This HIstory of English literature an outline 2 ppt covers some ideas which is based on the Thiruvalluvar University B.A. English syllabus Sem II (Unrevised). It is an outline and designed like a mind-map.

1. S. Mohan Raj M.A., M.Phil, B.Ed.,
Assistant Professor,
Indo American College, Cheyyar.
Available @ : 9751660760
E-mail: rajmohan251@gmail.com

3. Unit 1:
1. Poetry : Geoffrey Chaucer
2. Drama : Christopher Marlowe
Unit 2:
1. Prose : Francis Bacon
2. Poetry : John Milton
Unit 3:
1. Prose : Samuel Johnson
2. Drama : Richard Brinsley Sheridan
3. Novel : Daniel Defoe
Unit 4: Poetry
1. William Wordsworth
2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
3. Percy Bysshe Shelley
4. John Keats
Unit 5:
1. Prose : Charles Lamb
2. Novel : Jane Austen

4. GEOFFREY CHAUCER
(1340 – 1400)

5. AGE OF CHAUCER
(1350 - 1450)
 Period of glaring Social contrast
 Rapid Political change.
 Era of Unrest & Transition
 The reign of King Edward III &
Long French Wars. Accession of
his grandson Richard II (1377).
 The Revolution of 1399 &
Foundation of Lancastrian Dynasty.
Literary
Point of View
 Greater Social & intellectual
movements.
 Terrible Plague called
‘BLACK DEATH’.
 Poverty & revolt of peasants.
 Spirit of enquiry. Teaching of
Wycliffe and Lollards.
Salient Features
of the Age
@ Literature shifted from Oral
to written. Focus shifted from
text to reader.
@ English established as Literary
Language.
@ Feudalism, Chivalry and
Romantic idealism were on
decline.
 Growth of Nationalism.
 Between 1348 – 49 A.D.
Plague & famine washed away
1/3 of England’s population !!??
 JOHN WYCLIFFE
(1320 – 84) Oxford Professor
& Morning Star of
Reformation, revolt against
corrupt Clergy & Papish people.
Completed first English version
of “Bible”.
 Dawn of New Learning,
Period of Renaissance &
Reformation.
Ruin &
Construction
Literary
Features
a) Standardisation of English
b) Sharper spirit of Criticism
c) Age of anonymity
d) Foundation of English
Prose style.
e) Blooming of Scottish
Literature.
AGE OF CHAUCER

6. Chaucer...
Biography
Considered as the Father
of English Poetry.
Greatest
English
Poet of
Middle
Ages.
In 1340 Born at Ancestral
House at Thomas Street.
Burgeois family descended, his
Father John Chaucer - a Vintner.
Mother Agnes Copton Chaucer.
Chaucer Married Philippa de Roet
Believed to be attended
St.Paul’s Cathedral School.
In 1357, he became Page (Public
Servant) to Countess Elizabeth of
Ulster (Duke Clarence’s wife)
Did odd jobs like Page, Courtier,
diplomat, Civil Servant & Military
Service - imprisoned in 100 years War,
King Edward III paid Ransom.
Influenced
by
Virgil,
Ovid,
Petrarch &
Boccaccio.
Travelled widely in Europe for
Diplomatic services.
Chaucer’s Patron is John of Gaunt.
Died on 25
Oct, 1400
First poet to
be buried at
Poet’s
Corner
(Westminster
Abbey)
His Poems
Great Genius & Master
of Physiognomy
Allegorical, alliterative
& Pentameter Style.
His poems can’t
be ascertained by
date, divided into
3 stages:
* The French,
** The Italian &
*** The English
Modelled upon
French Originals.
 Clumsy &
immature in Style.
 Longest Poem is
The Romaunt of the
Rose . (first part)
 Lengthy allegorical
poem in Octosyllabic
couplets based on Le
Romaunt de la Rose.
 A fragment of
8000 lines.
The Book of
Duchesse (1369) ,
earliest poem, an
allegory written on the
death of John
Gaunt’s Wife.
The Compleynt Into Pite,
An A.B.C, &
The Compleynt of Mars
Earliest Poems or
French Group:

