THE NEOCLASSICAL ERA

By Jonathon Morris

And Jake Rich

Ages Within an Age

Age of Complacency Age of Wit Age of Marketing

Age of Complacency

It was a time where comfort was appreciated. British felt they were “on top of the world”

– People sought to prove they had “good taste”– Decoration and Fashion within Middle Class grew

Middle class grew to literature because they finally had the time to pursue it.– One man, Nahum Tate, revised and rewrote

literary works such as King Lear, Othello, and Hamlet so that they had happier endings.

Age of Wit

Verbal skill really began to matter throughout this age. – This was an age of cleaner debates and witty conversations.– Everyone was expected to be able to speak well at this time

instead of only the nobles and courtiers. Study of the English Language began in this age as well.

– Grammar books, dictionaries, and books on the history of the language were created.

– Different rules for the language pop up too. (ex. The different use of shall and will)

Samuel Johnson created the Dictionary of the English Language.

Age of Marketing

Advertising and promotion grew during this age– Marketing was really invented in this time. – Newspapers began to advertise incoming ships and what

their cargoes were. A publication, the Court Circular, wrote about the

births and marriages of that week. New jobs sprung up during this period as well.

– hairdressers, fashion designers, boot makers, dancing masters, professional portrait painters

– Everyone wanted to look, act, and have a home that appeared “right”.

Effect of Writing on the French Revolution

Writings that were brought from the Americas as well as Britain talking of the successful revolutions that had taken place fueled the French people to revolt.

The essay was invented in this time which gave a formal form of transporting the ideas people had across Europe.

How Neoclassicism Changed the World

Enlightenment ideas mixed with the politics during the time of the American, British, and French

Revolutions led to a reformation throughout the world that toppled feudalism and brought about this

modern world. Political essays were written to spread the ideas of

equality among classes and the idea of freedom. These ideas can be seen in the Bill of Rights as well

as the Declaration of the Rights of Man

Creation of the Modern Essay

This is the time that the true creation of the modern essay took place.

Essays during the French Revolution were both political as well as motivational.– Political essays were written to speak against the

turmoil and oppression.– Motivational essays were used not only to fuel the

revolution in France, but to encourage other nations to do the same.

Neoclassical Poetry

“Rape of the Lock”, by Alexander Pope

The British Neoclassical Era

The neoclassical era affected the literacy of Britain intensely. – The time was a time where fine arts were greatly

appreciated.– “fancy talk” was what was important and having

nice things all influenced the literature in this era. – All this commodity gave time for people to write

essays and poetry and even the first novels that we see so many of these days.

Neoclassical Ideas Effect on America

Without this period the modern America that we live in wouldn’t likely exist. The ideas that were shared during this time are ideas that our Bill of Rights was written upon.

These emphasize individual’s rights which was the fire of the revolution that then led to its success and influenced the rest of the world.

Literature in the Neoclassical Era

Some famous examples of Neoclassical Literature are:– Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift– An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope– The Rambler by Samuel Johnson

Beliefs of the Neoclassical Era

Neoclassical beliefs began to grow secular which began to emerge in the writing and ideas put forth during that time.

They began to value the individual which led to public school systems and other schools and colleges to teach the good etiquette which also became a huge aspect of Neoclassical life.

British Works

Absalom and Achitophel– John Dryden

Lines 1-17 In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin,

Before polygamy was made a sin;When man on many multiplied his kind,Ere one to one was cursedly confined;When nature prompted, and no law denied, [5]Promiscuous use of concubine and bride;Then Israel's monarch 1  after heaven's own heart,His vigorous warmth did variously impartTo wives and slaves; and, wide as his command,Scattered his Maker's image through the land. [10]Michal, 2  of royal blood, the crown did wear,A soil ungrateful to the tiller's care:Not so the rest; for several mothers boreTo godlike David several sons before.But since like slaves his bed they did ascend, [15]No true succession could their seed attend.Of all the numerous progeny was none

Sources

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/ENGL201/neoclassical.htm