2. JOHN MILTON AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES, POPE, DRYDEN, JOHNSON AND THE NEOCLASSICAL POETRY OF THE LATE 17TH AND EARLY 18TH CENTURY

What were some key aspects of John Milton's early life and political views?

Milton was a promising poet in the 1630s, supporting the English republic during the Civil War. He advocated for regicide, religious toleration, freedom of speech, church disestablishment, and republican government

What were some of Milton's key political and religious writings?

Milton wrote treatises in support of religious freedom, divorce based on incompatibility, and the removal of bishops. His writings also critiqued censorship and supported the right of people to dismiss or execute corrupt rulers.

What is Paradise Lost about, and what are its major themes?

Paradise Lost (1667) is an epic poem about the Fall of Man, focusing on Satan's rebellion, Adam and Eve's temptation, and their expulsion from Eden. Major themes include free will, obedience, rebellion, and the nature of good and evil.

What is the difference between Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained?

• Paradise Lost deals with the loss of paradise, while Paradise Regained (1671) focuses on Christ's triumph over temptation in the wilderness, highlighting the recovery of paradise through Christ’s moral victory.

What are the key themes of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress?

The Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of a man’s spiritual journey toward salvation. It focuses on themes of spiritual struggle, redemption, hope, and the path to a gracious God.

Why was John Bunyan imprisoned, and what impact did this have on his work?

Bunyan was imprisoned from 1660 to 1672 for preaching without a license. His time in prison led him to write The Pilgrim's Progress, a major work of religious literature for Nonconformists

What are some key aspects of Andrew Marvell's poetry and political views?

Marvell supported the republic, with his poetry reflecting the unsettled nature of the Civil War. His political poem An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s Return critiques Cromwell’s rise to power and expresses sympathy for the executed king

Who was Katherine Phillips, and what were her literary contributions?

Phillips was the first female author to have a play performed publicly (1663). Her poetry, which explored female friendship and virtuous love, was often written for a select, private audience.

What are the key characteristics of Neoclassical poetry?

Neoclassical poetry emphasizes order, reason, clarity, and restraint, drawing inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome. It often includes satire, social commentary, and the heroic couplet

What is The Rape of the Lock about, and how does it reflect Neoclassical ideals?

The Rape of the Lock (1712, expanded 1714) is a mock-epic poem satirizing high society’s trivialities. Pope exaggerates a minor event (the cutting of a lock of hair) into an epic to critique society’s superficiality.

What is the purpose of Pope’s An Essay on Criticism?

: An Essay on Criticism (1709) is a didactic poem that outlines Pope’s views on literary criticism, emphasizing classical standards and the importance of adhering to rules of art and literature.

What are the main ideas explored in Pope's An Essay on Man?

n Essay on Man (1733-1734) is a philosophical poem about humanity and the universe, stressing that "whatever is, is right" within God's grand design and that humans should accept their place in the world.

What is Absalom and Achitophel about?

Absalom and Achitophel (1681) is a political allegory that uses the biblical story of Absalom’s rebellion to comment on the political turmoil in England during the Exclusion Crisis, with Dryden critiquing the conflict over King James II's succession.

What themes does Samuel Johnson explore in The Vanity of Human Wishes?

The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) reflects on the futility of human ambitions and the inevitability of disappointment, offering a somber meditation on the limitations of human desires and striving.

What is a heroic couplet, and how is it used in Neoclassical poetry?

heroic couplet is a pair of rhymed iambic pentameter lines. It became the dominant poetic form during the Neoclassical period, reflecting the ideals of order, reason, and intellectual rigor.