THE AGE OF CLASSICISM THE AGE OF CLASSICISM (1700-1784)(1700-1784)

An Introduction…An Introduction…

IntroductionIntroduction

1.The18th century in Europe was

The Age of Enlightenment and literature

explored themes of social upheaval,

reversals of personal status, political satire,

geographical exploration and the comparison

between the supposed natural state of man

and the supposed civilized state of man.

2. 2. The Age of Enlightenment advocated The Age of Enlightenment advocated reasonreason as the primary basis of as the primary basis of authority. Developed in authority. Developed in FranceFrance, , BritainBritain and and GermanyGermany, it influenced the whole of , it influenced the whole of EuropeEurope including including RussiaRussia and and ScandinaviaScandinavia. The era is marked . The era is marked politically by governmental politically by governmental consolidation, nation creation, and consolidation, nation creation, and greater rights for the common people, greater rights for the common people, and a diminuation of the influence of and a diminuation of the influence of authoritarian institutions such as the authoritarian institutions such as the nobility's role and powernobility's role and power..

3. 3. Many of the United States' Many of the United States' Founding FathersFounding Fathers

were also heavily influenced by were also heavily influenced by

Enlightenment-era ideas, particularly in the Enlightenment-era ideas, particularly in the

religious sphere (religious sphere (deismdeism) and, in parallel with ) and, in parallel with

liberalismliberalism (which had a major influence on (which had a major influence on

its its Bill of RightsBill of Rights, in parallel with the , in parallel with the

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the CitiDeclaration of the Rights of Man and the Citi

zenzen

), ), socialismsocialism and and anarchismanarchism in the political in the political

sphere.sphere.

4. Enlightenment thinkers believed that systematic 4. Enlightenment thinkers believed that systematic

thinking might be applied to all areas of human thinking might be applied to all areas of human

activity, carried into the governmental sphere in activity, carried into the governmental sphere in

their explorations of the their explorations of the individualindividual, , societysociety and the and the

statestate. Its leaders believed they could lead their . Its leaders believed they could lead their

states to states to progressprogress after a long period of after a long period of traditiontradition, ,

irrationalityirrationality, , superstitionsuperstition, and , and tyrannytyranny which they which they

imputed to the imputed to the Middle AgesMiddle Ages. The movement led to . The movement led to

the rise of the rise of classical liberalismclassical liberalism, , democracydemocracy, and , and

capitalismcapitalism..

5. 5. The Enlightenment Period receives The Enlightenment Period receives modern attention as a central model modern attention as a central model for many movements in the modern for many movements in the modern period. Another important movement period. Another important movement in 18th century philosophy, closely in 18th century philosophy, closely related to it, focused on belief and related to it, focused on belief and piety. Some of its proponents, such piety. Some of its proponents, such as as George BerkeleyGeorge Berkeley, attempted to , attempted to demonstrate rationally the existence demonstrate rationally the existence of a supreme being. Piety and belief of a supreme being. Piety and belief in this period were integral to the in this period were integral to the exploration of exploration of natural philosophynatural philosophy and and ethicsethics, in addition to , in addition to politicalpolitical theories theories of the age. of the age.

What isWhat isClassicism?Classicism?

……in the artsin the arts……in Literaturein Literature

ClassicismClassicism in in the the ArtsArts

Refers generally to a high Refers generally to a high regard for regard for classical antiquityclassical antiquity, , as setting standards for as setting standards for taste which the classicists taste which the classicists seeks to emulate. The art of seeks to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained. be formal and restrained.

Classicism in LiteratureClassicism in Literature

Classicism is a specific genre of literature Classicism is a specific genre of literature which has Greek and Roman influencewhich has Greek and Roman influence

had an emphasis on society, the had an emphasis on society, the enlightenment, and the age of reason.enlightenment, and the age of reason.

is a self-conscious reference to the idea is a self-conscious reference to the idea of axiomatic logic in the creation of a of axiomatic logic in the creation of a discipline, and the ideals of balance, discipline, and the ideals of balance, proportion and moderation. proportion and moderation.

