Timeline of English Literature: The age of Pope (1700-50)

Timeline of English Literature: The age of Pope (1700-50)

The Age of Pope, also known as the Augustan Age or the Neoclassical Age, refers to the early 18th century in English literature, when writers imitated the classical works of ancient Rome and Greece, emphasizing reason, order, and decorum. This era is often named after Alexander Pope (1688-1744), the period’s most influential poet, but it also saw the rise of significant prose writers, dramatists, and satirists.

Historical Context

• The Glorious Revolution (1688): Established a constitutional monarchy in England, leading to political stability.
• Queen Anne's Reign (1702-1714): Her reign marked the peak of the Augustan Age, fostering a growing appreciation for art, culture, and literature.
• Whigs and Tories: Political parties emerged, and the period was defined by their ideological conflicts. Writers often aligned with one of these factions, influencing their works.
• Growth of Periodicals: The rise of journalism and periodical essays helped shape public opinion, with writers like Joseph Addison and Richard Steele creating influential publications.

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Major Characteristics of the Age of Pope

1. Neoclassicism: Writers of this period were heavily influenced by classical works. They emphasized balance, harmony, and restraint, imitating the styles of Greek and Roman authors like Homer, Horace, and Virgil.
2. Satire: This period is marked by sharp wit and satirical attacks on society, politics, and culture. Writers used satire as a tool for moral correction and social critique.
3. Emphasis on Reason: The period valued intellectual clarity, reason, and rationality over emotional expression. Literature was often used to educate and instruct.
4. Heroic Couplets: Alexander Pope popularized the use of heroic couplets—rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter lines—which became the dominant poetic form.
5. Urbanity and Wit: Writers focused on the sophistication of urban life, with a keen interest in wit, clever wordplay, and refinement of style.

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Key Literary Figures and Works

1. Alexander Pope (1688-1744):

   • The Rape of the Lock (1712, expanded 1714): A mock-heroic poem satirizing a trivial incident in high society, using epic conventions to parody human vanity.
   • Essay on Criticism (1711): A poem in heroic couplets discussing the principles of literary criticism, emphasizing judgment, taste, and the importance of following classical models.
   • The Dunciad (1728, 1743): A scathing satire on the literary world and those Pope considered inferior or corrupt writers.
   • Essay on Man (1733-1734): A philosophical poem that explores the nature of humanity, society, and the universe through the lens of rationalism and religion.

2. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745):

   • Gulliver's Travels (1726): A satirical novel that critiques human nature, politics, and society through the fantastical voyages of Lemuel Gulliver.
   • A Modest Proposal (1729): A biting satirical essay that suggests solving poverty in Ireland by selling poor children as food to the rich.
   • The Battle of the Books (1704): A satirical work that discusses the superiority of classical literature over modern writings.
   • The Tale of a Tub (1704): A complex allegory attacking religious extremism and the abuses of modernity.

3. Joseph Addison (1672-1719) and Richard Steele (1672-1729):

   • The Spectator (1711-1712, 1714): A periodical that focused on moral and intellectual improvement, offering commentary on society, manners, and literature.
   • The Tatler (1709-1711): A forerunner to The Spectator, combining news, satire, and essays on daily life in London.

4. John Gay (1685-1732):

   • The Beggar's Opera (1728): A ballad opera satirizing the corruption of politics and society by presenting a story of thieves and prostitutes in a mock-heroic manner.
   • Fables (1727-1738): A collection of moral tales written in verse, continuing the tradition of classical fabulists like Aesop.

5. Daniel Defoe (1660-1731):

   • Robinson Crusoe (1719): Often considered the first English novel, it tells the story of a man’s survival on a deserted island and his moral and spiritual growth.
   • Moll Flanders (1722): A novel exploring the life of a woman who overcomes poverty and adversity through wit and resourcefulness, offering insight into the lower classes.

6. Samuel Richardson (1689-1761):

   • Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740): A sentimental epistolary novel that emphasizes morality and the struggles of a virtuous young woman against the advances of her wealthy master.

