- “There is a pleasure sure in being mad which none
- but madmen know.”
- John Dryden
- 19 August 1631
- 1 May 1700
- He was English Poet, literary critic, Translator, Playwrite.
- Was appointed England's first poet laureate in 1688.
Dramatic Poesy
What is the Purpose of writing Dramatic Poesy?
"A General Defence of Drama as a legitimate art form"
Dramatic poesy was Written in 1666.
Around closure of the London theatres due to Plague.
Main points of Dramatic Poesy.....
1) Views of major critics
2) Tastes of man and woman of the time of Dryden.
Work is in the form of Semi- Drama.
It is an imitation of life and reflects human nature clearly.
Dramatic Poesy is written in form of dialogue among
4 Gentlemen.
1) Eugenius - Defend of England
2) Crites- Defend of Ancients
3) Lisideius- Defend of French
4) Neander- Defend of England (Shakespeare, Fletcher)
Salient features of Dryden's essay on Dramatic Poesy?
A valuation of becoming over being striving, nature -imitating, large scope of tragicomedy and Shakespeare.
1) Do you have any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of Play?
Aristotelian Tragedy
Dryden's Definition of Play
Dryden defines Drama as: “Just and lively image of human nature, representing its passions and humor, and the. changes of fortune to which it is subject, for the. delight and instruction of mankind.”
Yes, we see a difference because Aristotle says that tragedy is an imitation of an action Aristotle believes that there is natural pleasure in imitation whereas Dryden defines play as a just and lively image of human nature representing it is passion and humorous and the change of fortune to which it is subject for the debate and instructions of mankind.
4) What would be your preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogues are concerned in the play?
I like poetry because dialogues of poetry are psychological and give a better understanding of human nature and the work of the human mind. But it is also true that poetic language is hard to understand, for illiterate also and prosaic dialogues are easy to understand by every people.
2) If you are supposed to give your personal predilection, would you be on the side of the Ancient or the Modern? Please give reasons.
According to my, it is not necessary that Modern always tries to copy from the Ancient, maybe sometimes there is new idea also which is presented by Modern. But generally, we find that many times Modern takes ideas from Ancient and tries to present it in a different and unique manner. Thus, Modern tries to explain ideas to people and show them a different way to think. So, according to me, both are appropriate with their own ideas, Ancient gives ideas and Modern tries to represent it in a different way according to the current time.
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