Augustan Period Notes

Augustan / Classic / Pope Period

Alternate Names

The Augustan Period is also known as the Pope Period and the Classic Period.

  • Pope Period: Named after Alexander Pope, who was considered the defining literary figure of the age.
  • Classic Period: Reflects the writers' attempts to emulate the order, balance, and reason of ancient Roman literature, particularly from the era of Emperor Augustus.

Alexander Pope's Life and Challenges

Alexander Pope faced significant challenges due to bone tuberculosis (Pott’s disease), which caused physical deformities and short stature. Despite these challenges, he became a highly respected and influential poet of the 18th century.

  • Overcame social difficulties through sharp wit, deep intellect, and literary mastery.

Characteristics of Pope’s Work

Pope’s works exhibit an elegant classical style, employing heroic couplets (rhymed iambic pentameter) and satire. He used wit to critique human folly, society, and other writers. His poetry often served a moral or didactic purpose.

  • Notable Examples:
    • An Essay on Criticism: A poetic essay discussing literary principles.
    • The Rape of the Lock: A mock-epic satirizing aristocratic vanity.
    • The Dunciad: A harsh satire attacking poor literary standards.

Literature in the Augustan Period

Literature during this period was influenced by the Enlightenment, emphasizing reason, order, and social criticism.

  • Popular Literary Forms:
    • Satirical poetry (e.g., works by Pope and Swift)
    • Mock-epic poems
    • Periodical essays (e.g., The Spectator)
    • Early realistic novels (e.g., Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe)
  • Literature was less emotional and more rational, aiming to instruct and entertain simultaneously.

Characteristics of the Augustan Period

The era emphasized rational thinking, clarity in expression, balance, and decorum, following classical ideals.

  • Key Literary Features:
    • Satire: Used to expose society’s flaws.
    • Urbanity: Refined, polite writing.
    • Moral Didacticism: Literature used to teach values.
    • Realism: A focus on everyday life and social observation.
  • Writers aimed for literature to reflect the structure and logic of classical models.

Key Developments in Augustan Society (Political Background)

The political stability of the Augustan era stemmed from the Glorious Revolution (1688) and the Hanoverian Succession (1714).

  • The Glorious Revolution:
    • King James II was replaced by Protestant monarchs William III and Mary II, ending the threat of Catholic absolutism.
    • Marked the rise of constitutional monarchy, limiting the king’s power through Parliament.
  • Hanoverian Succession (1714):
    • George I, a German prince, became king, establishing the Hanoverian Dynasty and solidifying Protestant rule.
    • These events led to increased middle-class power, freedom of the press, and the growth of literary culture in coffeehouses and print.

John Gay

John Gay, a poet and playwright, is best known for The Beggar’s Opera (1728).

  • A ballad opera that combined songs and spoken dialogue.
  • Satirized politics, corruption, and upper-class hypocrisy.
  • Demonstrated how literature could address significant social issues through humor and entertainment.

Prose in the Augustan Period

Prose flourished through various forms:

  • Periodical Essays:
    • Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s The Spectator and The Tatler offered witty observations on daily life and manners.
  • Satirical Prose:
    • Jonathan Swift used prose satire to critique politics and society in works such as Gulliver’s Travels and A Modest Proposal.
  • Early Novels:
    • Daniel Defoe pioneered the realistic novel with Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders.
    • These prose works combined storytelling with social commentary, reflecting Enlightenment ideals.

Public and Media in the Augustan Age

The public became increasingly literate, leading to a rise in print media.

  • Coffeehouses:
    • Became important cultural hubs for discussion and reading.
  • Popular Publications:
    • The Spectator (Addison & Steele)
    • The Tatler
    • The Craftsman
    • The Daily Courant (the first daily newspaper in England)
    • These outlets shaped public opinion and contributed to a shared cultural and political discourse.

Augustan Period: Birth of the Early Novels

The Augustan period marked the early development of the English novel, especially through writers like Daniel Defoe.

  • Key Features:
    • Novels like Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders introduced realistic characters, first-person narration, and moral themes.
    • These stories often resembled chronicles or fictional autobiographies, focusing on survival, individual experience, and society.
    • The novel as a literary form began to take shape during this era.

The Glorious Revolution (1688)

  • Peaceful transition of power in England.
  • King James II (a Catholic) was overthrown and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William of Orange.
  • Outcomes:
    • Ended absolute monarchy.
    • Established a constitutional monarchy, increasing Parliament’s power.
    • Promoted religious tolerance (to some degree) and freedom of expression.
    • Laying the foundation for the Enlightenment and the Augustan literary values of reason and political awareness.