English Poets 1660 1798 Betl ALTA John Drydens

English Poets, 1660 -1798 Betül ALTAŞ

• John Dryden’s poetry is written in his rhymed couplets based on satire and translations. • Annus Mirabilis , 1667 (about the war against Holland Great Fire of London) • His great satire, Absalom and Achitophel, 1681 uses a Bible story to attack politicians.

• In Mac. Flecknoe, 1682, Dryden attacks a rival poet, Shadwell. • Dryden’s splendid command of the heroic couplet helped him to write biting satires. • Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day (1687) and Alexandar’s Feast (1697)

• Dryden’s translations include Latin, the whole of Virgil and parts of Horace and Ovid. • He translated the parts of Homer and Theocritus. • Alexandar Pope, a follower of Dryden in verse, wrote his Essay on Criticism (1711).

• • • Pope translated Iliad and Odyssey of Homer. Imitations of Horace (1733 -9) The Dunciad (1728) Essay on Man (1732 -4) Moral Essays (1731 -5) Oliver Goldsmith wrote The Traveller (1764) and The Deserted Village (1770)

• The eighteenth century is often called The Age of Reason. • The order was important in men’s thoughts. • The heroic couplet is based on reasoning. • A return to thoughts about nature and more lyrical subjects began early. • Pope said that “The proper study of mankind is man”.

• James Thompson, his study The Seasons: Winter (1726) Summer (1727) Spring (1728) Autumn (1730) • There were pictures of woods, fields, birds and deserts. • The Castle of Indolence (1748)

• Edward Young wrote Night Thoughts. • The subjects are life, death, the future world and God. • It is unequal, dark, sad and filled with strange imaginations. • Robert Blair, The Grave. • Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1750)

• Poet looks at the graves of country people buried near the church. • He wonders what might have done in the world if they had better opportunities. • Gray’s ode, The Bard , is intended as a sad song by Welsh poet addressed to King Edward I. • He curses Edward and all his race. • The ode shows that Gray like Marlowe and Milton, could use proper names.

• Gray’s other poems include an Ode on a Favourite Cat (1747). • Thomas Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765). • William Blake, a poet , illustrated the works of Young, Blair, Gray and others. He did not believe in the reality of matter or in punishment after death. • William Blake, Songs of Innocence (1787) Songs of Experience (1794)