This blog is based on our interpretation of Neo-classical age.
Here are some questions assigned by our teacher.
Q - Compare the general characteristics of the Elizabethan age and Neo-classical age.
Here, both of these ages are different in their general characteristics. The Elizabethan age is marked by the development of drama. On the other hand, we see the rise of prose writing in the Neo-Classical age. Both ages have different and important characteristics.
The first major difference between these two ages is religious tolerance. The whole Elizabethan age was greatly influenced by Queen Elizabeth herself. She favored both religious parties—Catholics and Protestants. And people of that age were much more aware of the necessity of learning. Which paved the way for the development of literature, particularly drama. While the Neoclassical age seemed very much occupied with political affairs. Which affected the literature of this age and marked the rise of satire in writing. Whig and Tory were two distinct political parties that arose in this age, and most of the writers were either Tory or Whig. And they were writing for the benefit of their respective parties.
There is much development in the drama of the Elizabethan age, which we can see mainly in the plays of Shakespeare and Marlowe. Spenser is the only worthy non-dramatic poet of the Elizabethan age. While in the Neo-classical age we see the triumph of prose, along with that we also see the development of essays, periodical writings, pamphlets, and magazine culture, which is equally important.
We see the unbound enthusiasm and social contentment in the Elizabethan age, which is partly because of religious tolerance and an equal distribution of wealth. Perishes were made, and every countryman seemed happy with the earnings. The opportunities for labor There is a marked improvement in their lifestyle. We see the new morality in the Neo-Classical age, which they find in classical works and, in a way, imitate. which is why this age is also called the pseudo-classical age.
The establishment of coffee houses was also very significant in the Neo-Classical age. Writers and people were gathered in the coffee houses to talk about the news of the day and to make remarks about rival political parties. New publishing houses were also established at that time, which promoted the growth of literary activity at the time.
The writing style of the Neo-Classical age differs from that of the Elizabethan age. Writers of the Neo-Classical Age made abundant use of satire, as we can see in the works of Pope and Jonathan Swift. This age is also known as the age of reason. Man of this age craves knowledge, and the essays of Pope remain essential material for it.
The novel as a new genre was established in the later part of the Neo-Classical age. While Elizabethan writers were only preoccupied with drama.
Q: Who is your favorite writer and favorite text from the Neo-Classical Age? How is she or he different from writers of the Elizabethan and Romantic Ages?
There are many excellent writers in the Neo-Classical age, but the one I like is one of the most famous transitional poets, Thomas Gray. and one of the important graveyard poets.
Gray only wrote 13 poems in his lifetime, yet he is considered one of the most productive poets of the 18th century. I like his work, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, the most. As a transitional poet, his works are different from those of Elizabethan writers. Gray wrote many odes and elegies. He, along with other transitional poets, established the pillars of romantic poetry by breaking the neo-classical conventions.
Q: Describe any one thing about this age that you look up to.
The idea of the coffee houses is one of the best things about this time, for me at least. We could imagine how people of this age used to gather in coffee houses. Their conversion would be interesting.
Here is my presentation on Thomas Gray.
Thomas Gray from AakashChavda4
Work Cited
- Long, William J. English Literature. Maple Press Pvt. Limited, 2012.
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