As a literary doctrine, classicism holds As a literary doctrine, classicism holds

that the writer must be governed by that the writer must be governed by

rules, models, or conventions, rather than rules, models, or conventions, rather than

by wayward inspiration: in its most by wayward inspiration: in its most

strictly codified form in the 17th and 18th strictly codified form in the 17th and 18th

centuries (see centuries (see neoclassicismneoclassicism), it required ), it required

the observance of rules derived from the observance of rules derived from

Aristotle's Aristotle's PoeticsPoetics (4th century BCE) and (4th century BCE) and

Horace's Horace's Ars PoeticaArs Poetica . .

is guided by admiration of the qualities of is guided by admiration of the qualities of

formal balance, proportion, formal balance, proportion, decorumdecorum, and , and

restraint attributed to the major works of restraint attributed to the major works of

ancient Greek and Roman literature (‘the ancient Greek and Roman literature (‘the

classics’) in preference to the classics’) in preference to the

irregularities of later irregularities of later vernacularvernacular

literatures, and especially (since about literatures, and especially (since about

1800) to the artistic liberties proclaimed 1800) to the artistic liberties proclaimed

by by RomanticismRomanticism. .

What is a What is a ClassicClassic?? A A classicclassic is a work of the highest class, is a work of the highest class,

and has also been taken to mean a work and has also been taken to mean a work suitable for study in school classes. suitable for study in school classes. During and since the During and since the RenaissanceRenaissance, these , these overlapping meanings came to be applied overlapping meanings came to be applied to (and to be virtually synonymous with) to (and to be virtually synonymous with) the writings of major Greek and Roman the writings of major Greek and Roman authors from Homer to Juvenal, which authors from Homer to Juvenal, which were regarded as unsurpassed models of were regarded as unsurpassed models of excellence .excellence .

Classical style in literatureClassical style in literature

A classical style or approach to literary A classical style or approach to literary

composition is usually one that imitates composition is usually one that imitates

Greek or Roman models in subject matter Greek or Roman models in subject matter

(e.g. Greek legends) or in form (by the (e.g. Greek legends) or in form (by the

adoption of adoption of genresgenres like like tragedytragedy, , epicepic, , odeode

, or verse , or verse satiresatire), or both. ), or both.

A Short Biography of A Short Biography of Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin 1667 and was Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin 1667 and was

educated at Trinity College in Dublin. educated at Trinity College in Dublin.

Swift was seen as a man who was a sound Swift was seen as a man who was a sound

Anglican who detested superficiality, irrationality, Anglican who detested superficiality, irrationality,

and humbug in religion.  Swift’s attacks on and humbug in religion.  Swift’s attacks on

human pride were inspired by his religious beliefs human pride were inspired by his religious beliefs

that Man was a fallen being. Swift dismisses the that Man was a fallen being. Swift dismisses the

idea that men are naturally good, and he shows idea that men are naturally good, and he shows

little pity for weak and abject people. little pity for weak and abject people.

Apparently Swift’s genius was often Apparently Swift’s genius was often

misunderstood and the morbid aspect of his misunderstood and the morbid aspect of his

nature was often exaggerated.  nature was often exaggerated. 

He pours his scorn on enthusiasm, selfish He pours his scorn on enthusiasm, selfish

passion, the workings of imagination the passion, the workings of imagination the

subtleties speculative thought, the endless toil subtleties speculative thought, the endless toil

of scholarship and scientific research, the of scholarship and scientific research, the

crooked ways of politics, and especially on the crooked ways of politics, and especially on the

vileness of the human body and the vileness of the human body and the

preposterous pride of the human animal.preposterous pride of the human animal.

Swift was also a considerable poet. He often Swift was also a considerable poet. He often

ridiculed the romantics of love in his poetry, ridiculed the romantics of love in his poetry,

and he viewed most women as ‘beasts in and he viewed most women as ‘beasts in

petticoats.’ He was also known for light satire petticoats.’ He was also known for light satire

in his poetry. It can be excessive, ungentle, and in his poetry. It can be excessive, ungentle, and

informal: equally it can be surprisingly informal: equally it can be surprisingly

conventional in form and dry in tone. Its conventional in form and dry in tone. Its

language may be robust or almost prim. One of language may be robust or almost prim. One of

the things that make the poems so appealing the things that make the poems so appealing

and accessible is their gusto, which comes in and accessible is their gusto, which comes in

part from the scorn for false solemnity, self part from the scorn for false solemnity, self

pity, and existential complaintspity, and existential complaints. .

