The Early Essayists A Study in Context: Neoclassic Period Late 17 th -18 th Century
Neoclassic Period (1660-1798) Britain Restoration Age (1660-1700) Augustan Age (1700-1750) Jonathan Swift Joseph Addison / Richard Steele Lord Chesterfield Age of Johnson (1750-1798) Samuel Johnson Oliver Goldsmith James Boswell
Neoclassic Period (1660-1798) America Revolutionary Age (1765-1790) Benjamin Franklin (Autobiography) Thomas Paine (Common Sense, The Crisis) Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence) Federalist Age (1790-1830) Alexander Hamilton/James Madison (Federalist Papers)
Restoration Age (1660-1700) Monarchy restored under Charles II Whigs and Tories formed Strong reaction against the Puritanism of the Commonwealth Interest in scientific investigation and philosophical thought increased Reverence for order and a delight in reason and rules
Restoration Age (1660-1700) Distrust of innovation and invention Strong rise in Deism God rules the world by established laws Discounted the divinity of Christ or inspiration of the Bible Natural religion study of nature as opposed to revealed religion Tolerance/moderation = watchwords
Restoration Age (1660-1700) Prose Exalted form, especially classical forms (epistles, dialogues, treatises) Belief that literature should be of service to humanity: delight, instruct, and correct human beings, primarily as social animals Emphasized generic qualities of people
Augustan Age (1700-1750) Reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714) Age of Reason/Enlightenment Recognized limitations/imperfections of man Optimistic view of man s moral nature Man = naturally good / finds happiness in exercise of virtue Society corrupts man
Augustan Age (1700-1750) Deism advancing Classical ideals of taste, polish, common sense, and reason= key (not emotion and imagination) Writing flourished (royal patronage) Great age of prose: essay, letter, epistle Satire flourished Wit was stylistically popular Often critical/moralistic, always didactic
Augustan Age (1700-1750) Concerned with man in his social relationships Polite, urbane, and intellectual Plain yet elegant style found in today s writing style/preference (The New Yorker) Highly sophisticated audience Affected strongly by politics Wider audience coming with the popular press Ushered in the periodical essay
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Wrote powerful satires on corruption in religion and learning Considered middle class as barbarians Loved individuals detested mankind Believed man was an animal capable of reason but still not rational Antagonistic toward view that man is basically good
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Believed human nature deeply flawed Animated by moral urgency Sense of doom Clear, simple, concrete diction Uncomplicated syntax Economy and conciseness of language
Analyzing Satire Identify the individual, institution, or society that is the target. Identify and explain the failing/foible under attack. Explain how the rhetorical strategies are used to ridicule or condemn. Explain the desired change.
Periodical Essay Reflected neoclassical spirit Tool for reforming manners, refining tastes, and providing discussion topics at popular London coffee houses Creators: Addison and Steele The Tatler (1709-1711) The Spectator (1711-1712; 1714)
Periodical Essay Characteristics Less aphoristic Less intimate and introspective Less individualistic Less learned More informal More use of humor and satire Embraced wider range of topics Appealed to middle class as well as upper class
Age of Johnson (1750-1798) Markedly transitional age Age of Sensibility Reliance on feelings as guides to truth (not reason and law) Neoclassicism yielding to Romanticism Interest in the past (Middle Ages) Primitivism uncivilized seen as noble Folk literature Individualism
Age of Johnson (1750-1798) Urged writers to strike out on their own, discover natural style Enthusiasm=dynamic force Canon of delivery revived Impact of pulpit oratory Return to interest in schemes/tropes Last great age of interest in classical rhetoric
Revolutionary Age (1765-1790) Age of American Enlightenment Rationalistic conception of man in his relations with nature and God Growing skepticism with religion Growing interest in scientific inquiry Deism on the rise God more evident in nature than scripture Devoted to ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man Embryonic Romanticism
Revolutionary Age (1765-1790) Military victory fanned nationalistic hopes for new literature Self-conscious about new identity Lingering dependence on English models Addison, Goldsmith, Johnson Harsh conditions for American writers No modern publishers; no copyright laws No financial security for authors Skeptical small, cultivated audience
Revolutionary Age (1765-1790) Nonbelletristic writing Largely neoclassical poetry Patriotic works, laced with satire Polemical prose Major prose writers Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson
Federalist Age (1790-1830) Dominated by the Federalist Party Era of Good Feeling Rapid literary development New American voice in poetry and prose Exuberant, romantic, democratic James Fenimore Cooper=first major American novelist (Last of the Mohicans) Washington Irving=first successful American prose writer (The Sketch Book) Great internal problem=slavery