7. 1) Anelida and Arcite
2) The Parlement of Foules - it has fine
opening, in characterisation of Birds (True Comic
Spirit).
3) Troilus and Criseyde - a long poem adopted
from Boccaccio, Chaucer's best work with Rime
Royal Stanzas => contains reality, passionate
courtly love, tedious descriptions &
Psychological developments into human insights.
Second or
Italian Group:
 Greater
technical
ability &
handling of
metres.
 Keenness
of Perception
& Originality.
The House of Fame – Dream allegory type poem
in Octosyllabic couplets . Genuine Chaucerian
humour. In his dream Chaucer was carried by an
Eagle to the House of fame, he watches the
candidates who quarrelled for throne.
The Legend of Good Women –
Chaucer intend to tell tale of 19
virtuous women but completed
only 8 and begun 9th.
Has charming intro of Daisy,
Masterly narrative portion of
Cleopatra.
First known attempt in English
to use the Heroic couplet.
Third or
English Group:
Greatest achievement, first Great English
poetry Canterbury Tales, the idea taken
from Boccaccio’s Decameron . Chaucer’s
poem is incomplete.
Chaucer draws
29pilgrims
including
himself, they met
at The Tabard
Inn, Southwreck,
London, to go on
a pilgrimage to
the Tomb of
Thomas Becket
@ Canterbury
All 29 are carefully chosen – all sexes,
ranks from Knight to humble ploughmen.
It has a
masterly
prologue, an
extraordinary
piece of
literature.
The Host, put forth the
idea of story telling on
their way and return.
Finished 20 tales.
Separate tales are inter-
linked in the prologue .
Two prose tales : The Tale of Melibeus &
The Parson’s Tale. Chaucer wrote several
short poems, The Lak of stedfastness &
Serio- comic Compleynte of Chaucer to
his Empty Purse. Flower and the Leaf - a
dream allegory type work.
Chaucer’s prose
is Lifeless in
style, full of
tedious
moralising.
Other prose
works are early
translation of
Boethius and a
treatise –
composed to
instruct his son
Lewis.
Chaucer...

8.  Unique forerunner,
great literary model.
 Has great observation
power, retentive memory,
judging ability& brilliant
description.
 Best description is of
Men, Manners & places
in their beauty.
Features of his
Poetry:
Chaucer wrote
romances ,
homilies, tales,
allegories & love
songs.
Chaucer – a court
poet wrote for the
upper class.
His Humour and pathos is invigorating
and delightful.
His humour has great variety => Kind of
patronising => broad and semi-farcical
=> satirical => well-meant & urbanity.
His Sentiment is Humour which is
unforced
♫ His narrative power is excellent.
♫ Curious and stealthy in speed.
♫ Direct, vivacious & lengthy
speeches.
 Chaucer is great in his Metrical
Skill.
 Imported decasyllabic from France.
 The Seven - lined stanza of
ababbcc rhyme is known as
Chaucerian Stanza or Rime Royal.
It is kind of Heroic Couplet.
Chaucer is
the First
Great
Humorist
in English.
Chaucer’s
Pandarus is
the First
comic
Character in
English
Literary forms which developed in
Chaucer’s period is Poetry and
Prose .
Poetic forms are Lyric, Ballad,
Allegory, Metrical Romances and
Descriptive & Narrative poems.
Chaucer...

9. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
(1564 –1593)

10. AGE OF ELIZABETH
(1558 - 1603)
An Epoch
in English
History.
Golden
Age of
English
Literature.
Reign of
Queen
Elizabeth.
Apogee of
the English
Renaissance.
Flowering age of
Poetry => Sonnet,
Spenserian Stanza
and Dramatic
Blank verse.
Historical
Background:
• Politics – attain
stability.
• Quarrel between
Scotland and
England settled.
• Expansion of
both mental and
geographical
horizons.
Pre-Shakespearian Drama:
 English play developed from
the model of Seneca.
 Seneca’s influence reached
universities.
 Pre-Shakespearian
Dramatists are known as
University Wits.
 They are fond of heroic
themes, blank verse, long speech
& splendid description.
 Tragic theme & immature &
coarse humour.
Literary Features of the age...
The New Classicism:
 Revival in the Study Of Greek & classics.
 Latin & Greek polishes the English usage.
 Abundant supply of literature.
The New Romanticism:
 Romantic Quest.
 Spirit of Adventure in Literature.
 Freshness of Spirit.
Flourishing literary elements:
 Drama made swift leap.
 Frequent tavern brawls.
 1594 license given to 2 troupes ..
1) Lord Chamberlain’s (Shakespeare's
troupe) 2) The Lord Admiral’s
Drama
reached
splendid
position
Poetry
reached
newer style
Prose attain
rapid
growth.
University Wits were,
George Peele (1558-98),
Robert Greene (1558-92),
Thomas Nash (1567-1601),
Thomas Kyd(1558-94),
John Lyly (1554-1606)
Thomas Lodge (1558-1625) &
Christopher Marlowe (1564-93)
AGE OF ELIZABETH

