Our teacher and the head of the Department of English at MKBU, Prof. Dr. Dilip Barad, has assigned this task based on the learning outcomes from the videos he shared with us.
Introduction
John Dryden(1631-1700) is a key figure in the English literary tradition due to his groundbreaking work of criticism, An Essay on Dramatic Poesy(1668) written during the Great Plague of London, examining various aspects of drama, including tragedy, comedy, and the use of verse. Dr. Samuel Johnson referred to Dryden as the "father of English criticism" because Dryden produced extensive and sustained critical writings that shaped the foundation of English literary criticism. We will analyse Dryden's critical views with the help of some expert videos.
John Dryden: The Father of English Criticism
Before we look at Dryden’s specific debates, it’s important to understand why he holds such a central place in English literary criticism.
Setting the Foundation for English Criticism
John Dryden earns the title “father of English criticism” because he was the first to approach it in a continuous, deliberate way. Earlier critics like Philip Sidney had offered valuable ideas, but they were scattered and often came after the author’s death. Dryden changed that by placing criticism at the heart of his literary career. In works such as An Essay of Dramatic Poesy and in his many prefaces, he discussed what makes literature good, how plays should be judged, and how English drama compares with the French. His method encouraged readers to move beyond personal taste and judge writing by its design, purpose, and artistry, which was a refreshing change in his time.
Rules Guided by Flexibility
Dryden was influenced by the neoclassical tradition of Aristotle and other ancient critics, who valued order and proportion. But unlike rigid rule-followers, he saw these principles as tools, not chains. His famous definition of a play as a “just and lively image of human nature” captured his ideal drama should be truthful to life and vivid in portraying human passions, moods, and sudden changes of fortune. This belief distinguished him from Plato, who distrusted poetry, and from Aristotle, who focused on catharsis. Dryden wanted plays to both entertain and instruct audiences.
A Lasting Legacy
By blending classical insight with his own theatrical experience, Dryden shaped English criticism into a modern discipline. He believed great works should be both grounded in real life and skilfully crafted. This balance placed him between the extremes of rigid classicism and unfettered romanticism, keeping criticism connected to real human experience. His influence continues to shape how we think about literature today.
Four Foundational Ideas to Dramatic Poesie
A Critic in a Changing Age
Dryden lived in the post-Elizabethan period, when the free creativity of the earlier era was giving way to calls for discipline and order. Writers of his time looked back to classical authorities like Aristotle and Horace, but Dryden did not imitate them blindly. He argued that the neoclassical approach offered a strong framework for art, one that respected rules but still left room for originality.
Defining Dramatic Poesie
In An Essay of Dramatic Poesy, he uses a lively dialogue between four characters to explore drama’s nature. Through their conversation, he examines the classical unities of time, place, and action, defending them with moderation. He praises the genius of playwrights like Shakespeare, who broke the rules yet produced work filled with vitality and enduring appeal. Dryden’s vision of dramatic poesie blends respect for tradition with appreciation for creative freedom.
Establishing Literary Criticism
Dryden’s reasoned approach validated criticism as a serious literary activity. He showed that drama could be both disciplined and emotionally rich. By promoting a critical method that balanced logic and imagination, he laid the groundwork for future English criticism.
With the idea of “dramatic poesie” in place, Dryden then turns to the heart of his thinking what exactly makes a play.
Defining the Play Itself
A Clear and Powerful Definition
In An Essay of Dramatic Poesy, Dryden defines a play as a “just and lively image of human nature.” “Just” means fair and truthful, avoiding distortion or mere convention. “Lively” means vivid, colourful, and full of the energy of real life. For him, the stage should mirror reality’s variety passions, humour, reversals of fortune in a way audiences can connect with.
Literature as Delight and Instruction
Dryden believed drama had two equally important aims: to delight and to instruct. Delight is more than surface pleasure; it is refined enjoyment that makes moral or intellectual lessons memorable. A good play entertains while planting ideas and insights that stay with its audience.
Enduring Relevance
This definition forms a practical standard for judging Restoration drama and plays beyond it. Dryden’s stress on truth, vitality, and the union of enjoyment with instruction ensures drama avoids both lifeless adherence to rules and chaotic freedom. It remains a guide for critics even now.
Comparative Criticism of the Ancients, the Moderns and the French Playwrights
The Comparative Nature of Dryden's Criticism
The video's title itself points to the core of Dryden's critical methodology: comparative criticism. Instead of analyzing a single work in isolation, Dryden juxtaposes the literary traditions of the Ancients (classical Greek and Roman playwrights), the Moderns (English playwrights of his time), and the French playwrights. This approach allows him to establish a critical framework by which he can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each group. This is significant because it highlights the transition from prescriptive, rule-based criticism to a more analytical and comparative method, which was highly influential in the development of modern literary theory.
Engaging with the Battle of the Books
The video is an entry point into the enduring "Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns," a major intellectual debate of the 17th and 18th centuries. Dryden's work, as discussed in the video, acts as a primary text in this debate. He doesn't simply declare one group superior but carefully weighs their merits. He praises the Ancients for their foundational genius and mastery of form while acknowledging the Moderns for their refinement and originality. Furthermore, his inclusion of French playwrights adds a third dimension, showing the influence of new, rule-based French classicism on English drama and the intellectual landscape of the time. This multi-faceted discussion demonstrates the complexity of literary history and the difficulty of assigning a singular value to a specific era.
