What is Neoclassicism in Literature? | Characteristics of Neoclassicism

What-is-Neoclassicism-in-Literature_-1

Neoclassicism means the revival of classical concepts. Now, each work of art has two elements, form & substance. When the artist makes good balance of these elements, an ideal work of art is produced. But when the artist makes a mistake of devoting an excessive amount of consideration to form and ignores the substance, the stability is disturbed and subsequently, the result is Neo-classical Art.

The literature of the early 18th century has been designated because of the literature of the Augustan Age. The Age has additionally been referred to as the Age of Pope. In the first place this era is known as the classical age. The word ‘classic’ means work of the highest order. Hence the word ‘Classic’ is used to designate writings which have received first rank in any nation.

It is designated as the classical age not because it adopted Homer & Virgil however because the writers of this age had been ruled by set principles and rules. Classical age, subsequently, is the age of rules and age of formalism. This era is additionally referred to as the Age of Reason and good sense because it was based mostly on the ‘Good Sense ideal’ of the French critic Boileau, formulated in 1673.

Literature of the age was influenced by French legends. The classicism of this age was French version of the classicism of Horace. Stress was not laid upon the originality of concepts, however upon the worth of the form. Expression was more essential than the matter or the thought. Accuracy and correctness had been the watch-words of this literature.

Another essential attribute of the age was the idea that literature should comply with nature. However, the nature of Augustan age was not the nature of Wordsworth and Coleridge. They had been most taken with human nature. Pope stated, “The Proper study of mankind is man.”

Read About: How Renaissance Came to England? | Characteristics of Renaissance

The literature of the period was involved with the exhibition of vices and follies of the society of the occasions. Poetry naturally grew to become the poetry of town, the coffee-house and the factitious society. Satire was the outstanding type of literature developed through the Age of Pope. The love for satire got here to the higher surface and the cold, exhausting worldliness of Augustan life discovered its expression in polished wit and satire. In the form of poetry, Heroic of Couplet was acknowledged as the one medium of expression.

Development of Poetry in Neoclassicism

In the 18th century chief consideration got here to be directed to correctness and magnificence of expression and the essential rules of art. The poet looked at life critically, laying emphasis on intellect relatively than creativeness, the form rather than content of poetry. The poets strove to repress all feelings and enthusiasm and studied exactness & magnificence in expression. The neo-classical poetry is polished and witty sufficient, however artificial. It locks the freshness and originality of the traditional classical poetry. It doesn’t appeal to the creativeness.

Characteristics of Neoclassical Poetry

Focus on Classics: Neo-classicists didn’t require inspiration however sound sense and cunning craftsmanship mixed with the knowledge of the principles. The Latin classics had been their models. Their supreme was correctness which meant strict care and accuracy in poetical approach.

Intellectualists: The neoclassical poetry appeals a lot to intellect than to the heart. It was dominated by cause and good-sense; a lot emphasis was laid on qualities of simplicity, lucidity, and directness that Matthew Arnold called Dryden & Pope the classics of English prose.

Use of Heroic Couplet: The poets of the classical age take into account heroic couplet as the one medium of expression adhered to the heroic couplet in poetry. The epigrammatic terseness of the closed couplet inspired the writers to make ample use of it in ample use of it of their writing. It was appropriate for satire which was or satire which was most popular type of poetry on this age.

Satire: The perspective of neoclassical poets was essential and analytical. The age grew to become the golden age of satire and parody, didactic and ethical poetry and criticism.

Development of Prose in Neoclassicism

Neo-Classical Age is basically the age of prose. The graceful elegance of  Addison’s essays, the terse vigour of Swift’s satire, the artistic end of Fielding’s novels, these don’t have any parallels in literature.

Development of Drama in Neoclassicism

In later part of the century anti-sentimental comedy got here into being as a response towards Sentimental Comedy. Goldsmith and Sheridan had been the 2 chief practitioners of its genre.

Development of Novel in Neoclassicism

The actual beginning within the area of novel is made with Daniel Defoe. Through, he was a journalist however he turned to fiction. His work well-known ‘Robison Crusoe’ was published in 1719 is thought to be the first flower of realism.

Gothic Novel

In the second half of the century Gothic or Terror Novel grew to become very popular. A change within the tone and mood of the Novel could possibly be simply seen. Instead of  coping with actual life, the novelists now started to put emphasis on romantic tendencies. They began creating an environment of terror and thriller and this led to the origin of led to the origin of the gothic or Terror Novel. In the gothic or Terror Novel. Instead of coping with actual life, the novelist now started to put emphasis on romantic tendencies.

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