Notesale: Turn your study into money

Document Preview

Extracts from the notes are below, to see the PDF you'll receive please use the links above

---

Exploring the
Neoclassical Period
A Journey Through the Evolution of Art and Literature from 1660 to 1798

by Syeda Sumaira Tabassum

History of English Literature
Lecture 4: The Neoclassical Period in English
Literature (1660–1798)
Introduction
The Neoclassical Period, spanning from 1660 to 1798, is a pivotal era in the history of English
literature
...
It bridges the Restoration period and the
Romantic movement, capturing a dynamic evolution in literary expression
...

In this lecture, we will explore the main features of the Neoclassical period, emphasizing
Restoration literature, the Augustan Age, the rise of the novel, and the sentimentalist and preRomantic writers
...


1
...

This political shift brought about cultural revival, including a renewed interest in arts and literature
...


Features of Restoration Literature

Emphasis on wit, satire, and humor
...

Influence of French literature, especially theater and comedy
...

A focus on individualism and personal expression
...
His work exemplifies the
neoclassical ideals of order, decorum, and wit
...

Drama: He excelled in satire and wrote influential plays like All for Love and Marriage à la Mode,
which showcase his mastery over comedy, wit, and criticism
...


Comedy of Manners
The Comedy of Manners was a dominant theatrical genre during the Restoration, reflecting
sophisticated societal norms and human follies
...

Representative Playwrights: William Wycherley (The Country Wife), George Etherege (The
Man of Mode), and William Congreve (The Way of the World)
...
The Augustan Age (1700–1750)
Evolution and Features
The Augustan Age, named after the Roman Emperor Augustus, symbolizes the period of political
stability and cultural maturity
...


Literary Traits
Use of satire to criticize societal flaws
...

Emphasis on formality, wit, and elegance
...


Prominent Figures
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
Pope epitomizes the Augustan ideals with his mastery of form, irony, and moral seriousness
...
The Essay on Man emphasizes universal human nature and the importance of
humility
...

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)
Swift was a master satirist whose works critiqued social, political, and religious institutions
...

A Modest Proposal: A stark satire suggesting the Irish sell their children as food to highlight
the severity of exploitation and poverty
...
Writers believed literature should serve moral and social
improvement, often employing wit and irony to achieve their goals
...
The Rise of the Novel (Late 17th–18th Century)
Historical Background
The novel emerged as a dominant literary form, reflecting the complexities of individual
experience and societal change
...


Pioneering Authors
Daniel Defoe (1660–1731)
Defoe is regarded as the father of the English novel
...
Moll
Flanders explores issues of morality, social mobility, and identity
...

Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)
Richardson developed the epistolary novel, emphasizing psychological depth
...

Themes: Morality, virtue, and emotional honesty
...
It became a vessel for social critique, psychological insight,
and entertainment
...
Sentimentalism and Pre-Romanticism (Mid to Late 18th
Century)
Cultural Context
The period witnessed a reaction against the formal, rational ideals of the Augustan Age
...


Key Writers
Thomas Gray (1716–1771)
Gray is often called the first “Pre-Romantic
...

The Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard: Reflects themes of mortality, memory, and the
transient nature of life
...

William Blake (1757–1827)
Blake's poetry and art embody the transition toward Romanticism, emphasizing imagination,
spirituality, and emotional depth
...

Innovative Style: Blake’s imaginative visions challenged the rationalistic norms of the
preceding neoclassical era, emphasizing poetic intuition and spiritual truth
...
This approach contrasted sharply with the restrained,
rational tone of earlier periods, inspiring the emotional and individualistic themes central to
Romanticism
...
From the wit and satire of the Restoration and Augustan Age to the
emerging individualism of the novel and the emotive expressiveness of Sentimentalism and PreRomanticism, this era laid the foundation for modern literary traditions
...
These writers and works continue to influence literature, emphasizing clarity, moral
purpose, and emotional depth
...
  Which of the following best characterizes Restoration literature?
a) Romantic themes and emotion
b) Order, wit, satire, and humor
c) Medieval allegory
d) Mysticism and spiritualism
2
...
  The characteristic feature of Comedy of Manners is:
a) Emphasis on religious themes
b) Witty dialogue and social satire
c) Focus on rural life
d) Abstract philosophical discussions
4
...
  Dryden’s Marriage à la Mode is a critique of:
a) Rural traditions
b) Aristocratic vanity and marriage customs
c) Religious dogmas
d) Scientific discovery
Augustan Age: Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift

1
...
  Alexander Pope is best known for his mastery in:
a) Epic poetry
b) Heroic couplets and satire
c) Gothic novels
d) Romantic ballads
3
...
  Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is primarily a:
a) True travelogue
b) Satire and parody of human nature and society
c) Romance novel
d) Historical account
5
...
  The major aim of Augustan satire was to:
a) Promote religious dogma
b) Criticize societal flaws using wit and irony
c) Propagate romantic ideals
d) Focus solely on personal love stories
Rise of the Novel: Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson

1
...
  Which novel by Defoe features a castaway’s adventure of survival?
a) Robinson Crusoe
b) Gulliver’s Travels
c) Pamela
d) Clarissa
3
...
  The novel as a genre became popular because it:
a) Focused on myth and legend
b) Allowed detailed psychological and social exploration of individuals
c) Rejected moral themes
d) Limited itself to poetic forms
5
...
  Thomas Gray is associated with which genre?
a) Romantic epic
b) Elegiac poetry and pre-Romantic lyricism
c) Satirical drama
d) Gothic novel
2
...
  William Blake’s poems are notable for their:
a) Classical formality
b) Use of rational logic
c) Imaginative visions and spiritual themes
d) Strict adherence to Augustan decorum
4
...
  Sentimentalism emphasizes:
a) Rational thought and logic
b) Emotions, compassion, and individual feeling
c) Strict social hierarchy
d) Scientific inquiry
6
...
  Which genre is NOT typically associated with the Neoclassical period?
a) Satire
b) Epic
c) Gothic horror
d) Comedy
2
...
  The main style of Alexander Pope’s poetry is:
a) Blank verse
b) Heroic couplets

4
...
 

6
...
 

8
...
  b) Order, wit, satire, and humor
2
...
  b) Witty dialogue and social satire
4
...
  b) Aristocratic vanity and marriage customs
6
...
  b) Heroic couplets and satire
8
...
  b) Satire and parody of human nature and society
10
...
  b) Criticize societal flaws using wit and irony
12
...
  a) Robinson Crusoe
14
...
  b) Allowed detailed psychological and social exploration of individuals
16
...
  b) Elegiac poetry and pre-Romantic lyricism
18
...
  c) Imaginative visions and spiritual themes
20
...
 b) Emotions, compassion, and individual feeling
22
...
 c) Gothic horror
24
...
 b) Heroic couplets
26
...
 b) Gulliver’s Travels
28
...
 b) Spiritual revelation and visionary art
30

---