Neo classical Age

Thinking Activities

 Points to ponder in Neo-classical age of literature.

Neo classical Age (1700-1798) 

Preface:-

"Look around our world; behold the chain of love combining all below and all above."  - Alexander pope 

The period we are studying is known to us by various names. The period is called Neo classical becouse it's writers looked back to the ideals and art forms of classical times, emphasizing even more than their Renaissance predecessors the classical ideals of order the classical ideals of order and rational control.

Meaning of Neo classical Age:-

Neo classical Age is divided into three periods:-

1. The Restoration Age (1660-1700)

2. The Augusten Age (1700-1750)

3. The Age of Johnson/ The Age of Transition (1750-1798)

Neo classical Age is known as :

- The Augusten period

- The 18th century

- The Age of Enlightenment

- The Age of prose

- The Age of Reason 

- The Transition period 

- Age of satire

Some writers modelled their writing on classical especially, Greek and Roman literature. The general laws generation man and the world that are true source of knowledge that is 'Narure'.

The Term Augustan Age comes from the self conscious imitation of original Augusten writers Virgil , Horace the Iliad, the Odyssey. The Enlightenment is project to make the world more of a home for human beings.through the use of reason.

"Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage." - Immanuel Kant

The Age of prose and reason is our excellent and indispensable of 18th century. Ckasscists consider literature as a tool to teach and reform the society rather than to delight.satire is a literary technique in which behaviours or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society. In England this golden age of satire included Alexander pope and Jonathan Swift. The second half of the eighteenth century is known as a traditional period. It was an era of change from pseudo- classicism to romanticism.

Now I'm give my understanding about thinking activities's questions and answers.

Q.1 write in brief about your favourite major writer or poet of the Age.

Ans. Some of the most famous Neo classical writers or poets who included ,

John Dryden

Alexander pope

Jonathan Swift

Daniel Defoe

Samual Johnson

Samual Richardson and many others.

Samuel Richardson ( 1689-1761):-

"When words are restrained, the eyes often talk a great deal." 

           - samuel Richardson

All the weakness of the earlier fiction writer disappeared in the works of samual Richardson and that is why samual Richardson,

A keen observer,

A tale- taller,

A moralist, and 

A student of female heart 

Is considered as one of the founding fathers of the novel. His treatment of the  characters is very powerful. His insight and involvement as an author provide unity and integration to his fiction. Richardson was a great favourite with ladies. He use to compose love letters "for a band of young woman of taste and reading." He could understand the feminine heart much better than any other writers of his time. He is known for his three novels:

1.Pamela: Virtue Rewarded (1740)

2.Clarissa: The history of a young lady (1747-1748)

3.Sir Charles grandison (1753-1754)

All three novels are written in the form of letters.

Richardson's books brought new elements to the novel. Each of his novels has a fully United plot rather than disconnected episodes. The characters maintain a consistent point of view, without interference by the author , all these novels have the theme of courtship leading to marriage as a basic plot of the novel.

Pamela:-

Pamela was a published anonymously. Pamela inspired several Wity parodies by writers of his time. Richardson's reflect the woman of the middle class and their problems. Thus, he was e of the founders of the modern novel. His Pamela, written in the form of a series of letters, contains much dramatic conversation. This novel focuses on Pamela's characters the modest serving maid, her master who focuses on Pamela's characters, the modest serving maid, her master who tries to seduce her, and their relationship. Pamela prevents his advances and defends her virtue.

At last her master is ultimately in his pursuit and altimately he offers her marriage, the marriage proposal is accepted and thus Pamela's is accepted and thus Pamela's virtue is rewarded.

Richardson's next novel Clarissa:- the history of a young lady has been considered as his masterpiece. It suggests the Phychological realism and shows the deep secret of consciousness the working of consciousness, the working of passion, the struggle of passion, the struggle of interest.

The novel is written in eight volumes and was published in 1748, it is written in "Epistolary form." Thus , the novels in 18th century gained significant strength in the hands of Richardson. In the hands of Richardson the novel of sentimentalism was established in the 18th century.

Alexander pope:-

"Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul." -Alexander pope

Alexander pope was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Enlightenment era who is crominent English poets of the early 18th century. Alexander pope was born in London on 21 may, 1688. Pope's most philosophical work, an Essay on a man, appeared during 1733-34.

Alexander pope was best known as poet for his poems like , 

An Essay on Criticism (1711), The Rape of the Lock (1712–14), The Dunciad (1728), and An Essay on Man (1733–34).

