Neo classical age

1. SEM – IV PAPER – 8
History of the British Novel and Poetry of the 18th
Century.
Neo - Classical Age.
The 18th
century in English literature has been called the Neo - Classical Age the
Augustan Age or the Age of Enlightenment or Reason. The writers of this period tried to
imitate the style of the Romans and Greeks. Thus the combination of the terms “neo” which
means ‘new’ and classical refers to the Classic which means work of the highest order that
designate writings that have won first rank in any Nation.. To combine these words, we get the
meaning of Neoclassicism as the rebirth and restoration of Classicism. Hence, Neoclassicism is
the movement in the history of English literature, which laid immense emphasis on revival of
the classical spirit during the period between 1680 and 1750. Gote says everything that is good
in Literature is Classical. Every National literature has at least one period in which number of
great writers have produced and that is called the Classic period of a Nation’s literature. Thus
the reign of Augustus is the Classic or Golden Age of Rome. The age of Dante is the Classic
Age of Italian literature the age of Louis XIV is the French Classical Age and the age of Queen
Anne is often called the Classical Age of England.
The term Neo classical age is not easy to define but its implications are clear:
• Social conventions are more important than individual convictions
• Reason is more important than emotion
• Form is more important than content.
This was also the era of the Enlightenment which emphasized logic and reason. During
this period neoclassicism and enlightenment were different but intertwined movements.
Neoclassicism was an artistic manifestation of aesthetic and cultural ideal, while the
Enlightenment was a wider philosophical and political movement focusing on the human
condition. This period was marked by the tremendous changes in social order. They
believed that social needs are more important than individual needs. The drive towards the

2. acquisition and spread of knowledge was so powerful in this era and so it is called the Age of
Enlightenment.
Neo – Classical Literature
▪ Neoclassicism is a long and fruitful epoch (era) in the history of British literature and
culture. This literature began to mould intellectual Trends and artistic phenomena in the
Restoration.
▪ It was characterized by intellectual curiosity concerning details of the surrounding world.
▪ The literature was considered primarily as a means of education becoming mostly
didactic (instructive) and moral.
▪ There was a belief that reason was the primary basis of authority.
▪ With improved trade, commerce and literacy people started selling their ideas. Ancient
Greek and Roman text, art and literature was referred and revisited influencing the way
they write, act and think, in a sense it was a revival of classical taste.
Neo classical literature was defined by common sense, order, accuracy and structure.
▪ Literary work that came during this period includes prose, parody, fables, and
melodrama, rhyming with couplets, satire, letters, diaries, novels and essays.
▪ Grammar and etymology are emphasized more.
▪ Gale mentions that in the poetry the classical forms of the “heroic couplet” and the
“ode” became popular.
▪ There was a rise of ballads and sentimental poetry and poems were realistic and
satirical.
▪ In poems there was no mention of spiritual bias moral Highness or philosophy.
▪ No spontaneous or idea can be put into poems.
▪ Comedy and tragedy are two genre of drama that was prevailing in that age.
▪ Novel of sensibility particularly the work of Horace appeared in this age.
▪ In short neoclassical era is perhaps best characterized by the key notions of imitation,
rationalism and convention.
▪ In direct opposition to Renaissance attitudes where man was seen as basically good the
neoclassical writers portrayed man as inherently flawed.

3. ▪ They emphasized restraint, self-control and common sense.
▪ This was a time when conservatism flourished in both politics and literature.
▪ The political and social changes exhibiting the Supremacy of good sense rationality
sanity and balance left an imperishable mark on the literature of this age.