11. Out standing University Wit.
Generally accepted as Father
of English tragedy.
Son of John & Catherine
Marlowe.
Pre-Shakespearian poet &
translator.
Born at Canterbury &
educated there & at
Cambridge.
Chose Literature as his
profession.
Attached with Lord
Admiral’s players.
 Bohemian & Epicurian life style.
 Died in a Tavern brawl in 1593.
 All his plays are Tragedies
written between 1587 & 1592
(within 5years).
 Son of Wealthy Shoemaker.
 Born on Feb 6, 1564.
 Baptized at St. George’s Church
on Feb 26, 1564.
 King’s School & Corpus Christ
College ,Cambridge University.
 B.A. on 1584 & M.A. on 1587.
 Elizabethan tragedian – English
Renaissance theatre.
 He Served for Sir Francis
Walsingham.
 He was Arrested 5times.
As a Dramatist he had serious
limitations.
He had no Bent for Tragedy.
Used Blank verse and excelled.
Tamburlaine the Great (1587)
The Jew of Malta (1589)
Edward II (1591)
Dr. Faustus (1592)
The tragedy of Dido (1593)
Queen of Carthage (1593)
The Massacre at Paris (1593)
 Marlowe’s first
play on stage is
Tamburlaine the
Great (1587).
 It is about
Tamburlaine the
Conqueror.
 The first play is
Blank verse;
Undramatic theme,
episodic, simple plot
& non – cohesive.
The Jew of Malta (1589)
 First published as The
famous Tragedy of the Rich
Jew of Malta.
It has two fine Opening acts
Presented Machiavellian villain
(Barbaras).
Barbaras is main inspiration
for Shylock.
Swirls with religious
conflict, intrigue & revenge.
Edward II (1591)
historical play with
skillfully woven plot, less
poetic fervor & fine
climax.
Doctor Faustus
(1592) Great tragedy,
miracle play, poor in
Humour.
Interesting Miracle play
elements.
His next play is an
inferior one & the last
play is unfinished.
Marlowe praised as
Marlowe’s Mighty
Lines & Marlowean
tragedy.
His tragedies filled with
soul struggle, high level
subject matter, heroes
are common people-
men of exceptional
qualities.
Tragic transition is much
powerful.
Marlowe...

12. FRANCIS BACON(1561–1626)

13. Development of English
Bible:
 The work on Bible, began
as early as 8th Century.
 Bede translated a portion
of Gospel (St John) into Old
English Prose.
Translation
was
stimulated
by John
Wycliffe
(1320-84)
Influenced
to
complete
two
complete
versions in
1304 &
1388
John
Purvey
the
Lollard
leader,
succeeded
Wycliffe
completed
2 simple
versions.
William
Tyndale
did much
to give
Modern
shape to
The Bible.
At 1525 a
fragment
of
New
Testament
printed
with
Hebrew &
Latin
touch.
Miles
Coverdale
(1488- 1568)
Carried the
work of
Tyndale,
produced
First
Complete
English
Bible
(1535)
John
Rogers
a friend
of
Coverdale
finely
printed
a
version
in
1537.
The
Great
Bible
(1539)
first
authorised
version
executed
by
translators
with the
command
of King
Henry
VIII
Another
notable
translation
was Geneva
Bible or
Breeches
Bible
At Hampton King James I gathered a
conference of Scholars, divided them
into 6 companies.
–Preface of Authorised Version
Bible translation is a tedious job, the Authorised Version is a
climax of all earlier works.
In 1870 it was revised.
It Influenced English Language & Literature, many
words & phrases like a ‘broken reed’, ‘the eleventh
hour’, ‘a good Samaritan’ etc, are from Bible
Its influence seen in English Prose
Its prose rhythm, Syntax & style
influenced English Prose writers
Growth of
Elizabethan Prose

14. Believed to be
educated at home.
Entered Trinity college.
Cambridge on 5th April,
1573 at the age of 12.
Born to Sir Nicholas
Bacon, Lord Keeper
and Anne Cooke
Bacon.
Father of
English essay
& Empiricism.
English
statesmen ,
scientist,
lawyer &
philosopher.
He was born
on 22 Jan 1561
at strand,
London.
He died on 9
Apr, 1626 (65)
of pneumonia.
Empiricism is a theory states
that knowledge comes
through sensory experience.
Viscount is a
rank in British
Peerage, to
assist counts, it
is a position
below an Earl &
above Baron.
Baron at
Verulamium,
the term
Baron
Verulam
coined to
denote
Bacon.
Joined in
Law
program at
Gray's Inn
Honourable
society in
1576
Lord
Chancellor
in 1618,
Baron &
Viscount in
1621 .
He doesn’t earn Queen's favour
since he befriend Earl of Essex
who alleged for injudicious.
Parliament
stand against
King James,
Bacon who
supports him
accused for
Bribery &
corruption
fined 40,000
Euro & 4 days
imprisonment
@ London
Tower
Spent last 5 years
in literary &
scientific works.
He favoured
Renaissance
Humanism,
Aristotelianism
& Scholasticism
Bacon...

