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Augustan age, the age of enlightenment, the age of reason
Attempts to restore the Stewart dynasty:
1714- James’ son
1730- his grandson
These 2- Jacobite risings.
Queen Anne- weak monarch, but interested of literature & art. The last age of literary patronage.
The Act of settlement- new rule of succession to the thrown (only a protestant can be the monarch).
After Anne- Hannover kings. Not very popular. Little influence on the literature. Stability, prosperity. The 3 Georges and Anne- Parliament more power (monarchs were weak). The modern system of government began to develop. The office of the prime minister was established in all but the name.
1740- national anthem was wrote (Rule, Britannia).
England & Scotland united.
The social context.
The middle class- ambitious, believed in common sense, demanded education, needed a logical explanation of the universe, norms of social behavior. The urbanization began. London was the big city.
Rural people had to go to towns to find a job. A large amount of criminals, beggars, prostitutes. Biographers of criminals came into vogue. Daniel Defoe. Newspapers discussed criminal laws.
All printed materials spread into all directions. It was much easier to get your work published and to get a book. Books fall in price. Pirate editions. Different themes. Digests that provided ways to acquire knowledge, explained scientific facts. Age of enlightenment. Libraries were accessible.
Positive side- growth of education (to all social classes). Negative- different kinds of charlatans had access to printing.
The intellectual context.
The age of reason. Rationalism as the way of thinking. A new way of seeing the world (Decartes, John Locke, Isaac Newton). Natural science- rise. Mind was the most important quality of a human. The truest truths were the simplest ones –Alexander Pope.
The understanding of limitation of human knowledge. Locke: not to know all things, but those which concern our conduct. Mankind should study men (Pope).
The literary history.
Augustan Age- neoclassical writers dictated tastes & values. Augustan- Caesar Augustas. The period of stability and prosperity in Rome, literary eminence. Vergil, Ovid, Horace. Writers liked to style their age as augustan age (parallel between their own day and Caesar Augustus). Imitated works of H., O.,V, saw parallels.
Neoclassicism- the practice of imitating the work of classical authors as a matter of esthetic principles. A reaction against the Renaissance (optimistic, enthusiastic view of a human being). N. writers saw a man as a limited being, imperfect, with limited potential. Order, common sense, reason, restraint, conservatism.
Neoclassical literature- 1 part of the XVII century. Features the rapid development of the novel, explosion of satire. Literary forms- essay, satire, parody, novel, oral fable. Verse form- heroic couplet. The theatre- heroic drama, tragedy to melodrama, sentimental comedy. Major writers- A. Pope, John Dryden (poetry), J. Swift, Edison (prose).
Aristotle’s genres- if you study it carefully, you’ll produce literature of high merit. Literature was seen as a craft rather than art. Hierarchy: epic, tragedy at the top, satire at the bottom. Rules for each genre. 3 dramatic unities- place, action, time. Excuse for using the rules: it helps to understand and imitate nature. Understanding was severely limited. Generalizations. Curiosity. Thirst for knowledge affected literature. Moral & didactic elements became prominent.
Neoclassicism gave a lesson of craftmenship. But it imprisoned imagination, limited the freedom of the poet. Literature was conspicuously political. They wrote to the audience, not to the prosperence.
A. Pope (1688-1744)
Catholic background. Home education. 12- disease, ruined his health, stunted his growth. Impossible to make a career in politics. Weak health- no social life. Earned his living by writing. 1st major work – 12 years old (his own saying). The Pastorals- age of 16. He edited his own biography creating an image of an ideal poet (imitated Vergil). Essay on criticism. Tries to combine the standards, demands and canons of classical esthetics with the new tendencies -> Essay as a new genre.
1712- a group of writers (J. Swift, T. Parnell) who became his intimate friends. They formed a Scriblerus club (Martinus Screblerus- a learned fool, wrote his biography, false tastes in learning and literature) -> ridicule diff. events in literature. The satirical spirit of the most important XVIII satirists was fostered.
