Neo-Classical Age/Augustan Age
The Augustan Age, radiant with its intellectual rigour and artful synthesis of the classical with the contemporary, has indelibly shaped English literature.
The Neo-Classical or Augustan Age, typically spanning from the late 17th to the early 18th century, marks a significant period in the annals of English literature. Coined "Augustan" in reverence to the Emperor Augustus's golden era of Latin literature, this age saw an elevation of clarity, order, and decorum in art and literature. Literary giants like Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Samuel Johnson emerged, embodying the ideals of this era. Their works, suffused with wit, satire, and moral insights, mirrored the classical works of ancient Greece and Rome. This age marked a conscious divergence from the unrestrained personal expressions of the Renaissance and settled for a more disciplined, structured, and socially aware artistic spirit.
Historical and Cultural Background
The Augustan Age was nestled in a period of immense transformation, both politically and socially. The Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the thrones of William III and Mary II ascend, marked the end of the 17th century by promoting constitutional monarchy and parliamentary supremacy.
The newly stabilised political scenario underpinned the flourishing of literature and the arts. However, this period also witnessed the divisive party politics of the Whigs and Tories and the birth of modern journalism. Magazines and periodicals emerged as influential mediums, with writers like Addison and Steele pioneering the concept of the modern essay through "The Spectator" and "The Tatler".
The Enlightenment was at its zenith, emphasising reason, science, and individual rights. Rationalism supplanted superstition and faith. Simultaneously, the age was also a period of colonial expansion and burgeoning capitalism, yielding both immense wealth and vast disparities.
Culturally, this era saw the profound influence of classical antiquity. As Dryden noted, the goal was to “join the moderns to the ancients.” This fusion is reflected not just in literature but also in architecture, art, and philosophy.
Literary works and their characteristics
Prominent Augustan writers, while drawing inspiration from classical authors like Homer, Virgil, and Horace, tailored these influences to address their contemporary socio-political milieu.
The era is particularly heralded for its satirical works. Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" is a scathing indictment of human nature, while Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" mock-heroically ridicules aristocratic pretensions. Satire became an instrumental vehicle to comment on societal follies and the pretensions of the emerging middle class.
Another characteristic feature of the age was the "Heroic Couplet" - rhymed pairs of iambic pentameter lines. Pope, the undisputed master of the heroic couplet, described it as representing "the majesty of the law in couplets."
Didacticism permeated the literature. Works often carried moral lessons, emphasising virtues and decorum. Samuel Johnson's "The Vanity of Human Wishes" is a classic example.
Additionally, this age saw the first English novels. Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" and "Moll Flanders" combined realism with adventurous plots, while Samuel Richardson's "Pamela" introduced a new form of epistolary novel.
Linguistic transformation
The Augustan Age was characterised by a push for linguistic clarity and precision. With the rise of journalism and the popular essay, English underwent a process of standardisation. Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) was pivotal, not only documenting the language but also striving for order and clarity in linguistic expression. The focus shifted from ornate Elizabethan expressions to structured, clear, and universally comprehensible prose and verse.
Important works
1719: "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe
1726: "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift
1728: "The Dunciad" by Alexander Pope
1732–34: "The Essay on Man" by Alexander Pope
1740: "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded" by Samuel Richardson
1749: "Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding
1750–52: "The Rambler" by Samuel Johnson
1755: "A Dictionary of the English Language" by Samuel Johnson
1759: "Candide" by Voltaire (Though French, Voltaire's work influenced the English Augustans)
1760–67: "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne
Conclusion
The Augustan Age, radiant with its intellectual rigour and artful synthesis of the classical with the contemporary, has indelibly shaped English literature. Its contributions are not merely limited to its illustrious literary canon but also encompass its evolution of thought, language, and socio-cultural commentary. The age's delicate blend of satire, realism, and didacticism laid the groundwork for subsequent literary movements, ensuring its perpetual resonance in the annals of literature.
Important facts
Named after Emperor Augustus, whose reign was a golden age of Latin literature.
Popularised the "Heroic Couplet".
Marked by satire and moral didacticism.
The period saw the birth of the modern novel.
Enlightenment ideals heavily influenced the period.
The age produced the first English dictionary.
Architecture and art of this age also mirrored classical influences.
Political stability after the Glorious Revolution significantly influenced literary output.
The period marked the rise of periodicals and journals.
It saw a conscious move from the personal and ornate to the universal and structured in literature.
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Written by Pooran Chandra