John Dryden's 'Essay on Dramatic Poesy' presents a discussion among four characters about the merits of ancient versus modern drama, focusing on the representation of human nature in plays. Dryden emphasizes that drama should reflect real-life passions without artificiality, arguing against the use of rhyme in favor of natural speech. The essay critiques the lack of unity in modern plays compared to the structured approach of ancient works.

1. Essay on Dramatic Poesy – John
Dryden
• Name: Rohit Vyas
• Course: M.A. English, Semester 1, at S. B. Gardi
Dept. of English MK Bhavnagar University
• PG Year: 2019-2021
• PG Enrolment Number: 2069108420200041
• Roll No. 29
• Email: rohitvyas277@gmail.com
• Paper: 03 Literary Criticism (Unit 2)
• Submitted to : Dr. Dilip Barad

2. John Dryden
•Dryden was an English
poet, critic and
playwright from the age
of restoration.
•Poems like All for Love,
Critical essays and
prefaces like Essay on
Dramatic Poesy, Fables, Of
Heroic Plays, Discourse on
Satire.

3. Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
• In this essay Dryden has put forward his
criticism on dramatic poetry.
• The essay begins with the scene that Four
friends, Crites, Neander, Eugenius and Lesidius
are sailing to see a navy battle between British
and Dutch armies.
• These four characters of the essay are thought
to have been related with four critics including
Dryden himself.
• In between, they talk about the poetry which is
going to produce after the naval battle.

4. Definition of Play
• “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.”
• In this definition Dryden explains, that
drama should be presented as it is, without
artificial elements,

5. • The group of four men talk about three main
points…
• 1. ancient versus modern drama in which
Crites supports the ancients and Eugenius
favours the moderns .
• 2. French plays vs. English plays
• 3. Rhyme vs. blank verse plays
The Main Arguments of the Essay

6. Ancient Plays vs. Modern Plays
• Ancient plays follow the unity of time, place
and action.
• In modern plays, there are no unities
maintained. Very vague form of play.
• Ancients give justice to the soul of scene,
tragic emotions.
• Modern plays are more leaned on love
scenes and sensuous emotions.

7. Rhyme vs. Blank Verse
• Crites Says that rhymes seems unnatural in
the play, it unfits to carry just and lively
image of play.
• Neander argues further that it is all about
how we select the words, natural words
adds more vitality to play – premeditation
towards selecting words.

8. Works Cited
• Wikipedia contributors. "John Dryden." Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Sep. 2019.
Web. 5 Oct. 2019.
• Long, W.J. The History of English Literature
• Abrams, M.H., Glossary of Literary Terms, 11e, (reprint 2019)
• John Dryden Essay on Dramatic Poesy
http://www.drhanan.com/thinkers/dryden.htm
• https://readingnorton.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/john-
dryden-an-essay-of-dramatic-poesy-fragments/
• Sharma, K.N. "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy by John Dryden: An
Overview." BachelorandMaster, 25 Jan. 2014,
https://www.bachelorandmaster.com/criticaltheories/essay-
on-dramatic-poesy.html.
• Barad, Dilip, YouTube channel, Dryden
https://youtu.be/WhdrZB8Flro (Rhyme vs. Blank verse)
https://youtu.be/ObWjxgfZT_8 (Definition of Play)

9. Grazie!