“The rape of the lock”. Actual episode. A young aristocrat cut a lock of hair from a girl. Quarrel between the families. Tact, delicate fancy. Brought together his best qualities- delicate imagination, wit, sense of humor, satirical temperament, control of the verse. Changes this trivial episode into an epic. Mock-heroic epic. Gentle satire of the fashionable society.
The translation of Homer. Had all the virtues, advantages apart from 1- faithfulness of the original. Financially the most successful.
Optimistic poems about the world in general. Satire about his particular enemies. “Dunciad”.
Last work- “essay on men”- unfinished. Tried to approach the study of humanity scientifically. Edification.
Style- correctness, clarity, precision. Heroic couplet- powerful tool in his hands. Laconic. Lots of lines that have passed into general use. To err is human, to forgive- divine.
HANGOVER KINGS
SHE’S STILL INTO THAT NEON NAIL COLOR? HOW OLD YOU ARE, MA’AM?)))
LET’S NAME OUR TEAM FOR BRAIN RING THIS YEAR HANGOVER KINGS)
Nov 22 2012
There appeared a new form of literature which reached and was intended for a wider audience - not only aristocracy. The age is remembered for its prose. The greatest accomplishment of the literature was the emergence of the novel, which proved to be the main literary form of the next 3 centuries.
Rationalism was the way of thinking. There is little wonder that in the 18th century there was a tendency to depict ordinary life as it was. The word "novel" derives from the italian word "novella" - a short compact broadly realistic tale, which was popular in Italy. The word was used in the variety of ways. And words like "romance" were in the same state of flux.
"Tom Jones" was a novel but the author called it history.
Novel:
- a work of fiction usually in prose at least 150-200 pages long. Important features: fiction, narrative tells a story, it is long, emphasis on the character, realistic plot, plosible plot structure, illusion of reality. Associated with concreteness, especially in portraying characters. Was designed to acquaint us with individual people. The setting should be realistic, not generic - unlike in romance. The central characters are particular individuals - not familiar types. A novel is more tightly structured than a romance. A novel pretends to be realistic - a romance has a mystery element.
Three possible points of emphasis:
- abstract theme. Can teach a moral lesson. Short narrative: fable. Long narrative: allegory (pilligrim's prose by Buyan)
- the plot. Spectacular adventures in romance. Short: anecdote. Long: romance
- the character. Character development. Short: short story. Long: novel
The novel is characterized by realism. It was a popular form, reading for entertainment. It helped to have a deeper understanding of human nation, behavior, of what it might be to be someone else.
The english novel is distinguished among other genres. Social structure was interesting for novelists. Some novelists preferred a few characters (Austen), others like to give a panoramic view of the society (Dickens). Also, phycological relationships of people was the dimension of the novel.
Features of the english novel:
- obsession with the themes of courtship, love and marriage. Almost all the novels of the age are love-novels
- comedic ending (happy ending). The character finds his place in the society. It helps to achieve the sense of harmony and justice. At the beginning it is hard. Such endings give as a vision of a well-ordered society, gives the characters what they want. There is nothing like that in French novels or Russian (Dostoyevsky). The novel is comforting
The historical context
It was the age of stability in politics but in social structure it was an age of the convulsing change. England was becoming a capitalistic industrial country.
The reading public was extending, the new recruits were woman of both classes and men from middle class. They were getting education but different one - not classical of aristocracy, more practical.
The increasing amount of leisure time resulted in popularity of reading. They wanted something practical - hence, the novel.
The novel started as the diary, the letter, the periodicals (essays). PE established the standards of taste.
Gentleman's magazine was important. The Tattler by R.Steele and The Spectator by J.Addison (pioneers of english prose) - even more important. Smth between journalism and literature. Wanted to make philosophy everybody's topic of discussion.
Isaac Bickerstaff wrote essays in the Tattler. Wrote about news and events.
The Spectator was presented as a magazine of fictional gentlemen's genre. A fictional member of this club - Sir Roger de Covetey - new character, always gets in troubles but very lovable. Represents the spirit of Old England. He was the first in the long line of recognizable English characters.
