The Neo-classicism

A Brief Introduction

The term neo-classicism means revival of classicism. It refers to the revival of classicism in England in the 18th Century. The 18th Century (1702-1770) has been resignated or title as the age of ‘Augustan Age’ or ‘The Age of Dryden’ and Pope’ or The Classical Age’.

The word classical means work of highest rank and order. In this age writers like Addison Swift, Richardson, Fielding, Goldsmith, Dr. Johnson, Dryden and Pope and many others tried to follow the set principles and rules as opposed to the style of Renaissance period.

Important Facts to Remember

1. Dryden had laid the foundations of the classical age, Pope carried forward the new traditions to the highest point of perfection.

2. The eighteenth century is called the Neo-classical Age for the writers followed the ‘Classicism’ of the ancient writers.

3. But the eighteenth century writers in England followed the ancient classical writers only in their external performance. They lacked the ‘Sublimity’ and grandeur, their classicism is called Pseudo-classicism i.e., a false or sham classicism.

4. The Neo Classical Age is called the Augustan Age because in their own estimation the great writers of the time-Pope, Addison, Swift and Burke-provided the modern parallels to Horace, Virgil, Cicero, who adorned the reign of the emperor Augustus Caesar.

5. The eighteenth century is also called the Age Reason or The Age of Good Sense as the people thought that they could stand on their own legs and guided by the light of their own reason.

6. The Neo Classical Age has some features like respect for rules, importance gives to reason and good sense. The use of satire, insistance on a set poetic style and Artificial and Conventional style, lastly, the use of ‘Heroic Couplet’.