Thinking activity on Dryden's essay of dramatic poesy

About Dryden

     John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden.

About his essay ' An Essay on Dramatic Poesy '

Criticism flourished in England during the restoration of Stuarts. An Essay of Dramatic Poesy deals with the views of major critics and the tastes of men and women of the time of Dryden. The work is in the form of semi-drama thus making abstract theories interesting. In the late 17th century, Shakespeare was severely criticised for his careless attitude towards the mixing of genres. It was Dryden who elevated Shakespeare to height for his natural genius.

The narrative of An Essay of Dramatic Poesy has four debaters among whom, Neander is the one who holds the views of Dryden. Unlike other characters, Neander does not diminish the arguments that are on contrary to his views. Though he himself favours modern drama, he does not blame others.

1) Do you any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of play?

Yes, there is huge difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of play.

• Defination of Tragedy has given by Aristotle

"A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;..in dramatic rather than incidents arousing pity and fear, where with to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions"

•Defination of play has given by John Dryden

"Just and lively image of human nature representing its passions and humours,and the changes of fortune to which it is subject,for the delight and instruction of mankind"

Samuel Coleridge called Dryden father of criticism. In vidio we can find the major defference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of play, according to Aristotle tragedy is an imitation of an action while Dryden says that play is lively image of human nature.Aristotle says that  pity and fear are used in tragedy to purify the emotions of mankind whereas Dryden says that passions and humour are used to delight and instruct. Aristotle's definition ended with ''catharsis" while Dryden's definition  ended with "delight".

2) If you are supposed to give your personal predilection, would you be on the side of the ancient and the modern? Please give reasons.

According to me both are equal valuable in literature. Because ancient is better in observation of nature and now a days modern is getting from new ideas and new way in literature. So I can't take side of any one.so I preferred both.

3) Do you think the arguments presented in favour of the French plays and against English plays are appropriate ?

French playwright follow the Ancient and favour the unity of time and obsedve it very carefully . In  terms of unity of place they are equally sincere. In most of their plays, the entire action is limited to one place. And unity of action is even more obvious ; plays are never congested with sub plots as is the case with English plays.  In English plays the character relates to life and therefore, it is proper and reasonable that it should be also in the drama, but in French plays such narrations are more skilled than the Ancients. Dryden portrays the comparative merits and demerits of each in a clearer way . In this essay, as Neander, Dryden favours the violation of those three unities because it leads to the variety in the English plays and these unities  have a narrowing and crumpling effects on the French plays, which are often betrayed into absurdities from which the English plays are free. The violation of unities helps the English playwright to present a livelier image of human nature . In his comparison of English and French drama, Neander characterizes the best proofs of the Elizabethan playwrights.

4) What would be hour preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogue are concerned in the play?

 I prefer poetic dialogue than prosaic in play. Poetic may be rhyme verse or Blank verse also.  Poetic dialogues are help for judgement . Rhyme effects on emotions and feelings . Interpretation of poemcan be different. People can read poem with different points of view and different style. Blank verse is poetic prose and it is only fit for comedy. It means we find poetic prose in comedy and use of poetic language audience must get entertainment . 

Thank you.............