English Literature: An Essay of Dramatick Poesie: Dryden.
An Essay of Dramatic Poesy gives an explicit account of neo-classical theory of art in general. Dryden is a neoclassic critic, and as such he deals in his criticism with issues of form and morality in drama.John Dryden ’s Of Dramatic Poesie (also known as An Essay of Dramatic Poesy) is an exposition of several of the major critical positions of the time, set out in a semidramatic form that gives life.Dryden’s Essay on Dramatic Poesy explicitly states in the begin that its aim is to have our English writers to stay away from those who prefer French over English. The essay is a debate on the use of rhyme in the drama that took place originally between Sir Robert Howard and John Dryden.
John Dryden’s essay “An essay on Dramatic Poesy” gives an explicit account of neoclassical theory of art in general. He defends the classical drama standing on the line of Aristotle, saying that it is an imitation of life, and that it reflects human nature clearly.Dryden’s mature thoughts of literary criticism on ancient, modern and English Literature, especially on Drama, are presented in dialogue forms in An Essay on Dramatic Poesy. In An Essay on Dramatic Poesy there are four speakers. Each one argues strongly as to which one is better, “Ancient or Modern, and French or English?”.
An Essay of Dramatic Poesy Summary by John Dryden. They live in an awful age full of bloodshed and violence, and poetry is an art of peace. But to convince these people, I need but tell them, that humor is the ridiculous extravagance of conversation, wherein one man differs from all others.
