| Author |
Dryden, John, 1631-1700 |
| Title |
Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 52.5 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Transcribed from the 1888 Cassell & Company edition by David Price
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| Summary |
"Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry" by John Dryden is a critical work written during the late 17th century. The book explores Dryden's perspectives on the genres of satire and epic poetry, reflecting his intellectual maturation and extensive understanding of literary principles. In particular, it addresses the evolution of satire and the qualities that define epic works, drawing upon historical context and examples from classical literature. The opening of the text is an introduction that sets the stage for Dryden's discourses, outlining his critical journey as a writer and the influences that shaped his thoughts on the subjects at hand. Dryden presents a narrative of his earlier work, the "Essay of Dramatic Poesie," while addressing contemporaneous literary critiques and the impact of significant historical events, such as the Dutch fleet's presence during his contemplations. He elaborately discusses his dedication to the Earl of Dorset and introduces the forthcoming sections that promise a careful examination of satire's origins and characteristics, offering insights into figures like Juvenal and Horace. Throughout, Dryden establishes a tone of scholarly reflection, aiming to provide both a historical account and a critique of poetic forms within the literary canon. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections
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| Subject |
Satire
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| Subject |
Epic poetry
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| Subject |
Satire -- History and criticism
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
2615 |
| Release Date |
May 1, 2001 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Sep 26, 2014 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
400 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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