15. His works:-
 Science
works.
 Religious &
Literature
works.
 Juridical
works.
Scheme of
Bacon(Instauratio
Magna):
1. De Augmentis
Scientiarium
2. Novum Organum
3. Sylva Sylvarum
4. Scala Intellectus
5. Philosophia
Secunda.
In 1592 to
celebrate the
coronation of
Queen he
wrote a speech
in praise of
Knowledge
Apophthegms (1625)
is a Jest Book.
The New Atlantis –
left unfinished,
philosophical
romance modelled
on More’s Utopia
 De Augmentis
Scientiarium (1623) – Latin
treatise, expanded work of
his English Advancement
of Learning - Summary of
human knowledge &
imperfection of Science
 Novum Organum
(1620) – explains new
logic or inductive method
of reasoning.
 Scala intellectus has only 2 pages.
 Prodromi - contains few fragments
 Philosophia Secunda – never
executed
Sylva Sylvarum -
incomplete, planned to
give a complete view of
Natural philosophy &
History.
He touched subjects
under 4 heads...
1. History of Winds
2. Life and Death
3. Density & rarity
4. Sound & Hearing
Bacon...

16. Speciality of his essays:
Moderate in length, with
brevity, freedom, informality &
personal
 He was clear headed in aims,
prudential in Action &
sagacious in thought.
 Bears stamp of his vast
learning, experiences &
observations on men & matters
 He wrote around 58 essays
like a teacher & adviser.
 Wrote essays in the manner
of French Philosopher & writer
Montaigne.
 He took form from him &
suits it with high seriousness &
stately manner.
His Imaginative style:
 Enhance imaginative in prose
with Metaphor, similes,
analogies, striking openings,
classics, Bible &learning words
are precise.
 He draws them from classics,
The Bible & Vast learning.
 Extensively uses quotations &
allusions
 Words are precise, accurate
& economical.
 Bacon speaks with striking
openings.
“Revenge is a wild kind of
justice...” (Of Revenge)
“Men fear for death as children
fear to go in the dark” (Of Death)
His style & Technique:
He gives Counsels and
Morals in mature style and
clear argument.
Unique in style , wit,
thoughts & approach
Express his profound
knowledge with simplicity.
Crisp & epigrammatic style,
rise his essays from happy
thoughts.
Spiky pointed, stylistic
expression, clear, simple,
effective, flexible &
aphoristic
His Choice of Subjects
Intellectual, Every day
events, worldly wisdom,
concerns with public life &
material advancement.
Impersonal, orderly cool
thoughts, poetic fire,
oracular tone & Scientific
detachment.His Genius
His utterances are tense, pithy and
sententious.
Expressed his thoughts in condensed
Proverbial ring.
Ordinary men language with imagery like
proverbial expression
Coin new frames & Phrases
Bacon...

17. JOHN MILTON (1608 – 1674)

18. AGE OF MILTON
1. Entire period was dominated by civil war.
2. Poetic output is much lesser & shorter, fashion towards shorter poems & Lyric poems.
3. Decay of poetic fervour, importance given to intellectual fancy then passion & profundity.
4. Prose marked remarkable growth.
5. Period of English revolution, Puritanism & Metaphysical poems.
1. Milton stands first in the age, next to Shakespeare in English literature.
2. Metaphysic- the word first used by
3. The poets like Crashaw, George Herbert, Vaughan & Marvell comes under the influence
of John Donne. Poems are lyrical, surprising blend of passion & thoughts, imagery,
conceits, psychological insight.
4. Cavalier poets: Most Metaphysical poets were religious, mystical & the Caveliers. General
theme – love. They followed .
5. Prose developed a lot – pamphlets are abundant on many subjects.
6. Collapse of Drama
> Civil disturbances – opposition of Puritans –change of temper – small &
unimportant – many theatres closed.

