘Fables’.
Edward Young (1683-1785) was a satirist and wrote ‘Universal Passions’ and ‘The Night Thoughts’ written in Blank Verse.
Thomas Parnell (1679-1718) was another poem of the age who wrote ‘The Night-Piece on Death’ and ‘Hymn to Contentment’.
Major Figures and Works of the Age of Pope in genre of Prose:
Most famous genre of the first half of 18th century was prose writing in which prominent figure was Daniel Defoe (1661-1731) wrote his well-known prose writing such as, ‘Robinson Crusoe’. After that he wrote some fictional work such as ‘The Memories of a Cavalier’, ‘Captain Singleton’, ‘Moll Flanders’, ‘Colonel Jack’, ‘Roxana’ and Journal of the Plague Year’. These were the work of reality telling to the readers.
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) wrote satirical writings such as ‘Tale of a Tub’ and ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ was one of the great proses in the history of English Literature. His work was written in allegorical style and all about the satirical criticism on social and political system. Another prominent work was ‘Journal to Stella’ written for the beloved Esther Johnson.
Joseph Addison (1672-1719) wrote his famous prose work ‘The Campaign’, ‘The Tatler’ and ‘The Spectator’.
Sir Richard Stele (1672-1729) worked in collaboration to Addison ‘The Periodical Essays’.
Major Figures and Works of the Age of Pope in genre of Novel:
Another famous genre of the first half of 18th century was novel in which prominent figure was Richardson (1689-1761) wrote his famous novel ‘Pamela’ in 1740.
Henry Fielding (1707-1754) who worked in both ages i.e. Age of Pope and Age of Johnson. He wrote his famous novel ‘Joseph Andrews’ in 1742 and ‘Tom Jones’ in 1749.
- Genres of the Eighteenth Century; (Age of Johnson)
This was the age which is dominated by Dr. Samuel Johnson which was continued till the death of Johnson in 1784. It was also considered to be the Age of Transition due to its classical spins to romantic spirit.
Major Figures and Works of the Age of Johnson in genre of Poetry:
Poetry of second half of 18th century was started with the name of Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784). He started writing poetry since childhood and spirit of classics was the part of his poetical work. He wrote his one of the best poems, ‘London’ and ‘The Vanity of the Human Wishes’ were his chief poems with the rhetorical and formal elegance in the classical manners.
Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) was also the part of poetical group of the age and wrote poetry on the classical manners like Johnson. He wrote his important poems ‘The Traveller’ and ‘The Deserted Village’ were classical standard poems touches the Romanticism. As basically it was the time which getting changeover of Classical to Romanticism.
These were the poets of classics wrote poems on the standards of classicism later on there was a group of poets who wrote romanticism kind of poetry. James Thomson (1700-1748) was one of them who wrote poems in natural settings such as, ‘The Seasons’ which was all about the scenery of natural and rural kind of things like woods, fields and also wild creatures. Another poem was ‘The Castle of Indolence’ which was the allegorical poem in the form of Spenserian stanza.
Another poetical figure of the Age of Johnson was Thomas Gray (1716-1771). He was famous for the ‘Elegy Written in Country Churchyard’. This was the expressing poem of personal feelings and melancholy theme. Moreover he wrote ‘The Progress of The Poesy’ which is a poem of romantic standard and ‘The Bard’ which was more romantic as last one.
Similarly William Collins (1721-1759) was also the poet of the Johnson’s era. He wrote melancholic and romantic poems such as, ‘Oriental Eclogues’ a romantic poem. Moreover he wrote his best poems, ‘To Simplicity’, ‘To the Passions’, ‘To Fear’, ‘How Sleep the Brave’ and ‘Ode to Evening’ were all the poems of solitude and calmed poems.
James Macpherson (1736-1796) was famous for his publication of Ossianic poems which is called ‘Work of Ossian’ was a romantic work.
Poetry of William Blake (1787-1787) was not a classical kind of poetry but lyrical work. His famous poems were ‘Little Lamb who made Thee’, ‘Tiger’, ‘Tiger Burning Bright’, ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell’ and these were of the part of his work “The Song of Experience” and “The Song of Innocence” in the history of English Literature.
William Cowper (1731-1800) wrote the autobiographical poetry and written in blank verses. Poem ‘The Task’ was his famous poem about scenario of homely description. Moreover he also wrote ‘On the Receipt of My Mother’s Picture’ and ‘Alexander Selkirk’
Similarly Robert Burns (1789-1796) was basically a song writer. His famous poems were ‘The Cotter’s Saturday’, ‘To a Mouse’, ‘To a Mountain Daisy’, ‘Man was made to Mourne’ was a beautiful and emotional kind of poetry.
George Crabbe (1754-1832) was also partly a romantic poet of the age. His poem ‘The Village’, ‘The Perish Register’, The Borough’, ‘Tales in Verse’, ‘Tales of the Hall’.
0 Comments