Assignment : Comparison of General Characteristics : Elizabethan Age & Neo-Classical Age.
☆ Comparison of General Characteristics : Elizabethan Age & Neo-Classical Age :
□ General Characteristics of the Elizabethan Age :
(1) Getting Rid of Religious Fears & Bringing Up with New Enthusiasm :
The ascension of Queen Elizabeth on the throne of England in 1559 marks the dawn of the new era in the history of England as well as English Literature. The Northern part of England was influenced by Catholic whereas Southern part by Protestant. Ireland remained faithful to its old religious traditions whereas Scotland worked out its own Reformation. The queen favoured both religious cults. The defeat of the Spanish Armada influenced the Englishmen and united them as one nation, and brought up the Reformation in literature of the age. As W. J. Long points out :
"For the first time since the Reformation began, the fundamental question of religious toleration seemed to be settled, and the mind of man, freed from religious fears and persecutions, turned with a great creative impulse to other forms of activity. It is partly from this new freedom of the mind that the Age of Elizabeth received its great literary stimulus."
(1) Getting Rid of Religious Fears & Bringing Up with New Enthusiasm :
The ascension of Queen Elizabeth on the throne of England in 1559 marks the dawn of the new era in the history of England as well as English Literature. The Northern part of England was influenced by Catholic whereas Southern part by Protestant. Ireland remained faithful to its old religious traditions whereas Scotland worked out its own Reformation. The queen favoured both religious cults. The defeat of the Spanish Armada influenced the Englishmen and united them as one nation, and brought up the Reformation in literature of the age. As W. J. Long points out :
"For the first time since the Reformation began, the fundamental question of religious toleration seemed to be settled, and the mind of man, freed from religious fears and persecutions, turned with a great creative impulse to other forms of activity. It is partly from this new freedom of the mind that the Age of Elizabeth received its great literary stimulus."
(2) Rapid Growth in Socio-Economic Condition :
With the birth of new enthusiasm, the Elizabethan England beheld the intense and rapid growth in social and economical conditions of prevalent English people. The new opportunities were opened up for the labourers whereas the rich class was called for to support their weaker arm by paying taxes to the Queen's reign. W. J. Long observes :
"The rapid increase of manufacturing towns gave employment to thousands who had before been idle and discontented."
With the birth of new enthusiasm, the Elizabethan England beheld the intense and rapid growth in social and economical conditions of prevalent English people. The new opportunities were opened up for the labourers whereas the rich class was called for to support their weaker arm by paying taxes to the Queen's reign. W. J. Long observes :
"The rapid increase of manufacturing towns gave employment to thousands who had before been idle and discontented."
Elizabethan Market
All these factors endorsed in prospering of the literature of the age as the increase in wealth, improvement in living and the new social content were all responsible causes for the commencement of the Elizabethn literary movement in the history of the English Literature.
(3) Fervent Progress in Science & Literature :
(3) Fervent Progress in Science & Literature :
"Dreams and deeds increase side by side, and the dream is ever greater than the deed. That is the meaning of literature."
In aforementioned quote, W. J. Long gives definition of literature which also can be seen in the era of Queen Elizabeth. Scholars like Sir Francis Bacon moved to seek the English land out and to establish the novel branch of science; he aptly says :
"I have taken all knowledge for my province."
In aforementioned quote, W. J. Long gives definition of literature which also can be seen in the era of Queen Elizabeth. Scholars like Sir Francis Bacon moved to seek the English land out and to establish the novel branch of science; he aptly says :
"I have taken all knowledge for my province."
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
New enthusiasm became the cornerstone for the hectic development in the field of science and literature. Now dreaming bigger and bigger was only job of Elizabethan person and to fulfil the dreams they started working in accordance with their far-craved desires.
(4) Prominence of Drama :
(4) Prominence of Drama :
Elizabethan Theatre
With the fervour of great literary expression, the age became known for its dramatic literary genre. In France, the place and status of Corneille, Racine, and Molière had its own mark in the literature of France whereas dramatic masters like Shakespeare and Marlowe had left it even a century earlier. W. J. Long remarks :
"Such an age of great thought and great action, appealing to the eyes as well as to the imagination and intellect, finds but one adequate literary expression; neither poetry nor the story can express the whole man,--his thought, feeling, action, and the resulting character; hence in the Age of Elizabeth literature turned instinctively to the drama and brought it rapidly to the highest stage of its development."
