John Dryden was an influential English poet, playwright and critic in the 17th century. As a critic, he wrote An Essay of Dramatic Poesy in 1668 to discuss issues in English drama. In the essay, Dryden argues through a dialogue between four characters with different positions on topics like the ancients vs moderns, the unities, French vs English drama, and the appropriateness of rhyme in plays. Though he favors modern English plays, Dryden does not disparage the ancients. He also favors English drama over French drama and compares Shakespeare favorably to Jonson.

1. Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of
English
M. K. Bhavnagar University
Name: Gohil Devikaba J
Roll no.: 06
Topic’s Name: John Dryden as “A Critic”
Batch: 2014-16
Paper name: Literary Theory and Criticism
Contact Me: devikagohil13@gmail.com

2. John Dryden (1631-1700)(Introduction)
He was an English poet, dramatist
and critic.
He was also a leading figure of the
Restoration age.
He was so dominating person that the
whole age was known as ‘Age of
Dryden’
Walter Scott called him as “Glorious
John”.

3. Many writers were known for their works
like William Shakespeare, John Milton and
Ben Johnson.
Most of them were specialized in drama .
Comparison between Ancient and Moderns,
Greek and Roman authors starts.
These was the chief discussion of that time.

4. In 1668 Dryden wrote ‘An Essay of Dramatic
Poesy’
Original title of the book is ‘Of Dramatick
Poesie, an Essay’
For which he is known as ‘The Father of English
Literary Criticism’
In his book we can see both the side of John
Dryden. Dryden as a poet and Dryden as a
playwright.
He write this essay as a dramatic dialogue with
the four characters representing four critical
positions.

5. In this book he discusses this five issues
I. Ancients vs. English Drama
II. Unities
III. French vs. English drama
IV. Separation of Tragedy and Comedy vs.
Tragicomedy
V. Appropriateness of rhyme in drama

6. Charles
Sackville
(Eugenius)
(1638-1706)
Favors the
moderns over
the ancients
Sir Robert
Howard
(Crites)
(1626-1698)
Argues in favor
of the ancients
Sir Charles
Sedley
(Lisideius)
(1639-1701)
Argues French
drama is
superior to
English drama
John Dryden
(Neander)
(1631-1700)
Favors
modern-
English plays

7. In this book he favors the modern-English plays,
but does not disparage the ancients.
He also favors English drama and has some
critical things to say of French drama:
“Those beauties of the French poesy
are such as will raise perfection higher where
it is, but are not sufficient to give it where it is
not: they are indeed the beauties of a statue,
but not of a man.”

8. He said that French plays have only one plot
without sub-plot
He criticized French drama essentially for its
smallness.
To prove his argument he compare Shakespeare
with Ben Jonson and said that
“Shakespeare had the largest and most
comprehensive soul, while Jonson was the
most largest and most judicious writer which
any theater ever had.”

9. He also responded to the
objection against rhyme by
admitting that “verse so
tedious” is in inappropriate
to drama.
“Nature” rhymed verse is,
however, just as
appropriate to dramatic as
to non-dramatic poetry.

10. Concision:
 At the end he give a definition which we will find quite appropriate for the
drama that
“A play ought to be a just and lively image of human
nature, representing its passions and humors, and the changes
of fortune to which it is subject, for the delight and instruction
of mankind.”
 And at the end of his book he gave this words to Neander that
“If I would compare him with Shakespeare, I must
acknowledge him the more correct Poet, but Shakespeare
the grater wit. Shakespeare was the Homer or Father of
our Dramatick Poets; Jonson was the Virgil, the pattern
of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I love
Shakespeare. ”

11. Thank You