Chapter 6英国文学.pptVIP

Chapter 6 The Neoclassicism Pope. Johnson. Gray. Goldsmith. Sheridan. (Addison Steele…) What is neoclassicism? In the 18th century, under the influence from European enlightenment, esp. from the philosophers and writers of France, who “cleared the minds of men for the coming revolution”, The English enlighteners, who belonged to the school of classicism, setting no revolutionary aims before them, cleared away the feudal ideas with the bourgeois ideology. What is neoclassicism? In their neoclassic works, they discussed and criticized social problems, and even touched upon morality and private life. They intended to reform social life according to a more reasonable principle. The literature of the Enlightenment, also known as neoclassic literature, in England mainly appealed to the middle class readers. What is neoclassicism? The English classicists molded themselves on Greek and Latin/Roman authors, and tried to control literary creation by some fixed laws and rules drawn from Greek and Latin works. The English Classicism found exponents in Joseph Addison Richard Steele, the essayists, and Pope, the poet, and still another exponent in Samuel Johnson. Alexander Pope (1688-1744) The most important English poet to come out of the 18th century. p102 Never married as a deformed dwarf in physical stature, yet a giant in poetry. p103 What became a perfect poetic medium in pope’s hands, and it is also the principal verse form for the neoclassic poets? p103 He was at best in satire and epigram, but he lacked the lyrical gift. His satire was not always just, often caused by personal grudge. Pope’s well-known works? Translation of Homer (Iliad, Odyssey) Essay on Criticism, one of the important works in English literary criticism The Rape of the Lock, a mock-heroic poem or a burlesque of an epic poem Essay on Man, the best known and most often quoted An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, one of his best poem written in response The Dunci