The Rape of the lock :-

Pope's most famous poem is The Rape of the Lock, first published in 1712, with a revised version in 1714. A mock-epic, it satirises a high-society quarrel between Arabella Fermor (the "Belinda" of the poem) and Lord Petre, who had snipped a lock of hair from her head without permission. The satirical style is tempered, however, by a genuine, almost voyeuristic interest in the "beau-monde" (fashionable world) of 18th-century society.The revised, extended version of the poem focuses more clearly on its true subject – the onset of acquisitive individualism and a society of conspicuous consumers. In the poem, purchased artefacts displace human agency and "trivial things" come to dominate.

Q.2 portrayal of the human in Neo classical novels. 

Ans. The Neo classical Age was based upon logic and reason . People tend to follow their rules, rituals and traditions with a major significance. It was the age where people believed in practical approach of life science and industrialisation led to people having less belief in supernatural and universal affairs. During this period many various parties and clubs arise like,

- Kit kat club

- The scriblerus club

- The blue stokings society

- Dr. Johnson's circle

- Licensing Act 1737

- Agriculture revolution

- Periodicals

The society at that time also having some serious influenced by the practical approach towards life and avoiding natural beauty and laking the real human nature. These drawbacks were portrayed in the novels written by Neo classical writers mostly in a satirical manner.

Here are some characteristics acquired by the characters of Neo classical novels:

1. Financial background

The society portrayed in the Neo classical Age were economically thriving and that was the reason that some people were judged on the basis of their financial capacity and property. A man who is financially more secure was given more importance to others.

2. Discovering more Nations

As people were getting economically stronger, they started traveling and discovering other nations. They started races and religions and some of the literary examples where this concept is expressed are Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's travel.

3. The rules and regulation

Although people were prospering in every expects they also had a strict set of rules and regulations which were proving to the disadvantageous for themselves.

For example , women had to get married in a certain way in society despite of getting treated in good manners. Patriarchal hierarchy was still followed and all the silly toboos which were considered by people were showen in the Neo classical novels in the mocking manner by satirising the situation. Alexander pope's the rape of the lock and she stoops to conquer by Oliver goldsmith can be taken as examples of this category.

Q.3 moll Flanders as picaresque novel.

 Moll Flanders picaresque novel by Dania Defoe. It's published in 1722. The novel recounts the adventures of a lusty and strong-willed women who is compelled , from earliest childhood, to make her own way in 17th century.

Definition of picaresque novels:-

The picaresque novel is a genre of prose fiction. It depicts the adventures of a roguish, but appearing hero, usually of low social class, who lives by his wits in corrupt society. Picaresque novels typically adopted a realistic style. There are often some elements of  comedy and satire.

About writer:-

Deniel Defoe:-

Deniel Defoe was an English writer, trader, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible it's number of transactions.

Now , we discuss about a novel Mall Flanders written by Daniel Defoe.

Moll Flanders:-

Summary:-

The full title of moll Flanders gives an apt summary of the plot:- The fortune and misfortunes of the famous moll Flanders, etc. Who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continued variety for threescore years, besides her childhood, was twelve year whore, five times a wife (where of once to her own brother), twelve year a thief eight year a transported. Felon in Virginia, at last grew rich , lived honest and died a penitent , written from her own memorandums.

Moll Flanders is born to a mother who has been convinced of a felony and who is transported to America soon after her birth. As an infant, moll lives on public charity , under the care of a kind widow who teaches her manners and needlework. She grows into a beautiful teenager and is seduced at an early age. Abandoned by her first lover, she is compelled to marry his younger brothers. He dies after a few years and she marries a draper who soon flees the country as a fugitive from the law.

She marries yet again and moves to America, only to find out that her husband is actually, her half-brother. She leaves him in disgust and returns to England. Where she becomes the mistress of a man whose wife has gone insane. He renounces his affair with moll after a religious experience.

Moll's next marriage offer is from a banker whose wife has been cheating on him. Moll agrees to marry him if he can obtain a divorce , and meanwhile she travels to the country and marries a rich gentleman in Lancashire. 

This man turns out to be a fraud. He is as poor as she is and they part ways to seek their fortunes separately. Moll returns to marry the banker, who by this time has succeeded in divorcing his wife. He died soon after , however and moll is thrown back apon her own resources once again. She lives in poverty for several years and then begins stealing.

She is quite telented at this new trade and soon becomes an expert thief and a local legend. Eventually she is caught, imprisoned, and sentenced to death. In prison at Newgate, she reunites with her Lancashire husband, who has also been arrested they both manage to have their sentences reduced, and they are transported to the colonies, where they begin a new life as plantation owners. 

In America , moll rediscovers her brother and her son and claims the inheritance her mother has left her. Prosperous and repentant, she returns with her husband to England at the age of seventy.

Conclusion:- 

"I think I have married a fortune, and a very good fortune too," he concludes. Mall finally spend her bank, which suggests she is finally secure in her life and no longer needs to worry about losing everything and being put out on the street.