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The Neoclassical Period (1660-1785):

This age is called Neoclassical or Pseudo-Classical Age to mean the artificiality of the writers of this age. They imitated the ancient Greek and Roman literary tradition but lacked the originality of the writers of that period. The general features of this age are:

1. The writers of this age lacked originality and followed ancient Greek and Roman tradition.
2. Much attention is paid to technical perfection rather than innovation
3. Human beings are given most importance. The literary ideal of the age is ‘’art for humanity’s sake, not ‘’art for art’s sake.’’
4. General rather than the individual qualities of human beings are given more  importance
5. Sophistication in thought and style is emphasized.

The Neoclassical Age has three shorter ages within it which are discussed here separately:

1. The Restoration Period (1660-1700):

This period is called the Restoration Period because in this period, with the restoration of monarchy, the English literary tradition was restored. The important events of this period were:

1. A general reaction against puritanical restraints became very strong.
2. Two political parties—the Whig and the Troy—were formed. The Whigs were against the king for the Protestants. The Tories supported the king and the Catholics.
3. In 1690 there was Jacobite Rising. The Catholics of Ireland who were led by James-II, fought against William’s soldiers and were defeated.
4. In 1662 the Royal Society was founded to promote scientific research. Sir Isaac Newton was a member of it.
5. Industrialization began in England.
6. In 1695 the press was made free. Everyone was given liberty to express his or her views.
7. The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1689. It restricted monarch’s power and enhanced parliament’s power.

Major Writers and Their Major Works:

1. Milton wrote his great epics in this period. He remained almost unaffected by the liberal ideals of the Restoration period.

Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes

2.  Samuel Butler (1612-80): Hudibras, a satire in verse.

3. John Bunyan (1628-88): ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ the famous allegory in prose, ‘The Holy War’ an allegory in prose.

4. John Dryden (1631-1700): All for Love, The Indian Emperor, Aureg-Zebe, Absalom and Achitophel, MacFlecknoe, The Essay of Dramatic Poesy.

5. William Congreve (1670-1729): Love for Love, The Way of the World, The Double Dealer.

6. George Farquhar (1678-1707): The Recruiting Officer, The Beaux’ Stratagem.

7.John Locke (1632-1704): An Essay Concerning Human, Understanding.

Literary Features of the Period:

This age encouraged literary freedom and wild pleasures of the world. Realistic drama was predominant. Writers widely used heroic couplet instead of blank verse. Mechanical perfection was the chief concern of the poets. The writers were more artificial than original. The age experienced a transition from renaissance ideals to neoclassical ideals. The main spirit of the age was satiric.

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