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John Dryden (1631-1700) : Annus Mirabilis Absalom and Achitophel

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John Dryden (1631-1700)

John Dryden, an English poet and dramatist, was born on August 19, 1631, in Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire, England. Hereceived a classical education at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge,and then moved to London in 1657 to begin his career as a professional writer. Both his first offering, Tyrannick Love (1669), and The Conquest ofGranada by the Spaniards (1670), are examples of heroic tragedy Dryden turned his hand to comedyand produced Marriage A-la-Mode, a brilliant battle of the sexes. Dryden turned to poetry and solidified his reputation as the leadingwriter of the day with such masterpieces as Absalom and Achitophel. He also adapted a number of Shakespeares plays including TheTempest and All for Love (1677). In addition, he wrote the libretto for several operas.John Dryden died in London on May 12, 1700, and was buried in Westminster Abbeynext to Chaucer. .Perhaps no nation ever produced a writer that enriched hislanguage with such a variety of models.(Samuel Johnson)

he married Lady Elizabeth Howard. As a writer of Comedies he was successful, but his heroic tragedies were more important

Father of English Criticism First taught to determine upon principles the merit of composition Others before him only presented occasional views The year 1666 was eventful in English history, including both the naval war with the Dutch, and the Great Fire of London. Dryden commemorated this 'year of wonders" in his long poem, Annus Mirabilis, in 1667. This poem secured him the position of Poet Laureate on the death of William D'Avenant in 1668. Absalom and Achitophel, appeared in 1681. It is one of the great English satires, and it brought him further favor with Charles II, who was pleased at this attack against the Whigs during the Exclusion Crisis Dryden also had a keen interest in theology, and this resulted first in the publication of Religio Laici (1682). This work, the title of which translates as "A Layman's Faith", was a long religious poem arguing Christianity over Deism, the Bible as the guide to salvation, and the Anglican Church over the Catholic Church Gave importance to classical rules Rules Compatibility with nature New interpretation of rules based on the nature of poetry

In 1668, Dryden began a fruitful period of both critical and dramatic writing. His first major critical work was the Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) "A Song for Saint Cecilia's Day" He also wrote more poetry, including "An Ode ode for St. Cecilia's Day, "Alexander's Feast" (1697), which was later incorporated into his Fables Ancient and Modern (1700), paraphrases of Ovid, Boccaccio, and Chaucer. Dryden died on April 30, 1700, soon after the publication of the Fables, of inflammation caused by gout. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Dryden was a good playwright and poet, a fine translator, a solid critic, and an excellent satirist whose works are still worthy of much admiration.

England had great writers before Dryden but not great critics Touched upon wide range of issues concerning literature of his time

`Mr. Dryden ... my departed friend, whom I infinitely esteemed when living for the solidity of his thought, for the spring, the warmth, and the beautiful turn of it; for the Power and variety, and fullness of his harmony; for the purity, the perspecuity, the energy of his expression; and (whenever the following great qualities are required) for the pomp and solemnity, and majesty of his Style.'John Dennis.

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