John Dryden as a critic

This presentation tells about Dryden as a critic.

1. Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English M. K. Bhavnagar University Name: Gohil Devikaba J Roll no.: 06 Topic’s Name: John Dryden as “A Critic” Batch: 2014-16 Paper name: Literary Theory and Criticism Contact Me: [email protected]

2. John Dryden (1631-1700) (Introduction) He was an English poet, dramatist and critic. He was also a leading figure of the Restoration age. He w as so dominating person that the whole age was known as ‘Age of Dryden’ Walter Scott called him as “Glorious John”.

3. Many writers were known for their works like William Shakespeare, John Milton and Ben Johnson. Most of them were specialized in drama . C omparison between Ancient and Moderns, Greek and Roman authors starts. These was the chief discussion of that time.

4. In 1668 Dryden wrote ‘An Essay of Dramatic Poesy’ Original title of the book is ‘Of Dramatick Poesie , an Essay’ For which he is known as ‘The Father of English Literary Criticism’ In his book we can see both the side of John Dryden. Dryden as a poet and Dryden as a playwright. He write this essay as a dramatic dialogue with the four characters representing four critical positions .

5. In this book he discusses this five issues Ancients vs. English Drama Unities French vs. English drama Separation of Tragedy and Comedy vs. Tragicomedy Appropriateness of rhyme in drama

6. Charles Sackville ( Eugenius ) (1638-1706) Favors the moderns over the ancients Sir Robert Howard (Crites) (1626-1698) Argues in favor of the ancients Sir Charles Sedley ( Lisideius ) (1639-1701) Argues French drama is superior to English drama John Dryden ( Neander ) (1631-1700) Favors modern-English plays

7. In this book he favors the modern-English plays, but does not disparage the ancients. He also favors English drama and has some critical things to say of French drama: “Those beauties of the French poesy are such as will raise perfection higher where it is, but are not sufficient to give it where it is not: they are indeed the beauties of a statue, but not of a man.”

8. H e said that French plays have only one plot without sub-plot He criticized French drama essentially for its smallness. To prove his argument he compare Shakespeare with Ben Jonson and said that “ Shakespeare had the largest and most comprehensive soul, while Jonson was the most largest and most judicious writer which any theater ever had.”

9. He also responded to the objection against rhyme by admitting that “verse so tedious” is in inappropriate to drama. “Nature” rhymed verse is, however, just as appropriate to dramatic as to non-dramatic poetry.

10. Concision: At the end he give a definition which we will find quite appropriate for the drama that “A play ought to be a just and lively image of human nature, representing its passions and humors, and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, for the delight and instruction of mankind.” And at the end of his book he gave this words to Neander that “If I would compare him with Shakespeare, I must acknowledge him the more correct Poet, but Shakespeare the grater wit. Shakespeare was the Homer or Father of our Dramatick Poets; Jonson was the Virgil, the pattern of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I love Shakespeare . ”

11. Thank You