(5) William Shakespeare (1564-1616) : The Representation of Elizabethan Enthusiasts :
"Such an age of great thought and great action, appealing to the eyes as well as to the imagination and intellect, finds but one adequate literary expression; neither poetry nor the story can express the whole man,--his thought, feeling, action, and the resulting character; hence in the Age of Elizabeth literature turned instinctively to the drama and brought it rapidly to the highest stage of its development."
(5) William Shakespeare (1564-1616) : The Representation of Elizabethan Enthusiasts :
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
William Shakespeare who is a renowned literary figure and 'The Bard of Upon-Avon' turns out to be the stern representation of Elizabethan joy and enthusiasm which were the chief characteristics of the early-renaissance in English history. The accounts of his life is scantly available but the profoundness which a sensitive reader would find while reading and closely observing his works which were chiefly dramas or plays. He wrote 38 plays which is divided into tragedies, comedies, and a new drama form he introduced in the English literature by mingling tragedy and comedy and thus came up with tragi-comedy. Besides, he wrote the famous 150 sonnets in which were found posthumously from the table-drawer of his room at his hometown Stratford-upon-Avon and were first published in 'Quarto' in 1609.
The Romantics believed that in him "all came from within" and "his genius was his sufficient guide." W. J. Long states :
"Two outward influences were powerful in developing the genius of Shakespeare,--the little village of Stratford, center of the most beautiful and romantic district in rural England, and the great city of London, the center of the world's political activity. In one he learned to know the natural man in his natural environment; in the other, the social, the artificial man in the most unnatural of surroundings."
The Romantics believed that in him "all came from within" and "his genius was his sufficient guide." W. J. Long states :
"Two outward influences were powerful in developing the genius of Shakespeare,--the little village of Stratford, center of the most beautiful and romantic district in rural England, and the great city of London, the center of the world's political activity. In one he learned to know the natural man in his natural environment; in the other, the social, the artificial man in the most unnatural of surroundings."
□ General Characteristics of the Neo-Classical Age :
(1) The Rise of the Political Parties :
King James II & Anthony Ashley Cooper
In the rule of Charles II, two political parties emerged from domestic England; those were Whigs or Parliamentarians or Roundheads and another was Tories or Cavaliers or Royalists. These two political parties are the base of what we have as political system in present day. The Whigs had sought to free English people from the monarchy and the Divine Rights of Kings whereas in contrary, the Tories endorsed the monarchy and flouted the assertions made by Whigs that was to replace monarchy with democracy or the equal distribution of courts of several types of affairs in England. The Whigs were considered as the Low Churchmen and the Tories High Churchmen.
(2) The Predominant Literary Form : Prose :
"The drift away from the poetry of passion was more pronounced than ever, the ideals of 'wit' and 'common sense' were more zealously pursued, and the lyrical note was almost unheard."
In above given argument, Edward Albert rationally argued that the Prose form in literary writings was at its zenith. No poetry or lyric can be seen in this age as people sought to rationalised everything they came in contact with. Thus, the emotional prowess in poetry disappeared and even the so-called poetry of the age became prosaic; such as 'The Rape of the Lock' by Pope. The use of heroic couplet in poetry became 'the aptest medium for purpose.'
(3) The Clubs and Coffee-Houses :
As we have already discussed the rise of two prominent political parties : The Whigs and the Tories, it became necessary to form two separate courts and communities for both the parties and that is how the clubs and coffee-houses came into existence in the 18th century England. Members of each of the parties used to meet and confront at the local clubs. Edward Albert observes :
"...the increased activity in politics led to a great addition to the number of political clubs and coffee-houses, which became the foci of fashionable and public life."
(2) The Predominant Literary Form : Prose :
"The drift away from the poetry of passion was more pronounced than ever, the ideals of 'wit' and 'common sense' were more zealously pursued, and the lyrical note was almost unheard."
In above given argument, Edward Albert rationally argued that the Prose form in literary writings was at its zenith. No poetry or lyric can be seen in this age as people sought to rationalised everything they came in contact with. Thus, the emotional prowess in poetry disappeared and even the so-called poetry of the age became prosaic; such as 'The Rape of the Lock' by Pope. The use of heroic couplet in poetry became 'the aptest medium for purpose.'