Understanding Restoration-Era Aesthetics
It's crucial to understand that Dryden's criticism is not just about literature; it's a reflection of the cultural and aesthetic shifts of the English Restoration period. The video teaches that Dryden's work captures the era's blend of reverence for classical authority and a desire for innovation. His analysis of French plays, for example, reveals a contemporary fascination with dramatic unities and refined language, while his defense of English playwrights highlights a preference for a more robust and emotionally expressive style. Learning from this video means contextualizing Dryden's arguments within the political and social climate of his time, where new forms of art and intellectual thought were emerging after a period of civil strife. This shows how literary criticism is a window into the values and anxieties of an era.
Debate regarding appropriateness of Rhyme and Blank verse
The Core of the Formalist Debate: Appropriateness of Metrical Form
The video's central theme is the debate between rhyme and blank verse in dramatic works, as examined through the lens of John Dryden. For a postgraduate student, this isn't just a discussion of poetic form; it's a deep dive into aesthetics and artistic appropriateness. Dryden, as a critical theorist, is shown to be grappling with a fundamental question: which metrical form is best suited to achieve the highest dramatic effect? His analysis moves beyond personal preference to consider the inherent qualities of each form. Rhyme might be seen as lending a heightened, more formal tone, suitable for elevated subjects or heroic characters, while blank verse, closer to natural speech, could be more effective in conveying genuine emotion and realistic dialogue. The ability to analyze Dryden's reasoning on this point demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of formalist criticism and its application.
Dryden's Role as a Nuanced Arbitrator
A key learning outcome for this video would be to recognize that Dryden is not a dogmatic critic but a balanced and nuanced arbitrator. As presented in the video, he doesn't simply declare one form superior. Instead, he meticulously weighs the arguments for both rhyme and blank verse. This is a critical point that distinguishes his work. He might, for example, praise the "majesty and sweetness" of rhyming couplets in certain contexts, while also acknowledging the "liberty and scope" of blank verse for a more naturalistic style of drama. This intellectual flexibility is crucial to understanding his place in literary history. It shows him as a critic who values artistic freedom and the artist's ability to choose the form that best serves their creative vision, rather than adhering to rigid, classical rules.
Reflecting on Restoration-Era Artistic Concerns
This video provides a valuable window into the aesthetic and intellectual concerns of the English Restoration period. The debate over rhyme and blank verse was a significant part of the larger cultural conversation about what a "good" play should be. It reflected the tension between a desire for formal elegance (influenced by French neoclassicism, which often favored rhyme) and a burgeoning English tradition that valued a more robust, less constrained theatrical style (as seen in Shakespeare's blank verse). A postgraduate student would understand that this debate was not isolated but was part of the ongoing evolution of English drama and the search for a national artistic identity. Therefore, studying this video helps one to contextualize Dryden's ideas within the broader intellectual and artistic currents of his time.
Controversy regarding the Rhymes lines vs the Blank Verse
The Controversy as a Formalist Study
The video, as a follow-up, intensifies the discussion on the formalist elements of drama. It dissects the arguments for and against rhyming lines versus blank verse, framing the controversy as a matter of literary theory rather than simple preference. A student would learn how critics like Dryden meticulously analyzed the impact of form on content. Rhyme, with its structured and musical quality, was often associated with elevated, heroic themes, but could also be perceived as artificial and constraining. In contrast, blank verse was lauded for its naturalness and its capacity to mirror the spontaneity of human speech, making it ideal for conveying deep emotion and psychological realism. This detailed analysis of form and function is a key learning outcome.
Dryden's Position in the Polemic
The video provides a specific look at John Dryden's role in this literary polemic. As a leading critic of his time, his opinions were highly influential. A postgraduate student would learn to identify and articulate the key arguments he presents, such as his consideration of how the rhythm and sound of verse affect an audience's reception. This isn't just about what he thought, but why he thought it. The video helps to highlight his intellectual process, showing how he was not merely summarizing the debate but actively shaping it with his own reasoned arguments. This makes the video a primary source for understanding Dryden's specific contributions to the Restoration-era literary canon.
Reflecting on Literary History and Canon Formation
Finally, the video helps to contextualize the broader trends of literary history. The controversy over rhyme and blank verse was a significant moment in the formation of the English literary canon. It shows how critical debates and public opinion helped to shape which dramatic forms would become dominant. The outcome of this discussion had long-lasting effects on playwrights and poets for generations. Therefore, for a postgraduate student, the video is not just a lesson in Restoration drama, but an exploration of how literary norms are established and challenged over time.
Conclusion
John Dryden presents the comparative method of criticism. He comparatively analyzes the Ancients, the Moderns, and the French playwrights. There have been debates on various topics that Dryden touched on in his work of criticism, such as rhymed lines and blank verse.
References
Barad, Dilip. "An Essay on Dramatic Poesy: John Dryden." ResearchGate, June 2012, www.researchgate.net/publication/373767836_An_Essay_on_Dramatic_Poesy_John_Dryden.
Barad, Dilip. "Dryden's Essay: Of Dramatic Poesie: Short Video Lectures and Quiz." Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 16 Sept. 2015, blog.dilipbarad.com/2015/09/drydens-essay-on-dramatic-poesy-short.html?m=1
No comments:
Post a Comment