The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems
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Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK
1974
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566297702066238 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-bgsu15662977020662382021-08-03T07:12:35Z The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems Werner, Doris Cecilia Literature During the last half of the seventeenth century a movement developed in English literature which modern critics call neoclassicism. The tendency towards emulation of the writers of Augustan Rome was an extension and development from the native tradition of the preceding period, as well as a result of continental influences, principally French and Italian. An understanding of the theory of literary kinds or genres is essential to an understanding of the achievements of the writers of the second half of the seventeenth century. Of the genres with which writers were concerned, the epic and tragedy were regarded as the two noblest forms. For several reasons, the epic was usually given precedence, even though Aristotle had favored tragedy. Thus the status of epic, as reflected in the criticism and in the writing of original epic poems, is an important part of the literary history of the period. Indeed, one could argue that it is impossible to understand neoclassicism without giving consideration to the importance of the epic. The present study considers a representative selection of poems with reference to their relationship to contemporary critical theory in an attempt to assess the influence of the social and political background upon epic theory and practice. Neoclassic heroic poems appear to be a distinct species of the epic genre. These poems have certain characteristics in common which they do not share with earlier or later poems which resemble the epic. Poems considered in this study are Abraham Cowley's Davideis (1656), William Davenant's Gondibert (1651), William Chamberlayne's Pharonnida (1659), Edward Howard's Brittish Princes (1669), and Richard Blackmore's Prince Arthur (1659). Milton's Paradise Lost (1667) is mentioned but not discussed at length because seventeenth-century critics generally agree that the poem does not fit their criteria for an heroic poem. After 1700, general critical agreement that Paradise Lost possesses epic characteristics suggests an alteration in critical criteria. The epic ideal of the second half of the seventeenth century is transmuted after 1700 into mock-heroic forms, translations of foreign epics, romantic and subjective poetry, and the narrative element of the novel. 1974 English text Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566297702066238 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566297702066238 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
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English |
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NDLTD |
| topic |
Literature |
| spellingShingle |
Literature Werner, Doris Cecilia The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| author |
Werner, Doris Cecilia |
| author_facet |
Werner, Doris Cecilia |
| author_sort |
Werner, Doris Cecilia |
| title |
The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| title_short |
The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| title_full |
The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| title_fullStr |
The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Neoclassic Epic as a Genre (1650-1700), Exemplified by Five Representative Poems |
| title_sort |
neoclassic epic as a genre (1650-1700), exemplified by five representative poems |
| publisher |
Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
1974 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566297702066238 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT wernerdoriscecilia theneoclassicepicasagenre16501700exemplifiedbyfiverepresentativepoems AT wernerdoriscecilia neoclassicepicasagenre16501700exemplifiedbyfiverepresentativepoems |
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