Neoclassical Criticism – John Dryden (1631–1700)

 

John Dryden was born in 1631 in Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire. Dryden was a versatile and voluminous writer who left no branch of literature untouched. As he was a great prose writer, he is regarded as the founder of modern prose style. As he was also an original and discriminating critic, Dr. Johnson called him "the father of English criticism." Dryden's "Essay of Dramatic Poesy" is an important landmark in the history of literary criticism in England. Apart from this, he had written works, innumerable prefaces and dedications which are considered as valuable critical documents.

Classical Criticism of Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson (1573–1637) is the first true classical critic in English literature who established rigorous neoclassical standards that shaped English poetry and drama. He was a born critic with stupendous encyclopaedic learning, with great penetration and with sound common sense. He translated Horace’s ‘Ars Poetica’ and came out with his ‘Timber or Discoveries’. Moreover the prologues and preface to his plays like, ‘Volpone’ and ‘Everyman in His Humour’ have his critical ideas.