The History of Neo-classical age

Introduction:-

The history of English literature is more vast than we understand or we can think of. History of English literature is divided into many ages:-p

• Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (450 - 1066)
• Middle English Period (1066 - 1500)
• The Renaissance age (1500 - 1660)
• The Elizabethan age (1558 - 1603)
• The Jacobean age (1603 - 1625) 
• The Caroline age (1625 - 1649)
• The commonwealth period (1649 - 1660)
• The Restoration age (1660 - 1700)
• The Augustine age  ( 1700 - 1745)
• The age of Sensibility ( 1745 - 1785)
• The Romantic period ( 1785 - 1832)
• The Victorian period (1832 - 1901)
• The Modern period ( 1901 - 1945)
• The Post-Morden period (1945...........)

(Middle Commonwealth, Restoration age, Augustan age and The age of Sensibility also called as Neo classical period)

In this blog I am going to throw light on Neo classical age and it's writers and poets.

Neo Classical age (period):-

Neo-classical age, behind this name there were so many other name of this age like, The Augustan Age, The 18th Century Literature, The Age of Prose, The Age of Reason, The Age of Enlightenment, The Age of Agriculture Revolution, The age of reason, Transition period, The age of satire.

According to English literature, the neo classical age is divided into three periods:-

• The Restoration Age (1660-1700), 
• The Augustan Age (1700-1750), 
• The Age of Johnson (1750-1798)

This age is totally oposite of the Classical age, in the classical age writer used to wrote thier works into classic, they normally followed the rules of Ancient Greek writer which they gave for the writing the great work. 

For the classical age wincklemann said that,"

"The one way for us to become great, perhaps inimitable, is by imitating the ancients."

The Neo classical age follow the theory of writing that included own thinking writing, without any rules which given by typically ancient Greek philosophers and writers. That's why it is called Neo classical age."

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." 

(From the poem "To a mouse" by Robert Burns in 1785).

Pioneer writers and poets of this age:-

Jane Austen (novelist):-

Jane Austen, (born December 16, 1775, Steventon, Hampshire, England—died July 18, 1817, Winchester, Hampshire), English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character.

John Lock (philosopher):-

John Locke (1632-1704) presents an intriguing figure in the history of political philosophy.

François-Marie Arouet / Voltaire(French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher):-

François-Marie d’Arouet (1694–1778), better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French writer and public activist who played a singular role in defining the eighteenth-century movement called the Enlightenment. 

David Hume (philosopher):-

David Hume (1711-1776) is commonly known for his philosophical skepticism, and empiricist theory of knowledge, he also made many important contributions to moral philosophy.

Johnthan Swift(Anglo-Irish satirist, author, easiest, and poet):-

Jonathan Swift, pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff, (born November 30, 1667, Dublin, died October 19, 1745, Dublin), Anglo-Irish author, who was the foremost prose satirist in the English language.

Alexander Pope (poet, satirist and translator):-

Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early 18th century.

Thomas Gray (poet):-

Thomas Gray (26 December 1716 – 30 July 1771) was an English poet, letter-writer, classical scholar, and professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He is widely known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, published in 1751.

Robert Burns (Scottish poet and lyricist):-

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. 

Samuel Richardson (writer and printer):-

Samuel Richardson (August 19, 1689 – July 4, 1761) was a major eighteenth century writer, primarily known for his three monumental novels Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison. Richardson is widely considered to be the inventor of the epistolary novel.

So, These were some of the famous and great poets and writers who contributed this age and gave this age so many great works and also meaning to this age in history of Literature.

Favourite major/minor poet/writer of the age:-

Robert Burns:-

Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1795 in Allowy, Ayrshire, Scotland and died on 21st July 1796 in Dumfries, United Kingdom. He is aslo know as Rabbie Burns. He was Scottish poet, lyricist, farmer and excise-man. He is extensively considered as a national poet of Scotland. He also contributed in romantic moment. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement.

The Burns Cottage in Alloway, Ayrshire

Burns was born two miles (3 km) south of Ayr, in Alloway, the eldest of the seven children of William Burnes (1721–1784)and Agnes Broun (1732–1820). Burns father was a farmer.He had little regular schooling and got much of his education from his father, who taught his children reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history. John Murdoch thaught him Latin, French and Mathematics. By the age of 15, Burns was the principal labourer at Mount Oliphant. 

