Here I am writing my blog on The neoclassical era.
# WHAT IS NEOCLASSICAL AGE,...
According to Britannica Encyclopaedia:
"Classicism and Neoclassicism, in the arts, historical tradition or aesthetic attitudes based on the art of Greece and Rome in antiquity. In the context of the tradition, Classicism refers either to the art produced in antiquity or to later art inspired by that of antiquity; Neoclassicism always refers to the art produced later but inspired by antiquity. Thus the terms Classicism and Neoclassicism are often used interchangeably."
The term Neoclassicism is a combination of two words: Neo and Classic. The word neo has been derived from a Greek word neos, which means young or new, while the word classic, according to the Webster Dictionary, refers to the style and works of the ancient authors of Greece and Rome. To combine these words, we get the meaning of Neoclassicism as the rebirth and restoration of Classicism.
Neoclassicism is the movement in the history of English literature, which laid immense emphasis on the revival of the classical spirit during the period between 1680 and 1750 in the age of Pope and Dryden. It is a prototype of Classicism. Writers of this period immensely endeavoured to follow the z of the writers of the period of Augustus, emperor of Rome, which produced unparalleled writers as Horace, Virgil and Ovid. That is the reason; the age of Pope and Dryden is also called Augustan Age.
# Let's discuss the general characteristics of the Elizabethan age & Neoclassical age,...
> GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEOCLASSICAL AGE:-
The Neoclassical era in literature brought a sense of decorum and stability to writers. There were rules to be carefully followed, and there was structure to be upheld. People praised wit and parody, as well. It was a time of careful moral appearances, though appearances were more valued than honesty.
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:-
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. NEOCLASSICAL DRAMA:-
Neoclassical drama falls into two phases-
> RESTORATION DRAMA
(Later 17th century)
> SENTIMENTAL DRAMA
(18th century)
7. 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.
8. 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.
So here we can say that The Neoclassical Period in literature brought a sense of decorum and stability to writers. There were rules to be carefully followed. It was a time of careful moral appearance, though appearances were more valued than honesty. However, some of England’s most brilliant literature can be credited to this era.
Now let's discuss the general characteristics of Elizabethan age,...
# WHAT IS ELIZABETHAN AGE,...
Elizabethan Age, in British history, the time period (1558–1603) during which Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. Popularly referred to as a “golden age,” it was a span of time characterized by relative peace and prosperity and by a flowering of artistic, literary, and intellectual culture to such a degree that it (along with the succeeding reign of James I) is sometimes designated as the “English Renaissance.”
The Elizabethan Age began with Elizabeth Tudor’s accession to the throne, in 1558, and her institution of the Elizabethan religious Settlement (effected with the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity) in 1559. In the decades since her father, Henry VIII, had broken with the Roman Catholic Church, conflicts between Protestants and Catholics created chaos in England. The attempt by Elizabeth’s predecessor, Mary I, to return England to Catholicism intensified this conflict. Elizabeth’s goal was to create a stable peaceful situation by ending direct religious persecution. She would be the “supreme head” of a state church, the Church of England, but (partly because England wished to maintain good relations with powerful Catholic countries, particularly Spain) Catholics would not be targets of state violence. Moreover, they would have some amount of religious freedom. Nonetheless, failure to attend Sunday service in an Anglican church was to be fined by the government under the Act of Uniformity, which would stoke resentment and dissent.
> THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ELIZABETHAN AGE:-
Elizabethan 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.
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 is 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 of poetry. E.g. Metamorphoses by Arthur Golding, Aristotle’s 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, the 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.
7. 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 the nest of the singing birds. In versification, there was a marked improvement. Melody & pictorialism were introduced in poetry by Spenser.
8. PROSE & NOVELS:-
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.
So let's move further and discuss about second question....
QUE. 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?
"DANIEL DEFOE IS MY FAVORITE WRITER OF AUGUSTAN AGE AND HIS ""ROBINSON CRUSOE" IS MY FAVORITE TEXT FROM THE THE NEOCLASSICAL AGE."
Check out both the link and vedio for more information...
QUE: Share your presentation presented in the class. Attach it with your blog.
So let's move further on last question.....
QUE:Describe any one thing about this age which you look upto.
(1660-1788) - This period goes by the names "the Enlightenment," "the Age of Reason," and "the Neo-Classical Age."
Neo classical literature was defined by Common sense, order, accuracy, and structure. Their character also practiced conservatism, self-control, and restraint.
Neoclassicism is a revival of the classical past. It developed in Europe in the 18th century when artists began to imitate Greek and Roman antiquity and painters of the Renaissance as a reaction to the excessive style of Baroque and Rococo.
Clean, crisp lines replaced the twists and turns of Rococo art, and color was generally toned down. The subject matter often involved Greek or Roman myths, as well as the epic stories of ancient heroes, such as Achilles and Hector.
Neoclassicism in the arts is an aesthetic attitude based on the art of Greece and Rome in antiquity, which invokes harmony, clarity, restraint, universality, and idealism.
The Neoclassical style arose from such first-hand observation and reproduction of antique works and came to dominate European architecture, painting, sculpture, and decorative arts. It was not until the eighteenth century that a concerted effort to systematically retrieve the glories of lost civilizations began.
Alfred Marshall, is the father of neoclassical economics. The theory of Neoclassical Economics originated around 1900; at the time it gave a tough competition to the ideas and beliefs of Classical economists. Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Vilfredo Pareto laid the groundwork for this theory.
The period is called neoclassical because its writers looked back to the ideals and art forms of classical times, emphasizing even more than their Renaissance predecessors the classical ideals of order and rational control.
Writers and craftsmen including Alexander Pope, John Dryden, Jonathan Swift and Josiah Wedgwood found inspiration in the classical period. Andrew Macdonald-Brown explores how their works adopted the style, genres, aesthetic values and subjects of Greek and Roman writers.
So here most of information about neoclassical age is covered by me...
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