19. Birth: 09 Dec
1608, Bread
street, Cheapside.
Death: 08 Nov
1674 (65) Bunhill,
London.
Parents:
His father was a Scholar,
musician & money-scrivener.
Educated privately . Thomas
Young-Private tutor & at
St.Paul’s School, London.
Did B.A at Christ’s College
(1629) (Ranked 4th of 24 students)
Did M.A at Christ’s
College(1632).
Spent 6 years in
Buckinghamshire,
with his family (a
private stay).
Read extensively
both Classics &
Modern (religion,
science, philosophy,
history, politics &
Literature).
Milton was a
private school
teacher at his
early ages and
this
experience
with the
educational
reformer,
Samuel helped
him to write Of
Education
(1644)
During
private study
he composed
On the
Morning of
Christ’s
Nativity, On
Shakespeare,
L’Allegro, I’L
Penseroso
Comus &
Lycidas
In 1638 made
13 months
tour to France
& Italy. Met
many
intellectuals
like Galileo
who tracks to
write
Areopagitica
He started a
school &
supports
parliament
through his pen.
Milton’s life
can be divided
into
Early poetry
period
(1623-1628)
Prose period
(1640 – 1660)
Fruitful poetic
period
(1660 - 1674)
In 1649 joined
as Common
Wealth
Government
Secretary for
foreign
Tongues.
Wrote many
pamphlets for
Republican cause
His eyesight starts
falling, in 1660 when
Restoration came he
left Blind, Poor &
alone
His prose:
Between
1640 – 60
wrote prose on
public affairs
wrote 25
pamphlets
21 in English &
4 in Latin.
During last year he
partly completed
History of Britain
Milton...

20. His Prose style
is Tempestuous,
disordered,
valuable, violent
& lax in style.
It was all
written during
an urge – wrote
on debate topics
on his
mind/public.
Intense zeal, Pugnacity,
spacious mind, intolerant
in application, rich
fancy& capacious. Lack
of Humour, proportion &
restraint.
His Poetry:
a) From 1629
to 1640
b) From 1660
to 1674
Milton began to compose poetry
from college days, with
remarkable maturity, promise,
impressive diction& high ideals.
Ode on the Morning of Christ’s
Nativity (1629) , On Shakespeare
(1630) & On Arriving at the Age
of Twenty Three (1631).
popularly known as Lady of the College.
L’Allegro, and
I’L Penseroso two
long poems of
Octosyllabic
couplets.
Decorative,
artificial, scholarly
fancy, and adroit
poetical phrasing .
Comus is
a Masque,
stiff
beautiful
blank
verse &
charming
lyrical
poem
Lycidas is a an elegy on
his Friend Edward King.
 Death forestall fame.
 He interplay with doubt,
fear, anger & peaceful Reliance.
 Highlights True fame is God.
 Passionate sincerity,
pastoral, musical, majestic
epithet, irregular stanza &
metre but peculiar beauty.
In the middle
years he
composed few
sonnets of sweep
& sonorous style
like On His
Blindness & On
the Late Massacre
in Piedmont
begun in 1658,
completed in 1663 &printed 1667.
♫ 10 books splited into 12 for strict
unity of classical epic.
♫ Theme is Fall of man, justify the
ways of God to man.
♫ Poem is spacious, commanding, rich
imagination, classical, Biblical lore,
tragic in Blank verse.
♫ Characters are gigantic in Scale
(Lucifer) , infinite in modulation,
cunning in scansion.
♫ Dignity of music, wordiness &
Bombast.
Paradise Regained (1671)
tells Christ’s victory,
complement to Paradise Lost
Brief & poor, exalted
imagination, ornate
rhythms, unite characters..
Milton...

21. Puritan Strain:
Classical Strain:
His Genius:
Literary Position: Milton escaped from the
Elizabethan period of Literature which was
full of chaos. His clear writing paved the way
for the new Classicm of next generation.
Features of his poetry
Milton...
Milton has few peers, no superior”
 Ode on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity (1629)
 On Shakespeare(1630)
 On Arriving at the Age of Twenty- Three (1631)
 L’Allegro & IL Penseroso (1632) Twin Poems
 Comus (1634)- A Masque
 Lycidas 1637) An Elegy written on the death of
his College friend Edward King.
From
1629-1640
These 20 years were filled with few
Sonnets.
On His Blindness
On the Late Massacre in Piedmont
From
1640-1660
From
1660-1674

22. SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709 – 1784)

23. Era of new learning
Revival of Romantics,
research into archaic
literary forms & new
edition of old authors.
Double Tendency
a) Allegiance to
classicism
b) Search of new
order of Romanticism
AGE OF TRANSITION
The concept of poetry drift
towards Romanticism &
Romantic Ideals
Historical Background
Decline of the Party Feud
(Whigs and Tories)
Commercial & imperial
expansion
French Revolution stir
revolutionary ideas in
Literature
AGE OF TRANSITION

