Sem2

Overview of the Course:

The course is comprising of two periods of British Literature, Neoclassical and Romantic times, focusing on the representative examples of the periods poetry, dramas, novels, essays etc.

A.    Neoclassical literature (c. 1660-1798) was characterized by its emphasis on reason, order, and classical ideals. Writers in this period often imitated the style and themes of ancient Greek and Roman authors.  

Basic characteristics are-

1.       Neoclassical writers valued reason and logic over emotion and imagination.  

2. They favoured clear, structured writing with a focus on formal rules and conventions.
3. They often imitated the style and themes of ancient Greek and Roman authors.  
4. Many neoclassical writers used their work to comment on social and political issues.  

Major figures are-

1. John Dryden: A leading figure in Restoration literature, known for his satires and heroic couplets.  
2. Alexander Pope: A master of the heroic couplet, known for his satirical poems "The Rape of the Lock" and "An Essay on Man."  
3. Jonathan Swift: A satirical writer known for his works "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal."
4. Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a prominent English writer, poet, lexicographer, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and theologian.  

B.     Romanticism (c. 1785-1832) was a reaction against the emphasis on reason and order in Neoclassicism. Romantic writers valued emotion, imagination, and individual experience.  

Basic characteristics are-

1.          Romantic writers valued emotion and imagination over reason and logic.  
2. They emphasized the importance of individual experience and the power of the imagination.  
3. Romantic writers were fascinated by the supernatural, the exotic, and the mysterious.
4. Nature was a central theme in Romantic literature, often seen as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal.  

Major figures are-

1.      William Wordsworth: A leading figure in the Romantic movement, known for his nature poems and his emphasis on the importance of everyday language.  
2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A poet and critic, known for his poems "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan."  
3. Lord Byron: A flamboyant and rebellious poet, known for his long narrative poems and his Byronic hero.  
4. Percy Bysshe Shelley: A radical poet and reformer, known for his idealistic and revolutionary poems.  
5. John Keats: A highly sensitive and sensuous poet, known for his odes and his exploration of beauty and mortality.  

Key differences between Neoclassical and Romantic literature:

Both Neoclassical and Romantic literature made significant contributions to British literature and continue to be studied and appreciated today. They represent two distinct approaches to writing and reflect different values and attitudes towards the world.

The course is designed to continue the Poetry in English up to the 19th Century, which is being prescribed for the first semester. In this course, the students have studied the selected poets/poetry up to the end of the 19th century. 

Here, students will understand major trends and poets in Modern and Postmodern English Poetry through a detailed study of prescribed poetical works of Indian, Russian, African and Australian poets. They can locate a specific poem in its historical and social context. Students will be able to interpret and aesthetically appreciate poems. Students will be able to understand the difference between the implicit and explicit meanings of poems.