dryden essay of dramatic poesy summary

An Essay of Dramatic Poesy

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Summary: “an essay of dramatic poesy”.

A treatise staged as a dialogue among learned friends, “An Essay of Dramatic Poesy” defends the state of the 17th-century English theater, the use of rhyme (“poesy”) in dramatic plays, and the work of English writers in general. Its author, John Dryden (1631-1700), was a giant among men of letters during the contentious 17th century. He composed some of the most celebrated plays, poems, and criticism of the era and was appointed Poet Laureate in 1668. He lived through the English Civil War (1642-1651), which saw the execution of a king, the restoration of a king, and, in between, the establishment of a Puritan Interregnum that kept the theaters closed for more than a decade. Throughout all of this upheaval, Dryden rose to prominence with his witty, versatile, and challenging work. All citations in this guide come from John Dryden: Selected Poetry , republished by Penguin Books with a new introduction in 1985.

Dryden wrote “An Essay of Dramatic Poesy” in 1665-1666 during an outbreak of the plague in which London’s theaters were again closed. Four friends—Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and Neander—discuss the relative merits of English writing as compared to that of the ancients and the French, among others, while a naval war with the Dutch rages in the background. The friends are traveling on a barge down the river Thames, seeking a vantage point from which they can hear the battle safely. Indeed, it is the sound of cannon fire that initiates the discussion about the quality of English composition. Crites bemoans the fact that, even in the event of victory, they will be punished “in being subject to the reading and hearing of so many ill verses as he [is] sure [will] be made on that subject” (148). Lisideius seconds this objection, adding that some of these glory-hungry poets will be prepared “either way,” so “they can produce not only a panegyric upon the victory, but, if need be, a funeral elegy for the duke” (149).

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Eugenius attempts to defend the prerogatives and talents of the modern writer, but Lisideius and Crites describe the extremes of the bad poets: On the one hand is the easily satirized poet, who employs tortured language in the service of overly inflated emotions; on the other is the educated author, pompously producing poetry that “never disquiets your passions with the least concernment” (150)—verse that bores rather than inspires. Eugenius again rises to the defense: “I cannot think so contemptibly of the age in which I live, or so dishonourably of my own country” (152). Eventually, he convinces his cohort that “our poesy is improved by the happiness of some writers living” (154, emphasis added), but Crites urges the discussion to greater specificity. He wishes to prove that where dramatic poesy (i.e., poetry or verse) is concerned, the ancients—Euripides, Sophocles, Terrance, and the like—created works that are far superior to the output of the moderns. He relies on the three dramatic unities—time, place, and action—for the bulk of his argument, claiming that contemporary English plays break these rules with abandon. If a play is not set within a time frame of 24 hours, in as few places as reasonably possible, with focus on a single overarching plot, then it verges into “unnatural” territory.

Eugenius counters that since the moderns know more of science and philosophy, they are capable of reproducing nature more faithfully than the ancients. He also points out that the ancients recycled the same plots over and over again; thus, “the novelty being gone the pleasure vanished” (165). Besides, Eugenius adds, the ancients often “neglected” the three unities and relied on characters who were little more than caricatures rather than realistic portrayals. He cites the monologue as an “unnatural way of narration” and critiques the ancients’ often “abstruse” use of language (168). Crites concedes some points to Eugenius, so Lisideius steers the discussion in a different direction, asking the group to consider how the modern English theater fares in comparison to the plays produced on the continent.

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He goes on to argue that the French “have best observed” the “rules of the stage” (175), while the English have become too fond of the “tragi-comedy,” which he likens in absurdity akin to Bedlam, the infamous mental institution in London. He also argues that the English are too accommodating of battle scenes and death blows on the stage, which he claims offend the audience’s sensibilities and reason. These matters “ought either wholly to be avoided by a poet, or only delivered by narration” (184). Finally, he defends “the beauty of their [continental] rhyme” in comparison to the English (185).

Neander heartily defends the English theater against the French, which lacks “the soul of poesy, which is imitation of humour and passions” (187). He defends the tragicomedy as a balanced work of art, between gravity and merriment; indeed, he declares that it is the highest achievement yet seen on the stage. Further, the English theater adheres to the unities when necessary and prudent, straying from them when originality demands. Thus, complexity, originality, and boldness are valued, in Neander’s view. He defends both Shakespeare—who routinely disobeyed the rules of unity in his well-regarded plays—and Ben Jonson, whose play The Silent Woman Neander uses as an example of the perfection of English drama.

Finally, Crites wonders whether an underlying assumption—that rhyme is appropriate for the composition of plays—is legitimate. His argument is that “a play is the imitation of nature; and since no man without premeditation speaks in rhyme, neither ought he to do it on stage” (209). Neander responds with an impassioned defense of verse in dramatic plays (he concedes that it has no place in comedy), arguing again for flexibility—“no poet need constrain himself at all times to it” (216)—and originality. He agrees that a play should be “the representation of nature” but claims that using verse creates “a nature wrought up to an higher pitch” (218). Far from detracting from theater, poesy elevates drama to the heroic level of an epic poem. Neander concludes that the best authors, having judgment , will employ the best verse in the most appropriate circumstances. Neander has been so eagerly engaged in his response that he has not noticed that the barge has come to its landing point; the four companions disembark and go their separate ways.