24. Dr. Johnson is an
English Essayist,
critic, biographer,
editor &
Lexicographer
Born: 18 Sep, 1709 @
Linchfield,
Staffordshire, England
Died: 13 Dec, 1784(75),
London , England
Distinguished
man of Letters in
English
He was a tall &
Robust man.
Born to Michael
Johnson, a book seller
and Sarah Ford
From his birth suffers
Scrofula affected
sight & hearing
throughout his life.
Great intelligence
at young age. At
3 started private
education from
mother.
Went to Linchfield
Grammar school,
befriended Edmund
Hector & John
Taylor.
Sent to Pembroke
college, Oxford after 13
months left Without
degree.
Tried school teaching
but it was unsuccessful.
9 July 1735 married
Elizabeth. 1729-31 little
known about his life.
Started school but failed.
Slowly he won his way out
of gutter.
1737 went to London>
threw into Squalors and
allurements of Grub street
evident from Essay on
Boswell’s Life of Johnson.
His poetry:
 He wrote little poetry.
 His first major work London published
anonymously, poem in 263 lines, Heroic
couplet, Somber power depicts vanities,
sins of city life.
 Embittered & Penurious point of view.
1737-1739 befriended
, lives
with him & Suffers poverty
evident from Life of Mr.
Richard Savage (1744).
His only long poem The Vanity of Human
Wishes (1749) an imitation of 10th satire of
Juvenal gloomy Convictions by Spectacle of
London. Meter is as same as London
Bleak pessimism, tremendous convictions, stern
Immobility, many lines are of solemn grandeur.
His Drama: Irene (1749) – Solemn,
ponderous undramatic blank verse
tragedy. His old pupil David Garrick
staged it in Drury lane theatre.
Johnson is a successful first rate prose writer.
Hi s earliest works appeared in ‘The Gentleman’s
Magazine’ (1738-1744)
Between (1741-44) wrote imaginary
parliamentary debates. He elaborated few facts
by his invention & vigorous style.
Irene runs for 9 nights receive poor success.
Life of Mr. Richard Savage (1744) wrote after
the death of his poet friend.
Johnson...

25. In 1747 began his work on
Johnson began the dictionary
after 150 years of the first
dictionary in English. He
completed it on 1755.
Huge book of 18” inch tall – 20”
inch wide – 42,773 entries
Johnson’s Dictionary was not the
first, nor was it unique. It has its
weakness…
☺Poor guide to pronunciation.
☺Inaccurate in etymology .
☺Some quotations lacked dates &
references.
☺Some definitions were incorrect
Vastly Superior than any
previous Dictionary…
☺Quote actual use of words
☺ Remarkable definitions
based on common sense
☺ Fine Preface – his
intention to preserve purity &
ascertain purity of Idiom
☺ Oxford conferred him
M.A. Degree
He wrote periodical
essays for The Rambler
and The Idler. The
papers full of his deep
thoughts & observations.
His only novel Rasselas, Prince
of Abyssinia (1759) to pay for
his Mother’s funeral
Philosophical >Full of essays
>Tale is little interest
>Rudimentary characters
>Long & dull discussions
Second great work
Shakespeare (1765) famous
for its remarkable preface
1. Recognize Shakespeare’s faults.
2. Defending him for not following
the classical unities
3. Analyses the reason for
corruption in text.
A Journey to the Western
Islands of Scotland (1775):
A travel book, Narrative
passages is of great skill.
Last Work The Lives of the Poets (1771-81)
*Planned as series of introduction
to the works of 52 poets.
*Half – Critical and half – biographical introduction.
*Great volume.
*Poets of 17th & 18th century from Cowley to Grey.
*Best in sympathy & tries to Jest.
*Limitations as a critic.
*Phrased with pity & vigor.
From 1762 received pension
His bearishness, goodwill, benevolence, his
guzzling, grunts, grimaces, puerile superstition,
beautiful piety and masterful commonsense
evident from The Life of Samuel Johnson.
Great conversationalist, witty &
profound
Widely scholar, courageous, wisdom &
moral.
As a critic classicist, moralist & sanity
Philosophical tone, forceful, clear &
elegant
Little Latinized, reality &non-sentimental
His genius made to create a term called as
‘Johnsonese’
“Memory of the other authors is kept alive by their works
But memory of Johnson keeps many of his works alive”
- Macaulay
Johnson...

26. RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN
(1751 – 1816)

27. Date of Birth: 30 Oct1751.
Date of Death: 7 July 18 16.
An Anglo- Irish play Wright
Poet, satirist, orator, Whig politician.
Owner of London Theatre, Royal, Drury Lane.
He was M.P. for 32
years Buried at
Poet’s corner.
Born at Dublin at
ancestral house at
Dorset street.
Son of
Thomas Sheridan > An
actor, Manager, author +
Frances Sheridan >
Play Wright & novelist.
His grandpa was a friend
of Jonathan Swift.
Attended English
Grammar School.
At the age of 7 his
family settled in
England.
Student of Harrow
School (1762-68).
Fell in Love with
Elizabeth Ann
Linley.
Fought 2 duels
with captain
Thomas Mathew.
First duel was simple
second one ended with
wounds & blood shed.
Intended to read Law
In 1772 married
Elizabeth.
At 25, he
wrote his
first play
The Rivals
Entered into
Parliament.
His first play a prose comedy
The Rivals
*Comedy of Manners
*Staged at
Covent Garden theatre.
*One of Sheridan's
Masterpieces
The character Malaprop
leads coinage of term
malapropism. *A play of
great success.
Duenna (1775) 3 act comic opera.
*Received warm reception.
*His father-in-law
Thomas Linley composed music.
*Performed 75 times (total 256).
*Phenomenal success.
In 1775 wrote a Farce
play
St Patrick’s Day: or,
The Scheming
Lieutenant
wrote to show his
gratitude to Lawrence
Clinch. It is a benefit
performance.
A trip to
Scarborough
(1776) based on
The Relapse (1696)
by John Vanbrugh.
His most famous play
The School for Scandal
(1777) contains his best
character *Lady Teazle*.
Brilliant dialogues
Greatest comedy of
Manners in English.
First performed in 8 May
1777in London Drury Lane
Theatre (adopted as film).
More mature play
Striking comic situation
Brilliant dialogues
Witty & perfect structure
Act IV Screen Episode is
the most skilful English
comedy.
Last play The Critic: or
a Tragedy Rehearsed
(1779) attack on the
popular sentimental
drama, best Burlesque
of its age
Based on
George Villiers
much
finer than its model.
Sheridan...

28. Features of his plays:
 Sheridan’s great
contribution to English drama
is he bring back the humour
and wit to the stage.
 Introduced real comedy in
the place of Sentiment.
 The School for Scandal
marked anti-sentimental
movement.
 His prose comedies are the
best restoration comedy
without immortality.
 Plot are ingenious &
effective depends on intrigue.
Style:
1. Interesting scenes & witty
dialogues.
2. Portrayed intrigue of high society.
3. Plot construction planned in
comedy of Manners.
4. Great verbal ability picturesque &
Epigrammatic repartee.
Genius:
1. Master in creating the comic ideals & situations.
2. Verbal magic, technical perfection vivacity and charm.
3. Epitome in British comedy of manners between
Congreve & Wilde.
“Whatever he tried he did better than anyone else”
–Byron.
The Rivals, The School for Scandal
& The Critic portrayed the Upper Middle
Class life of late 18th Century with the
geniality of romance.
“I’m called away by particular business but
I leave my character behind me” - Sheridan.
Sheridan...

29. DANIEL DEFOE (1659 – 1731)

30. AGE OF POPE
Historical background:
1. Rise of the Political Parties (Whigs &
Tories).
2. Many foreign wars.
3. Spirit of the age – period of stabilisation,
growth, tolerance, moderation,
enthusiasm & common sense.
Impacts on Literature:
1. Period after Restoration, poetry
drifted towards prose.
2. Heroic couplet occupies poetry –
Pope is a Master in it.
3. Prose & Prose writers is of High
quality (Swift, Addison, Steele,
Defoe)
4. Golden age of political
pamphleteering.
5. Growth of clubs & coffee houses.
6. Growth of periodical writing &
new publishing houses.
7. Arrival of new morality.

