Daniel Defoe

One of the most important writers of English literature is Daniel Defoe. He was born in 1660 in London. He became a merchant and participated in several failing businesses. He was also a prolific political pamphleteer which landed him in prison for slander. Late in life he turned his pen to fiction and wrote Robinson Crusoe, one of the most widely read and influential novels of all time. Defoe published his first literary piece  in 1683. Defoe's simple but effective prose style ensured him widespread popularity. He is seen as the father of the English Novel.

Although Defoe is best known now for his novels, much of his writing is related to political, social, and business issues. One of his first works, An Essay upon Projects was a series of proposals. Defoe spent his time covertly editing other newspapers. Defoe died in 1731.

REFERENCES: http://www.biography.com/people/daniel-defoe-9269678

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/r/robinson-crusoe/daniel-defoe-biography

Augustan Age

The eighteenth century in English literature has been called the Augustan Age, the Neoclassical Age. The term 'The Augustan Age' comes from the self-conscious imitation of the original Augustan writers  by many of the writers of the period. Anyone educated in the eighteenth century would be familiar with the original texts, since studying the classics was a central feature of the school curriculum. Wit and intellectual conceits shaped the tone of much Augustan writing.

The major writers of the age were Pope and John Dryden in poetry, and Jonathan Swift and Joseph Addison in prose. Dryden forms the link between Restoration and Augustan literature; although he wrote ribald comedies in the Restoration vein, his verse satires were highly admired by the generation of poets who followed him, and his writings on literature were very much in a neoclassical spirit.

Augustan Age, one of the most illustrious periods in Latin literary history, from approximately 43 bc to ad 18, it forms the Golden Age of Latin literature. Marked by civil peace and prosperity, the age reached its highest literary expression in poetry. During this period, there were successive attempts to ‘fix’ the English language. It is  to impose  a Classical system of genres on English literature.

REFERENCES:

http://www.ruthnestvold.com/Augustan.htm

http://www.crossref-it.info/articles/398/An-introduction-to-Augustan-literature

Civil War

The Civil War is the central event in America's historical consciousness. While the Revolution created the United States, the Civil War  determined what kind of nation it would be. The war resolved two fundamental questions left unresolved by the revolution: whether the United States was to be a dissolvable confederation of sovereign states or an indivisible nation with a sovereign national government; and whether this nation, born of a declaration, all men were created with an equal right to liberty, would continue to exist as the largest slaveholding country in the world.

The Restoration period begins in 1660, the year in which King Charles II (the exiled Stuart king) was restored to the English throne. The period is one of increasing commercial prosperity and global trade for Britain. Literacy expanded to include the middle classes and even some of the poor. Writers  began to advocate for improved education for women during this period.John Milton was important poet  in this period. Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day.

Briefly we learned the Civil War and Restoration period in English Literature.We talked about these effects of these periods.And also we examined John Milton’s poetry.

 REFERENCE: http://wwnorton.com/college/english/nael9/section/volC/overview.aspx

Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical poetry refers to a type of very intellectual poetry that was common in the 17th century. This type of poetry was known for bold and ingenious conceits, subtle thought and frequent use of paradox as well as the directness of language. Basically, metaphysics deals with questions that can't be explained by science. It questions the nature of reality in a philosophical way. This term of  work is a blend of emotion and intellectual ingenuity, characterized by conceit or ‘’wit’’ .Sometimes violent yoking together of apparently unconnected ideas and things so that the reader is startled out of his complacency and forced to think through the argument of the poem. Metaphysical poetry is less concerned with expressing feeling than with analyzing it, with the poet exploring the recesses of his consciousness.John Donne  and George Herbert are important poets in this term.

John Donne (1572 – 1631) was the most influential metaphysical poet. His early work, collected in Satires and in Songs and Sonnets, was released in an era of religious oppression. His Holy Sonnets, which contains many of Donne’s most enduring poems, was released shortly after his wife died in childbirth.

George Herbert (1593 – 1633) was remarkable poet who did not live to see a collection of his poems published. Herbert, the son of a prominent literary patron to whom Donne dedicated his Holy Sonnets, spent the last years of his short life as a rector in a small town.