During the harvest of 1774, he was assisted by Nelly Kilpatrick (1759–1820), who inspired his first attempt at poetry, "O, Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass".

O, Once I Lov'd A Bonie Lass

1.

O, once I lov'd a bonie lass,

Ay, and I love her still!

And whilst that virtue warms my breast,

I'll love my handsome Nell.

2.

As bonie lasses I hae seen,

And monie full as braw,

But for a modest gracefu' mien

The like I never saw.

3.

A bonie lass, I will confess,

Is pleasant to the e'e;

But without some better qualities

She's no a lass for me.

4.

But Nelly's looks are blythe and sweet,

And, what is best of a',

Her reputation is complete

And fair without a flaw.

5.

She dresses ay sae clean and neat,

Both decent and genteel;

And then there's something in her gait

Gars onie dress look weel.

6.

A gaudy dress and gentle air

May slightly touch the heart;

But it's innocence and modesty

That polishes the dart.

7.

'Tis this in Nelly pleases me,

'Tis this enchants my soul;

For absolutely in my breast

She reigns without controul.

He married Jean Armour and had 12 Childrens. During his lifetime he struggled very much but this struggle gave him so many inspiration to make this beautiful poems that stole our hearts after reading and understanding it. Throughout his life time he wrote over 550 poems and songs and also known for this wild writing. Here are some famous and notable works of him:-

• A Red, Red Rose
• To a Mouse
• To a Louse
• Tam O' Shanter
• Comin' Thro' the Rye
• Halloween 
• To a Mountain Daisy
• Holly Willie's Prayer
• The Slaves Lament
• Why should we idly waste our prime

Condition of women during the neo classical age and contemporary time:- 

The word women, has so many meanings from every persons point of you and from every different society, cultures, and literatures. In ancient times women are not used to write or they have not any right to write anything or even think of something on herself. They just given some rules and some typical stereotype thoughts that women should stay in home cook for everyone and take care of their child, they should live in condition what society gave them.Until the ‘Reformation’ women theoretically had the option of continuing to live in a virginal state by entering the monastic life.

In the 17th century the professions (teacher, lawyer, doctor) were closed to women. However some women had jobs. Some of them worked spinning cloth. Women were also tailors, milliners, dyers, shoemakers and embroiderers. There were also washerwomen. Some women worked in food preparation such as brewers, bakers or confectioners. Women also sold foodstuffs in the streets. A very common job for women was domestic servant. Other women were midwives and apothecaries.However most women were housewives and they were kept very busy.

Women’s roles within the family and local community allowed them to influence the political system. 

The eighteenth century brought the beginning of the British cultural revolution.The economic changes brought by the new middle class provided women with the opportunity to be more directly involved in commerce.Lower-to middle-class women often assisted their husbands in work outside the home. In France, Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights for women in the new French Republic, and was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.

In Now times women get the position that man have. They have right to write novels, poems and other works too. They also runing house by themselves. Now time we can say women has so many opportunities compare to 18th Century. Yes, 18th century was time when women started this revolution and in this time this revolution get in fire and every women are equal to men. 

18th Century Women Poets:-

Jean Adam :-

Jean Adam was born on 30 April, 1704 and died on 3 April 1765. She was Scottish poet. Her best-known work is "There's Nae Luck Aboot The Hoose". 

Emily Eden:-

Emily Eden was born on 3 March 1797 and died on 5 August 1869. She was an English poet and novelist who gave witty accounts of English life in the early 19th century. She wrote a celebrated account of her travels in India, and two novels that sold well. She was also an accomplished amateur artist.

Catherine Maria Fanshawe:-

Catherine Maria Fanshawe (1765–1834) was an English poet, whose work was praised by Walter Scott. She and her sisters were also artists. 

Note:- I try to cover up some points of Neo classical age in this blog. Some lines and thaught are also copied form other sources. If you find any problem in it or any suggestions please let me know in the comment section. Thank you 😄.