5 major writers of the novel: D.Defoe, S.Richardson, J,Swift, L.Stern, H.Felding.
Everybody agrees that Richardson's "Pamela" was a novel. He began writing different essays, lived a very respectable life. Became a writer almost by chance. When he was about 50 years old. Wrote continuous letters - a novel in letters ("Pamela"). Pamela became a lady of waiting, she was not a servant, nor was she a member of aristocracy. She was well-educated. We meet her at the moment when her lady dies. Her son wants to make her his mistress, but she refuses, even though she loves him. Pamela is the reader of the letters. She also writes a journal, which Mr. B (the son) reads in the end and marries her - two books before the end. All in all there are 7 books. Comedic ending.
The effect was overwhelming. A lot of editions. It became a matter of fashion for ladies to always have this book with you.
His next book was "Clarissa Harlow, or the history of a young lady". Long. All his novels are slow-moving. Tragic ending - one of very few. It was a kind of a warning for girls. The basic line is the same as in "Pamela". Love-lass was her seducer, and the word later passed into general use. It was also very popular.
The third book was about an ideal man. It was quite boring.
Fielding was concerned with morals, his works were different from Richardson. He was a novelist, a playwright, a satirist, a pamphleteer and a journalist. Always wanted to show morals.
He started his career as a playwright. He was an aristocrat. Wrote 24 different plays.
His first novel was a response to "Pamela". A satire on the book, focuses on the adventures of her brother Joseph, who meets Mrs. Booby. It is the first picaresque novel - centers on the travels of a character.
"The History of Tom Jones" - the most famous work. Tom is an orphan. A novel about a common English every man, who has a lot of virtue but slips a lot. He is too good to be the english every man, though. Blifel - his brother/cousin - is always in his way, trying to set his uncle against him. The purpose of the novel - is not to make a bad man good, but to make a good man wise. The book is in 18 books.
He took great pains to set the new genre into the existing hierarchy of genres.
Dec 6 2012
The development of the genre of the novel.
The new element appeared at the 2nd half of the VIII cent, to what extent they proved to be of lasting value?
Fielding:
Humorous elements appear.
Involve a vast cast of characters.
The novel is clearly structured.
Introductory essays explaining how to approach the genre of the novel.
2nd part of the XVIII cent. Critics recognize the appear of the new genre- Samuel Johnson (novels- for young, by women, readers can be tempted into immorality; virtue should purely be distinguished from vice, vice should be disgusted)
New elements in the novel:
The specific genius of the writers: Laurence Sterne (1713-1768). 1 of the strangest & most contradictory figures in the E. literature. Was a priest and yet he is know as the author of the bodiest book in the E. literature (filthy). Innovator. A Revolutioner. “Tristram Shandy”. An autobiography, however, most of the book is the series of digressions that move away from the central story. Religion, philosophy, child birth, military, … Tristram wants to write his memoir. Begins the story from his conception (зачатие). Can’t see the story, always distracts. The book is notorious for being difficult to follow. Sterne: without the digressions the book will be incomplete. His approach to realism is more sophisticated. No identifying of the beginning, middle & the end of the storyline. A number of memorable characters. Everyman is interesting because of “hobby-horse” (an obsession). Walter Shandy (science), uncle Toby (military fortifications), Parson Yorick. Characters are drawn with delicate sentiment. Delicate humor. Innovations: the fragmented storyline (series of events is not chronological) – this approach is more effective in capturing the human experience (to Sterne). The new perception of time. Typographical innovations- some pages are blank, some are white, some are black. Some consist of dots and dashes. Chapters of 1 sentence. It turns to self-parody.
When T.S. appeared the E. novel was a mirror of contemporary life. Sterne goes against the traditionв of the elders. Even the title is new (opinions). There are opinions of the characters, above all- the author.
The novel has ceased to be the mirror of life. The channel of outpouring the author’s personality, imagination.
After him- no one can be more revolutionary than Sterne. Novel = free utterance of the author.
