This document summarizes John Dryden's essay "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" from 1667. In the essay, Dryden discusses the relative merits of ancient Greek and Latin drama, contemporary French neoclassical drama, and English drama from the time of Shakespeare. One of the characters in the essay, Eugenius, argues that modern drama is superior to ancient drama. The document provides background on Dryden and his essay, and was presented as part of a university course on literary theory and criticism.