Essay of Dramatic Poesy
Introduction
If you've been exploring the world of Renaissance literature, you've no doubt encountered the name of John Dryden. Born in 1631, this legendary English poet and playwright wrote some of the most iconic works of the period and is best known for his influential Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668).
Perhaps you're already familiar with Dryden's masterpiece but if not, now is the time to delve into it. In this essay, Dryden explains his views on drama, offers his take on the competition between ancient writers and modern writers, and popularizes neoclassical literary rules all while bringing us insights about human nature and a deep appreciation for theater. In other words, it's a must-read for any budding English Lit scholar.
Context of John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
John Dryden's essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) was written against the backdrop of the Restoration period in England. The period was marked by the restoration of Charles II to the throne, as well as a return to a more conservative norm. Dryden himself saw this period as a great opportunity for literary and cultural innovation. In response, he set out to write an essay on dramatic poesy, in which he articulated his ideas on drama and literature.
In the essay, Dryden addresses three major points: first, he outlines the state of playwriting before and during his time, listing several authors and their works; second, he compares various forms of playwriting and offers an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses; and finally, he provides his own views on dramatic poesy. He considers both classical forms such as those practiced by Aristotle and modern trends like neo-classicism practiced by Ben Jonson. He also speaks about the nature of poetry itself the relationship between form and content, style and structure, and how these affect both performance poetry and poetic composition.
This essay is important for exploring John Dryden's views on drama, as well as examining how Restoration audiences reacted to literary discourse at the time. It is also essential in understanding how pre-Restoration playwriting transitioned into post-Restoration drama without it we would have a much narrower view of Restoration literature in general.
Characters and Plot Summary of Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
John Dryden's essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) is a conversation between four characters Neander, Crites, Lisideius, and Eugenius. While this conversation is taking place, Crites uses the plot of Shakespeare's tragedy Coriolanus as an example to illustrate his point.
The discussion revolves around the changes in dramatic writing that had occurred since the medieval period. Each character puts forth their own opinion on what makes good drama while discussing the contributions of classical and modern playwrights.
Neander is the protagonist in Dryden's dialog and acts as an advocate for classical tragedy. On the other hand, Crites represents English Restoration drama and stands for a more modern approach to theater. Finally, Lisideius advocates for French neoclassical dramatists such as Corneille and Racine, while Eugenius champions Shakespearean tragedies.
At the end of the discussion, Neander is convinced by Crites’ logic and admits that modern theater has surpassed classical tragedies in terms of drama and plot structure.
John Dryden's View on the Three Forms of Drama in Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
Dryden believed that all drama should be judged by an exacting set of standards, and he thought that tragedy and comedy should base themselves on classical models like those from Ancient Greece and Rome. He also felt that third-form heroic plays should also be considered as legitimate drama.
Tragedy
Tragedy, for Dryden, was simply a play that had a sad ending. It was more serious than comedy, and the characters had more noble qualities about them. Though he talked about the style of Ancient Greek tragedies, he also cited more modern writers like Shakespeare as prime examples of tragedy done well.
Comedy
On the other hand, comedy was a lot lighter than tragedy and typically ended happily ever after or with some sort of resolution. Unlike tragedy where characters were noble, characters in comedies were usually mischievous or conniving people who got away with their schemes in one way or another. The plots tended to involve mistaken identity, class differences, or other kinds of hijinks all with an upbeat outcome.
Heroic Plays
The third form of dramatic poetry that Dryden wrote about was heroic plays; these could be either tragedies or comedies but involved everyday people doing heroic deeds instead of great warriors from legend and myth like in classical plays. Dryden wrote that such heroic plays could be rooted in either ancient or modern times, though they typically didn't borrow much from classical literature.
Analysis of John Dryden's Use of Irony in Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
In John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy, he uses irony to advance his argument and critique other theories of the time. For example, in comparing the ancient Greek tragedies with those written by Shakespeare, Dryden slyly slipped in a line about how “we can pick up useful advice even from a fool”. This small statement was actually a direct criticism of Restoration plays which incorporated characters who spoke and acted in fool-like manners.
What's more, Dryden also used irony to poke fun at modern writing styles. In his essay, he noted that playwrights had become so keen on relying on fancy words and flashy language to express their work rather than depicting a solid storyline or believable character developments. He mocks this trend with lines such as “poets must paint their thoughts, and not their houses”.
Dryden's use of irony is perhaps most evident in his discussion of French plays. He begins by praising French plays for their clean structure but then points out that the scenes often lack real emotion or have too much melodrama – something the audience notices almost immediately. His subtle humorous jabs at these same aspects of French plays to make it clear that despite his admiration for them, he is still highly critical of some of their characteristics.
John Dryden's clever use of irony gives readers a better understanding not only of his arguments but also his own attitude towards Poetry itself, thereby allowing us to gain more insight into this renowned essay and its author.
Comparison Between Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) and Subsequent Plays Written by John Dryden
John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) is one of the earliest examples of a debate on the merit and value of drama among his contemporaries. It sets forth his concept of dramatic poesy, which is still relevant today. Its comparison to the subsequent plays written by John Dryden shows significant differences in style and content.
Structure and Syntax
The structure and syntax of Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) is vastly different from that found in later plays like All for Love (1677) or The Indian Queen (1667). The complex set of rules set forth by Dryden are much more intricate than those found in the later works, and often more difficult to comprehend for modern audiences.
Genre
Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) is largely written as an essay, while his later plays follow a more traditional playwrighting approach with three acts structured around characters, action, dialog, plot, etc. This difference in genre presents a marked contrast between the two works as well.
Ideology
Another major distinction between Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) and subsequent works by John Dryden is the ideology behind them. In Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668), Dryen applies his concept that dramatic poesy should be rooted in classical Greek plays which can be seen as a type of philosophical argument while later plays are rooted more firmly in English literature, such as Shakespearean tragedy or Restoration comedy. This difference reflects how Dryen’s ideology shifted over time.
Impact and Legacy of John Dryden’s Work, as Seen in Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668)
Dryden's Essay had a huge influence on literary criticism, and in fact, is considered as one of the earliest attempts at literary criticism. The essay outlined Dryden's views on characters, plots, and genres, as well as his opinions of the plays he discussed in the essay. He not only made bold assumptions about the works of other authors like Shakespeare but also questioned how audiences reacted to plays.
His work also served to introduce a new type of critical method that was based on intellectual analysis rather than subjective opinion. Dryden’s approach has had many followers since its appearance, and it would later shape modern theories regarding traditional literary genres. His ideas still remain relevant today making Essay of Dramatic Poesy an essential read for all students of literature.
Conclusion
John Dryden's "Essay of Dramatic Poesy" is an influential work that offers a comprehensive look at his thoughts on the art of writing for the stage. His passionate defense of the importance of the playwright and their craft, the value of collaboration, and the need to combine different styles of writing to create an enjoyable piece stand the test of time.
The legacy of Dryden's writings can be seen in the works of some of the most renowned playwrights of modern times. His thought-provoking essay on dramatic poesy offers us a fascinating glimpse into how he saw the world of theater as a stage for exploring difficult topics and eliciting powerful emotions from audiences.
John Dryden's writing has not been forgotten and continues to be of great value to those interested in exploring the history and craft of theater. His ideas remain relevant in today's writing and performance, providing inspiration for both audiences and creators alike.
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