The extent of S’s genius was not well appreciated.
After Sterne- neoclassical theory continues to dominate, but there appear new tendencies. 1749- J.-J. Rousseau- the progress in science in arts tends to corrupt morals. People who are naturally good are corrupt by the civilization. Ideal- in the past or in the village. Literature became to get interest in the humble: Thomas Gray “Elegy written in a country churchyard” (Gray- a scholar) – changed the face of poetry for the next 2,5 centuries. Neoclassical canons- lucid, clear, the rhythm is strong, the rhyme is clearly seen, elevated diction, personification, inspiration of Milton & Spencer. The theme & attitudes are revolutionary. The image of the poet is important- young & sensitive, melancholic. Russian romanticism starts with the translation of it- Zhukovsky.
The graveyard school of poetry- melancholy reflected works on life, death, immortality. Edward Young “Night thoughts’. Oliver Goldsmith “Deserted village” (simple rustic life)- 1 natural charm is more dear to me than all- rebellion against neo-classicism
Characteristic of the end of the XVIII cent- interest in the past. 1762- Jack Macferson “Fingal” (translation of the composition written by a legendary Gallic poet & warrior Ossian). Mystification.
Gothic literature. Horror & mystery. Fesar, excitement, shock, supernatural. Castles. Gothic meant medieval. Horace Walpole “The castle of Otranto, a gothic story”- 1st truly gothic novel. His attempt to drive creative energy into a new channel. Then the meaning of the word changed. Ann Radcliffe- develops the gothic novel into a literary phenomenon. Human heart- sufferings. Secrets of the past. Without solving the mysteries of the past they can’t live in the present. Always a rational explanation of all mysteries in the end.
Great change I the way people saw themselves & the world. Esthetic revolution – ROMANTICISM.
ROMANTICISM
Poets affected the E. lang. to such an extent that we’re living in the aftermath of that revolution. Difficult to define. R- a poetic or esthetic movement. Diversity, individuality, freedom, creativity. They say R. starts at 1798- Wordsworth, Coleridge. End- 1832- death of Water Scott & Goethe. Detested each other’s poetry. Poets had the spirit of the age. The spirit of revolutions (American, French). The feeling oа the beginning of the new era, everything was possible. They wanted to change literature as well. Interest in the exotic. Individual. Self.
Principles of the esthetics:
MY STRENGTH IS IN MIND)) I CAN ALSO HIT YOU, SO BEWARE)) LOVE U TOO, BABE)
THE PSYCHOLOGY TEACHER WAS RIGHT. I’D PREFER HER VOICE DOWN. I DON’T LIKE SCREAMING)
IT WAS A CHALLENGE TO PUT MY HANDS INTO THE T-SHIRT’S COLLARS THIS MORNING ‘CAUSE OF THE MUSCLES. OH FUCK IT)) NO JEANS SUIT ME IN THE MALLS, I HAVE TO MAKE THEM TAILORED((
HA, SHE REMINDS ME OF STERNE- HOW EASILY SHE GETS FLOWN AWAY…))
WANNA SE THE FRENCH GUY THAT GOT ME THRILLED?)) 1 FUCKING DETAIL- HE’S GAY. HE PLAYED LOUIS XIV IN MY FAV. MUSICAL. AND THE TROUBLE IS- THERE’S A GAY CHARACTER IN THE PLOT AND HE’S PLAYED BY A HETEROSEXUAL MAN!!!!! AND THE KING- BY A GAY. OH YEAH, AS KATE SAID- I’M THAT COMPLICATED, NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME)))
WTF IS DROUSY-FROUSY?)) OH, LIKE THE CUTEST WORD- CUDDLY-WUDDLY. NICE)
POLLY LIKES OUR NOTES
FINALLY THERE APPEARED THE US)
THEY ALREADY KNEW THAT YOLO THING) SO THEY DIED FIGHTING…) POOR GUYS
FOR 3 SECS SHE WAS SPEECHLESS AND IT WAS PERFECT!!!!
Dec 13 2012
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