(3) The Clubs and Coffee-Houses :
As we have already discussed the rise of two prominent political parties : The Whigs and the Tories, it became necessary to form two separate courts and communities for both the parties and that is how the clubs and coffee-houses came into existence in the 18th century England. Members of each of the parties used to meet and confront at the local clubs. Edward Albert observes :
"...the increased activity in politics led to a great addition to the number of political clubs and coffee-houses, which became the foci of fashionable and public life."
Sir Richard Steel (1672-1729)
Richard Steele who was an Irish writer, politician, and a significant literary figure of the era declared in his 'The Tattler' journal that the new activities of his journal will be based upon the clubs :
"All accounts of Gallantry, Pleasure, and Entertainment shall be under the article of White's Chocolate-House, Poetry under that of WII's Coffee-House, Learning under the title of Grecian; Foreign and Domestic News you will have from Saint James' Coffce-House."
"All accounts of Gallantry, Pleasure, and Entertainment shall be under the article of White's Chocolate-House, Poetry under that of WII's Coffee-House, Learning under the title of Grecian; Foreign and Domestic News you will have from Saint James' Coffce-House."
(4) Neo-Morality :
Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
The immoral atmosphere of the previous Restoration Age was remonstrated during the neo-classical movement in 18th century England. William III and his successor Anne, the both were severe moralists. Thus, Joseph Addison in 'The Spectator' (1711-'12) magazine which he co-founded with his friend and fellow author Richard Steele puts his admiration for neo-morality of the age in his own way :
"I shall endeavour to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality."
Another development can be considered in the treatment of women with respect and dignity in this era of classical revival.
"I shall endeavour to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality."
Another development can be considered in the treatment of women with respect and dignity in this era of classical revival.
(5) Alexander Pope (1688-1744) :
Alexander Pope (1688-1744)
The influence of Pope on the literature of the age is so intense that even the Neo-Classical era came to be known as the 'age of Pope.' A boy born with "bodily infirmity" which resulted into deformity. Edward Albert remarks on the account of his conditions of life that influenced the works of the "future poet" :
"First, he was puny and delicate, and, secondly, he was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith.His bodily infirmity, which amounted almost to deformity, caused him to be privately educated; and to the end of his life his knowledge had that extensive range, joined to the liability to make the grossest blunders, which is so often the mark of an eager and precocious intelligence imperfectly trained. Pope's religious faith, though he was never excessively devout as a Roman Catholic, closed to him all the careers, professional and political, in which a man of his keen intelligence might have been expected to succeed."
"First, he was puny and delicate, and, secondly, he was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith.His bodily infirmity, which amounted almost to deformity, caused him to be privately educated; and to the end of his life his knowledge had that extensive range, joined to the liability to make the grossest blunders, which is so often the mark of an eager and precocious intelligence imperfectly trained. Pope's religious faith, though he was never excessively devout as a Roman Catholic, closed to him all the careers, professional and political, in which a man of his keen intelligence might have been expected to succeed."
His famous mock-heroic poem 'The Rape of the Lock' published in two editions, first in 1712 with two cantos whereas second in 1714 with 5 cantos and written in prevailing poetic verse 'heroic couplet' satirizes the frivolousness and superficiality of the Neo-Classical society of England.
☆ Conclusion :
Having compared the general characteristics of the two noteworthy eras of England, it would not be wrong to say that both the ages hold 'Virtue as in Face' and 'Good Humour' within the quills and parchments of the enthusiasts and the solemn ones.
Having compared the general characteristics of the two noteworthy eras of England, it would not be wrong to say that both the ages hold 'Virtue as in Face' and 'Good Humour' within the quills and parchments of the enthusiasts and the solemn ones.
Thank You!
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☆ References :
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10609/pg10609-images.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gp6tFgssC_PioM0ZHBZhIJH_8WOxl8Yw/view
¤ (Word Count : 1559)
¤ (Total Paragraphs : 42)
☆ References :
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10609/pg10609-images.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gp6tFgssC_PioM0ZHBZhIJH_8WOxl8Yw/view
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