Swift was first and foremost a political Swift was first and foremost a political

writer. Swift’s satire is often a product of writer. Swift’s satire is often a product of

this relentlessly moral writer. A persistent this relentlessly moral writer. A persistent

goal of his satires is to: “educate our goal of his satires is to: “educate our

capacity for critical reflection on the capacity for critical reflection on the

human condition, and hence, to enlarge human condition, and hence, to enlarge

our capacity for humanity”.our capacity for humanity”.

Swift’s audience was whom he Swift’s audience was whom he

hoped to reform. He wanted to hoped to reform. He wanted to

develop their venality, develop their venality,

ignorance, vanity, pride. ignorance, vanity, pride.

Thoughts on Various SubjectThoughts on Various Subjectssby Jonathan Swiftby Jonathan Swift

WE have just Religion WE have just Religion enough to make us enough to make us hatehate, , but not enough to make us but not enough to make us lovelove one another one another. .

REFLECT on Things past, as Wars, REFLECT on Things past, as Wars, Negotiations, Factions, and the like; Negotiations, Factions, and the like; we enter so little into those we enter so little into those Interests that we wonder how Men Interests that we wonder how Men could possibly be so busy, and could possibly be so busy, and concerned for Things so transitory: concerned for Things so transitory: Look on the present Times, we find Look on the present Times, we find the same Humour, yet wonder not the same Humour, yet wonder not at all. at all.

WHENWHEN we desire or solicit we desire or solicit any Thing; our Minds run any Thing; our Minds run wholly on the good Side, or wholly on the good Side, or Circumstances of it; when Circumstances of it; when it is obtained, our Minds it is obtained, our Minds run only on the bad ones. run only on the bad ones.

THE greatest Inventions were THE greatest Inventions were produced in the Times of produced in the Times of Ignorance; as the Use of the Ignorance; as the Use of the Compass, GunpowderCompass, Gunpowder, and , and PrintingPrinting; and by the dullest ; and by the dullest Nation, as the Nation, as the GermansGermans. .

THE latter Part of a wise Man's THE latter Part of a wise Man's

Life is taken up in curing the Life is taken up in curing the

Follies, Prejudices, and false Follies, Prejudices, and false

Opinions he had contracted in Opinions he had contracted in

the former. the former.

THE THE CamelionCamelion, who is said , who is said to feed upon nothing but to feed upon nothing but Air, hath of all Animals the Air, hath of all Animals the nimblest Tongue. nimblest Tongue.

PHYSICIANS ought not to PHYSICIANS ought not to give their Judgment of give their Judgment of Religion, for the same Religion, for the same Reason that Butchers are Reason that Butchers are not admitted to be Jurors not admitted to be Jurors upon Life and Death. upon Life and Death.

It’s the end of the slide It’s the end of the slide presentation, but it’s the presentation, but it’s the beginning of illumined wisdom.beginning of illumined wisdom.

I hoped you have learned I hoped you have learned something.something.

I hope you could be able to reflect I hope you could be able to reflect about the thoughts presented by about the thoughts presented by Jonathan Swift , and apply the Jonathan Swift , and apply the values you learned in your own values you learned in your own life. In this way, you would be life. In this way, you would be pleasing to your fellowmen, and pleasing to your fellowmen, and much more to God who has the much more to God who has the genuine model of all the thoughts genuine model of all the thoughts in the worldin the world

“ “ Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the because of them, for the Lord your God goes with Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6Deuteronomy 31:6

AssignmentAssignmentLiterary Criticism:Literary Criticism:

The students are to critique the ideas The students are to critique the ideas implied in the epigram entitled implied in the epigram entitled Thoughts Thoughts on Various Subjectson Various Subjects in terms of how in terms of how Swift presented man as a “fallen being.” Swift presented man as a “fallen being.” The students should encode their The students should encode their answers profoundly on a sheet of bond answers profoundly on a sheet of bond paper. 20 pts.paper. 20 pts.