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An Essay of Dramatic Poesy by John Dryden: An Overview

Dryden wrote this essay as a dramatic dialogue with four characters Eugenius , Crites , Lisideius and Neander representing four critical positions. These four critical positions deal with five issues. Eugenius (whose name may mean "well born") favors the moderns over the ancients, arguing that the moderns exceed the ancients because of having learned and profited from their example. Crites argues in favor of the ancients: they established the unities; dramatic rules were spelled out by Aristotle which the current-and esteemed-French playwrights follow; and Ben Jonson-the greatest English playwright, according to Crites-followed the ancients' example by adhering to the unities. Lisideius argues that French drama is superior to English drama , basing this opinion of the French writer's close adherence to the classical separation of comedy and tragedy. For Lisideius "no theater in the world has anything so absurd as the English tragicomedy; in two hours and a half, we run through all the fits of Bedlam." Neander favors the moderns, but does not disparage the ancients. He also favors English drama-and has some critical -things to say of French drama: "those beauties of the French poesy are such as will raise perfection higher where it is, but are not sufficient to give it where it is not: they are indeed the beauties of a statue, but not of a man." Neander goes on to defend tragicomedy: "contraries, when placed near, set off each other. A continued gravity keeps the spirit too much bent; we must refresh it sometimes." Tragicomedy increases the effectiveness of both tragic and comic elements by 'way of contrast. Neander asserts that "we have invented, increased, -and perfected a more pleasant way of writing for the stage . . . tragicomedy."

Neander criticizes French drama essentially for its smallness: its pursuit of only one plot without subplots; its tendency to show too little action; its "servile observations of the unities…dearth of plot, and narrowness of imagination" are all qualities which render it inferior to English drama. Neander extends his criticism of French drama - into his reasoning for his preference for Shakespeare over Ben Jonson. Shakespeare "had the largest and most comprehensive soul," while Jonson was "the most learned and judicious writer which any theater ever had." Ultimately, Neander prefers Shakespeare for his greater scope, his greater faithfulness to life, as compared to Jonson's relatively small scope and Freneh/Classical tendency to deal in "the beauties of a statue, but not of a Man."

Crites objects to rhyme in plays: "since no man without premeditation speaks in rhyme, neither ought he to do it on the stage." He cites Aristotle as saying that it is, "best to write tragedy in that kind of verse . . . which is nearest prose" as a justification for banishing rhyme, from drama in favor of blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter). Even though blank verse lines are no more spontaneous than are rhymed lines, they are still to be preferred because they are "nearest nature": "Rhyme is incapable of expressing the greatest thought naturally, and the lowest it cannot with any grace: for what is more unbefitting the majesty of verse, than to call a servant, or bid a door be shut in rhyme?"

Neander respond to the objections against rhyme by admitting that "verse so tedious" is inappropriate to drama (and to anything else). "Natural" rhymed verse is, however, just as appropriate to dramatic as to non-dramatic poetry: the test of the "naturalness" of rhyme is how well-chosen the rhymes are. Is the sense of the verses tied down to, and limited by, the rhymes, or are the rhymes in service to, and an enhancement of, the sense of the verses?

The main point of Dryden's essay seems to be a valuation of becoming (the striving, nature-imitating, large scope of tragicomedy and Shakespeare) over being (the static perfection of the ideal-imitating Classical/French/Jonsonian drama).

Dryden prescriptive in nature, defines dramatic art as an imitation with the aim to delight and to teach, and is considered a just and lively image of human nature representing its passions and humors for the delight and instruction of mankind. Dryden emphasizes the idea of decorum in the work of art.

Cite this Page!

Sharma, K.N. "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy by John Dryden: An Overview." BachelorandMaster, 25 Jan. 2014, bachelorandmaster.com/criticaltheories/essay-on-dramatic-poesy.html.

Related Topics

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Mac Flecknoe as a Mock-heroic Poem

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Dryden's theory of criticism in " an essay of dramatic poesy "

The present research work deals with the claims of Dryden to be regarded as the father of practical & criticism. We discuss here Dryden as a critic. In this research paper we discusses Dryden's theory of dramatic poetry as expounded in " An essay of Dramatic Poesy " , 1668 and we can critically assess the definition of drama and point out what according to Dryden is the nature and function of poetry. John Dryden occupies a rare position in the history of English literature; he was the greatest man of letters in his age as he was also the greatest critic in his country. It is with justice that Dr. Johnson calls Dryden, " The father of English criticism. " The only formal and complete work of criticism by Dryden is the " Essay of Dramatic Poesy ". Here we discussed Dryden's theory of criticism in " An Essay of Dramatic Poesy " (1668).

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An Essay of Dramatic Poesy

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domain Public domain false false

AN ESSAY OF DRAMATIC POESY

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.

Publisher to the University of Oxford

LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW AND NEW YORK

EDITED WITH NOTES

THOMAS ARNOLD, M.A.

OF UNIV. COLL., OXFORD FELLOW OF THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND

SECOND EDITION

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

[ All rights reserved ]

PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

Preface Dedicatory epistle To the Reader An Essay of Dramatic Poesy A Defence of an Essay of Dramatic Poesy Notes Advertisments

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