AD's English Literature

"Then I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the wilderness, they presently saw a town before them, and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called Vanity Fair; it is kept all the year long; it beareth the name of Vanity Fair because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity; and also because all that is there sold, or that cometh thither, is vanity. As is the saying of the wise, “All that cometh is vanity” (Ecclesiastes i. 2, 14; ii. 11, 17; xi. 8; Isaiah xl. 17)." The Pilgrim’s Progress by  John Bunyan  (1628-88)  John Bunyan, a Puritan preacher who was not formally educated, wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress" while he was imprisoned in 1675 for his religious practices as a Nonconformist. The book, which compares life to a journey and is written in a simple, biblical style, has become a renowned spiritual allegory in the English language. "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan is an innovative wor...

Unraveling the Enigma: The Heroic Identity in "Paradise Lost" T he problem of hero in Paradise Lost has not been finally solved and no one single opinion has been formed on this subject. Before we give our judgment on this controversial question let us examine the claims that have been put forth for the various characters of the epic.

“We must beat the iron while it is hot, but we may polish it at leisure.” John Dryden  (1631 - 1700) English poet, playwright, and literary critic. Aeneis Various causes gave rise to an unprecedented spirit of satire in the Augustan age , from John Dryden (1631-1700) to Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) . It is a materialistic age in which certain fashions and modes of behaving and taste hold away.  (1) What is considered “genteel taste” is vigorously upheld, and any deviation from it is satirized. (2) “Correctness” and “good sense” are the order of the day. Emphasis is on reason and correct observation of certain rules both in literature and social life. Rationalism develops clear thinking and the temptation to pronounce judgment is strong. This accounts for the rise both social and literary satire.  (3) The restoration witnessed a revolt against Puritan austerity. There was also a reaction against religious hypocrisy. The religious and the devout were cr...

B efore we go into the Christian doctrine let’s focus on the title Pulley or the Gift of God by George Herbert first. Pulleys and hoists are mechanical devices aimed at assisting us with moving heavy loads through a system of ropes and wheels (pulleys) to gain advantage. We should not be surprised at the use of a pulley as a central conceit since the domain of physics and imagery from that discipline would have felt quite comfortable to most of the metaphysical poets. God is the most important character in “The Pulley”, and the only one whose name is given except the poet narrator. In the beginning of the poem, he is excited by the ringing of the truth while He and his creations, i. e. the human being are having a conversation while in imaginations through the poet’s conversation with the God. Herbert sees a perfect design of our psychology in Christian ideological terms explained through his God's eyes, but he longs to join the religious journey. God opened a glass of blessings ...

 ‘Malapropism’ is a compound word derived from three French words ‘ma! a propos’ which means something ‘out of place’. It is defined as ‘a ludicrous misuse of word, especially for one resembling it.’ This confusion between sets of words is characteristic of Mrs. Malaprop—an immortal creation of Sheridan, fit to occupy a prominent place in the portrait-gallery of comic characters in world-literature. Mrs.pro..J. monumental instance of Sheridan’s highly developed artificial ‘humour’ as illustrated in her instinct for ‘a nice derangement on epithets’. Yet she is not a mere stock-character as her very name implies but one instinct with life and vitality, which is a measure of the genius of Sheridan . As a satirical portrait , she stands for, (i) the type of the provincial woman of the age in her bid for turning out to be a town-lady by her unconscious and wrong use of high-sounding classical words; (ii) the type of the old aunt, jealous in her guard over her niece with her ante-diluv...

 " Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness."-   John Webster  (1578? - 1632?) English playwright. The Duchess of Malfi There was a group of dramatists writing plays for the London theater manager Philip Henslowe. The group included many gifted playwrights, among them Thomas Dekker, John Marston, and Thomas Heywood, with each of whom Webster collaborated occasionally. John Webster ' s genius as a writer was first fully revealed in his great tragedies The White Devil, produced in 1612, and The Duchess of Malfi, staged about 1614. Both plays depict a world of extravagant passions, dark intrigue, and fratricidal violence. Both plays ensured Webster's long-lasting critical acclaim and both are still produced. Despite their melodramatic themes, Webster's plays are redeemed by his soaring poetic dialogue and his grasp of human psychology.

Reading  Andrew Marvell   (1621 – 78) , a representative poet of the late 17th century, requires an appreciation for his unique blend of metaphysical and lyrical poetry. Marvell's works are characterized by their intellectual depth, wit, and intricate use of imagery. As a poet who lived during a time of political turmoil and societal change, his poems often reflect a complex interplay between personal emotions and broader themes. To delve into Marvell's poetry, it's crucial to understand the metaphysical conceits he employs – elaborate and extended comparisons that link seemingly disparate ideas. These conceits offer layers of meaning and demand careful analysis to fully grasp their implications. Of the puritan poets and satirist, who were not many, one of the most endearing was Andrew Marvell   (1621 – 78) and the other the greatest of the poets of the century was John Milton. Marvell was tutor to the daughter of Lord Fairfax, the great parliamentary general. Marvell ...

“If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi , 'tis no matter what they think; they are sometimes in the right, sometimes in the wrong; their judgement is a mere lottery.”- John Dryden  (1631 - 1700) English poet, playwright, and literary critic. "Of Dramatick Poesy" The celebrated Preface to the Fables , one of his most important essays, is commonly regarded as one of the masterpieces of English criticism, and appeared a few months before Dryden's death in 1699. Read More about Age of Dryden This was prefixed to a volume of translations and adaptations, which bore the title Fables, Ancient and Modern , translated into Verse from Homer, Ovid, Boccaccio, and Chaucer: with Original Poems. The Preface as it stands is chiefly a criticism of Chaucer, renowned for its catholicity of taste, but it contains also comparisons of the different poets named in the title, and a defence of his own conduct from charges made against him by Blackmore, Milbourn, and...