REFERENCES: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5662

A modest Proposal

                                       

  A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden to their Parents or Country.  A Modest Proposal is included in many literature programs as an example of early modern western satire.This satiric poem is a relevant piece included in many comparative and global literature and history courses, as well as those of numerous other disciplines in the arts, humanities, and even the social sciences. Swift suggests in his essay that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling children as food for rich gentlemen and ladies.

In my opinion this poem is effective to our feelings.In this poem writer wrote satire in different way. Realism is very dominate in this poem. Actually, I did not this poem but later I considered this poem was sensible.

Reflection paper 8

  Romeo and Juliet is an enduring tragic love story written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare borrowed his plot from an original Italian tale.  It is believed Romeo and Juliette were based on actual characters from Verona.  The story of characters are Romeo, Juliet, Lady Montugue, Benvolio, Mercutio,Balthasar,Prince, Lady Capulet, Tybalt,Nurse,Peter.

   The play opens with servants from both houses engaged in a street brawl that eventually draws in the family patriarchs and the city officials, including Prince Escalus. The Prince ends the conflict by issuing a decree that prohibits any further fighting at the risk of great punishment. Romeo laments his unrequited love for a woman named Rosaline. Peter, who is trying to read a list of invites to a masked party at the Capulet house that evening. Peter read the list and decides to attend the party because Rosaline will be there. He plans to wear a mask so that he will nobody will recognize him as a Montague. However, Juliet's cousin Tybalt recognizes Romeo and wants to kill him on the spot. Afterwards, Juliet's Nurse tells Romeo that Juliet is a Capulet, which upsets the smitten youngster.  Finally Romeo appears and tells Juliet that he loves her. Juliet to meet Romeo at the chapel where Friar Laurence lives and works. Juliet meets Romeo there, and the Friar marries them in secret. Montague argues that Romeo has justly fought and killed Tybalt for the murder of Mercutio.  The Prince exiles Romeo from Verona and declares that if Romeo returns, he will be executed.  Romeo secretly spends the night in Juliet's chamber, where they make love for the first and last time, consummating their marriage.

  The Friar promises to send a messenger to inform Romeo of the plan, so that he can rejoin her when she awakens. The Messenger  failed to reach Romeo and  he learned of Juliet's apparent demise from his servant. Romeo buys poison from an apothecary and goes to the Capulet crypt.  There, he encounters Count Paris who has come to mourn Juliet privately.Believing Romeo to be a vandal, Paris confronts him and, in the ensuing battle, Romeo kills Paris.  Still believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo drinks the poison.Juliet then awakens only to find her beloved Romeo dead.  Unwilling to live without him, she stabs herself with his dagger.

REFERENCES: http://www.historyandwomen.com/2011/01/love-story-of-romeo-and-juliet.html

                         http://www.gradesaver.com/romeo-and-juliet/study-guide/short-summary/

Reflection paper 7

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was baptised a few days later on 26 April 1564. Born to John Shakespeare, a glovemaker and tradesman, and Mary Arden, the daughter of an affluent farmer. He was not born into a family of nobility or significant wealth. He did not continue his formal education at university, nor did he come under the mentorship of a senior artist, nor did he marry into wealth or prestige.

He wrote a lot of works about tragedies,comedies,histories. They are so precious. Many of his plays were published. His earlier plays were mainly histories and comedies such as 'Henry VI', 'Titus Andronicus', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Richard II'.  In his final period, Shakespeare turned to romance or tragicomedy and completed three more major plays. Shakespeare married  at the age of 18 with  Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a local farmer . She was eight years older than him and their first child, Susanna, was born six months after their wedding. Two years later, the couple had twins, Hamnet and Judith, but their son died when he was 11 years old.

William Shakespeare is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time, although many facts about his life remain shrouded in mystery. He lived during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I and coined hundreds of new words and phrases that we still use today.

REFERENCES: http: //www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/william_shakespeare

                          http://www.bardweb.net/man.html