Week Ix (Augustan Period)
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The document summarizes the Augustan period in English literature from approximately 1700 to 1750. It was an era that emphasized reason and order in writing. Alexander Pope was a prominent poet who wrote works that used clear and simple language. Newspapers and magazines also grew in popularity during this period, such as The Tatler and The Spectator. Other notable authors of the time included Daniel Defoe, who wrote Robinson Crusoe, and Jonathan Swift, known for Gulliver's Travels. Drama was not as prolific a genre during the Augustan period.
Week Ix (Augustan Period)
- 1. History of English Literature Week IX Augustan Period ( 1700 – 1750)
- 2. Classic Period or Pope period System & orderliness in writing Creating a clear but simple language style, omitting formalism & artificiality Stressed on intelligence, not on imagination & feeling It’s in the age of intellect revolution. Rationalism became the main “ism” amongst philosophers and artists. Satire became the major output.
- 3. Glorious Revolution It signified the winning of Parliament over the King. Public played important role. Approaches to the public the birth of newspapers and magazines. It was greatly helped by the spread out of education amongst the public. The emergence of toleration amongst societies the emergence of clubs and coffee stands. Gave aid to the dissemination of newspaper.
- 4. Poetry Alexander Pope (1688 – 1741) Continued his predecessor: John Dryden He used smoother words many of his works used as common language, e.g.: To err is human, to forgive is divine , A little learning is a dangerous thing, For fools rush in where angels fear to tread. He got well-known for his work Essay on Criticism The conclusions of the Aristoteles, Horatius & Boileau (Greek, Roman & French) The Rape of the Lock burlesque stories, show or review which was presented with jokes Iliad and Odyssey by Homerus (translated by Pope) Essay on Man, The Dunciad
- 5. Early Newspapers & magazines Daily Courant in 1702, The Tatler (1709) and The Spectator (1711) Daily Courant also gossips 2 years only The Spectator literature magazine The editors: Joseph Addison & Richard Steele light essay was considered as a literary work
- 6. Famous writers Daniel Defoe (correspondent) contribution to contemporary newspaper: editorial & interview Defoe’s prominence: he could tell a story as though he himself had experienced it. Robinson Crusoe was the most famous Robinson Crusoe a sailorman who was deserted at an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745) Gulliver’s Travels satire Gulliver’s Travels : the experience of dr Lemuel Gulliver, a ship doctor, in the countries of Liliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa and Houyhnhnm. written in fluent, clean & simple language enforced the realism.
- 7. Samuel Johnson or Dr Johnson (1709 – 1784) known as the ‘literature dictator’ known from The Life of Johnson (biography), written by one of his followers James Boswell. Besides his eccentric characteristics, he was also known as the first compiler of the most complete English dictionary: A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) Other works of Johnson: The Vanity of Human Wishes, Rasselas He founded periodicals: ‘The Rambler’ and ‘The Idler’ His language style: full of rhetoric, borrowed words from Latin, long & complicated sentences, hence known as Johnsonese. Famous writers continuous…….
- 8. Drama It was infertile period for drama John Gay (1685 – 1731): The Beggar’s Opera (1728): satire towards Italian opera John Lillo (1693 – 1739): The London Merchant or The History of George Barnwell (1731): realistic social drama.