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Other Important Aspects of the Age of Pope

1. The Rise of Periodical Literature:

   • The development of the essay as a form of literature became important in this period. Writers like Addison and Steele used periodicals to reach a broader audience, offering moral instruction and reflections on contemporary life.

2. The Coffeehouse Culture:

   • Coffeehouses became intellectual hubs where writers, politicians, and thinkers gathered to exchange ideas. These places were vital in shaping public opinion and fostering literary culture.

3. Politics and Literature:

   • Writers often engaged with political issues of the time. Pope’s The Dunciad and Swift’s A Modest Proposal are examples of literature used as social and political commentary.
   • The political turmoil between the Whigs and Tories influenced the content and alignment of writers. For instance, Swift was a Tory, and his works often reflect his support for that political faction.

4. Patronage and Publishing:

   • Literary patronage was still a significant way for writers to earn a living, but this period also saw the rise of the independent author. Pope, for instance, became one of the first authors to make a substantial income through subscriptions and publications, without relying solely on a patron.

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Conclusion:

The Age of Pope was a defining era in English literature, marked by a return to classical ideals and an emphasis on reason, wit, and satirical critique. The writers of this period shaped the development of English poetry and prose, and their works remain influential for their intellectual rigor, moral commentary, and stylistic elegance. This period laid the groundwork for the development of the English novel and the continued evolution of satire, journalism, and literary criticism.

Notes: Historical Events  &  Literary Events

1700 BEGIN OF London Club

1702 First daily newspaper

1727 Death of Newton

1775 War of American independence begins.

1776 America declared independent.

1789 Outbreak of French Revolution.

1726 Gulliver’s Travells by Jonathan Swift.

1749 Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

1766 The Vicar of wakefield by Goldsmith

1719 Rabinson crusoe by Defoe.

1728 Beggar’s opera by Gay.

1712 The Rape of The Lock by Pope.

1740 Pamela by Richardson.

English Rulers

1702-1714 Anne

1714-27 George

I1727-1760 George II

Authors

ALEXANDER POPE

1667-1745 Jonathan Swift

1668-1744 Alexander Pope

1689-1761 Samuel Richardson

1707-1754 Henry Fielding

1728-1774 Oliver Goldsmith

1672-1719 Joseph Addison

1716-1771 Thomas Gray

1721-59 Collins

1700-48 Thomson

1731-1800 Cowper

1709-84 Dr. Johnson

Important Short Questions

1.Name two important periodicals of the 18th century? Whose names are related with them?
Ans. The Rambler (1750) and The Spectator are the two important periodicals.
    Samuel Johnson is related with the former while Addison is related with the later.

2.Who is the author of Lives of Poets? Name another work by the same author.
Ans. Samuel Johnson is the author of Lives of Poets. The Vanity of Human Wishes is the poem written by the same author, Johnson.

3.Name some periodicals of the 18th century?
Ans. The Spectator and The Tatler were two important periodicals. The Spectator began in 1711. In 1709, Steele published The Tatler. Both Steele and Addison contributed essays to these periodicals.

Other famous periodicals are Defoe’s Review, Johnson’s Rambler and Goldsmith’s The Citizen of the World.

4.Name two plays of George Farquhar and two plays of Sir John Vanbrugh?
Ans. The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux Strategem (1707) are two exquisite comedies by George Farquhar.
Sir John Vanbrugh wrote The Relapre in the year 1696 and The Provoked Wife in 1697.

5.Name two adventure stories of 18th century?
Ans. Two renowned adventure stories are Robinson Crusoe (1719) of Daniel Dofoe and   Gulliver’s Travels (1726) by Jonathan Swift.
These are no ordinary adventure stories. Robinson Crusoe is not an ordinary adventure to a   magical island, here is also a note of symbolism and realism and Gulliver’s Travel is an allegorical  satire on bitterness of fate and human society.

6. Name the first full-fledged novel? Who wrote it and what was the date of its composition?    Mention two other novels of the same writer?
Ans. Pamela is the first full-length novel in English written by Samuel Richardson (1689-1761). Pamela, an epistolary novel centred on a pleasant girl appears in 1740. The same author also wrote  Clarissa Harlowe (1747-48) and Sir Charles Grandison (1753-54).

