empiricism and scientific method Enlightenment (late 17th century) a cultural movement of intellectuals Writers: John Milton ("Paradise Lost", poems; "Areopagitica", defense of free speech; personal freedom and knowledge of self, contemporary urgent issues of both religious and political nature; high time during Civil War; "Eikonoklaste"); John Dryden (heroic couplet as new standard in poetry, satiric verses; influenced many 18th century writers; "Absalom & Achitophel") Augustan Age (early 18th century) admired and emulated the original Augustan Age Aftermath of the Glorious Revolution: Bill of Rights (constitutional monarchy), Act of Toleration (except Catholics); Treaty of Union (now Great Britain); growing empire, influenced situations in NA Age of Enlightenment: Descartes: "cogito ergo sum"; Thomas Hobbes "Leviathan" (liberal thought); Isaac Newton (new scientific views); John Locke (father of political liberalism)
Commonplace subjects are described in elevated, heroic style of classical epic. By parody and deliberate misuse of heroic language, emphasises triviality of subject. Moral Essays, Epistle to Augustus, The Epilogue to the Satires, Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot John Dryden: satires good-tempered, smth devastating scorn, has genius for verse rhytm, exceptional expressiveness of language. MacFlecknoe, Absalom and Achitophel, The Medal. Johnson: London, TheVanity of Human Wishes. 23. Augustan reflective and nature poetry (Winchilsea, Thomson, Denham, Dyer, Akenside, Pomfret, Pope) Especially first half of the 18th C. Presented idealized rural idyll as an aid to reflection, philosophical meditation and personal introspection. Influence from Horace (treated themes that are stock for reflections for the ordinary man, delicacy of language and clarity of definition)
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