7.What is the greatest novel of the 18th century? Who wrote it and in which year? What are his     other novels?
Ans. Among the 18th century great publications, Tom Jones is greatest for its greater symmetry of plot, clearer ad steadier vision into human life and human fallacy and a broader and more thickly peopled stage. It was written by Fielding in 1749.
 Fielding’s other novels are Joseph Andrews and Jonathan Wild the great.

8. Name two sentimental comedies of 18th century?
Ans. Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729) – The Funeral, The Lying Lover, The Tender Husband.

9. Why is the Age of Pope referred to as the Augustan Period?
Ans. The 18th century England is called Neo-Classical or Augustan Age because the leading writers of this period followed the literary principles and models of the great Roman and Greek author of the Age of Emperor Augustus.

10. How many essays did Addison contribute to The Spectator?
Ans. In The Tatler, a periodical started on April 12, 1709, consists of 42 essays of Addison and 188 essays by Steele.
The Spectator, started on March 1711, consists of 274 essays of Addison and 236 essays of  Steele.

11. Why is the period from 1700-1750 called the "Age of Pope"?

It is named after Alexander Pope, the most prominent poet of the era, known for his mastery of satire, neoclassical ideals, and use of the heroic couplet.

12. What is Neoclassicism, and how did it influence the literature of the Age of Pope?

Neoclassicism refers to the revival of classical Greek and Roman ideals in literature, emphasizing order, reason, clarity, and decorum. Writers of this period imitated the styles of classical authors.

13. What is a heroic couplet, and how did Pope popularize its use?

A heroic couplet consists of two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter. Pope perfected its use in his poetry, particularly in works like The Rape of the Lock and Essay on Man.

14. What are the major themes in Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock?

The Rape of the Lock satirizes the triviality of the upper class and human vanity by using mock-heroic elements to parody a real-life incident.

15. How did Jonathan Swift use satire in Gulliver's Travels?

Swift used satire in Gulliver's Travels to critique human nature, politics, and societal issues, presenting fantastical lands to reflect on the follies of mankind.

16. What is the significance of The Spectator and The Tatler in the Age of Pope?

These periodicals, written by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion, discussing social manners, morals, and literary criticism.

17. What are the primary characteristics of literature in the Age of Pope?

The literature of the era was characterized by satire, reason, decorum, clarity, and imitation of classical forms.

18. Who were the primary political parties in this period, and how did they influence literature?

The Whigs and Tories were the two main political parties, and many writers aligned with one of these factions. Political issues often influenced the content of their works.

19. What role did coffeehouses play in the literary culture of the Age of Pope?

Coffeehouses were intellectual centers where writers, thinkers, and politicians gathered to exchange ideas, discuss literature, and shape public discourse.

20. What is a mock-heroic poem, and how is The Rape of the Lock an example of this genre?

A mock-heroic poem uses the grandiose style of epic poetry to satirize trivial subjects. The Rape of the Lock parodies the conventions of epic poetry to humorously critique upper-class vanity.

21. What is the significance of Swift’s A Modest Proposal?

A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay in which Swift ironically suggests that the Irish poor could solve their economic problems by selling their children as food to the rich, highlighting the exploitation and mistreatment of Ireland.

22. How did the rise of periodicals influence the development of prose in this era?

The periodical essay became a prominent form of prose, offering moral, social, and literary commentary in accessible formats, influencing public opinion and the development of journalism.

23. What was John Gay’s contribution to the literature of the Age of Pope?

John Gay is best known for his satirical play The Beggar’s Opera (1728), which criticized the corruption of society through a ballad opera about thieves and prostitutes.

24. How did Alexander Pope contribute to literary criticism with Essay on Criticism?

In Essay on Criticism, Pope outlined principles of good literary criticism, emphasizing judgment, taste, and the importance of classical models in evaluating literature.

    Ardhendu De