31. Born at London, England
Died on: 24 April 1731
Occupation: Writer, journalist, merchant
& pamphleteer
Prolific & versatile genius produced more
than 500 books, pamphlets & journals on
various topics like Politics, marriage,
religion, crime, psychology & supernatural.
Pioneer of Economic Journalism.
 Daniel Defoe was
born in Fore street.
 Educated at Rev.
James Fisher’s
School, Surrey.
 At 14 educated at
Newington Academy.
 Entered into
business sold wool &
wine.
Imprisoned many
times for treasonable
publication.
Defoe...
 His father Thomas
Foe was a Butcher,
Mother Anne died
early.
 He experienced
Great Plague of
London & Great Fire
of London.
In 1684 married
Mary Tuffley, 1692
went bankrupt.
Acclaimed writer:
Published his first literary piece – a political pamphlet in 1683.
He become prose writer- his prose divided into
1) Political writings & 2) Fictions.
Defoe changed his name in 1703 into Daniel Defoe.
Wrote political pamphlets most of them appeared in his own
journal ‘The Review’
The Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1702)
brought official wrath & he was fined, imprisoned & pilloried.
Wrote one or two political tracts of Vigour & Elegance.
Wrote few
Biographies.
Best known work
of his political
writing is
The True-born
Englishman (1701)
it is acute & fair
command of irony
& invective.
Defoe took new literary path in
1719 published at most speed.
Epistolary
novel,
confessional
& didactic
in form,
often
marked as
first
Realistic
Novel in
English.
Based on
actual
experience
of Sailor
Alexander
Selkirk who
spent 4
years alone
in an Island.
Robinson Crusoe (1719) –
remarkable for sense of
realism, style & description.
Story in 2
parts –
Adventures
of Robinson
Crusoe
(1719) &
Further
Adventures
of Robinson
Crusoe
(1719)
Captain Singleton (1720)
believed to be developed
from Pirate Henry Every.
Describes life of Singleton
who stolen from a rich
family & raised by gypsies.
Duncan
Campbell
(1720)
Memoirs of
Cavalier (1720)
– historical
fiction set
during 30 years
War & English
Civil Wars.

32. A Journal
of the
Plague
Years
(1722) –
an
account of
Plague of
London in
1665.
Historical
work a
non –
fiction
based on
his
research.
Colonel
Jack
(1722)
Picaresque
crime
fiction
trace the
life of a
orphaned
boy, his
poverty &
crime to
prosperity.
Moll
Flanders
(1722) true
account of
the life of
eponymous
Moll,
exploits her
life from
birth to old
age.
Picaresque
novel.
Roxana
(1724) life
& fortune
of a
mistress.
A New
Voyage
Round the
World
(1725) –
last novel.
Died &
interred
on
Bunhill
Fields.
He is
known
to have
at least
198 Pen
names.
Non- fictions:
Essay Upon
Projects
(1697)
The Storm
(1704)
Atlantis Major
(1711)
Hymn to
Pillory (1703)
 Path finder of English Fiction.
 Rejects romance & adopted biography tone.
 Presented rogues & their moralisation.
 Much interested in contemporary.
 Realistic Story teller
 Puritan at heart & didactic strain.
 Knew the taste of public.
His greatness:
Defoe...
A Man of many talents and enigmatic figure
Father of English Novels

33. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
(1770 –1850)

34. Historical Background:
1. Beginning & development of new feeling for
nature.
2. Abundant output – new, fresh inspiration or
poetry, good yield in prose (novels),
rejuvenation of essay & critical writing - most
fertile period of Literature.
3. Return to nature: Great range of subject & all
nature element are scrutinised & summed up
fresh.
4. Nature amplified & glorified.
5. Political & periodical writing. The Morning
Chronicle (1769), The Times (1785), The
London Magazine (1820) etc – many journals
started.
6. Notable influence of Germany in English
writings.
7. Beginning of American Literature.
RETURN TO NATURE

35. Birth:
07.04.1770,
Cockermouth,
Cumberland,
England.
Death:
23.04.1850,Rydal
Mount. Buried at
St.Oswald’s
Church, Grasmere.
Son of
John Wordsworth
(Law Advisor) &
Ann Cookson.
Second among 5
children.
Favorite
Sister-Dorothy
Wordsworth - a
poetess & diarist.
He attended Hawkshead
School near Lake
Windermere
& attended St.John’s
college, Cambridge
University, in 1787 with the
help of his Uncles.
1791 graduated- visited
France & Italy.
Revolutionary idea aroused
in him.
Went to London to
launch his literary
career.
In 1796 met &
befriended
Coleridge. Stayed at
his favorite house
Rydal Mount, married
Mary Hutchinson.
Lived in the famous
Lake District
Privately educated
by his Mother and
Self-taught from
Father’s Library.
Attended Penrith
School, where he
met Mary whom he
married later.
Spent his early life
among the rustic
people, as a boy he
was meditative &
moved towards
nature.
When he was 8 his
Mother expired
(1778) & at his 13,
his Father (1783),
expired.
Wordsworth a major
Romantic poet along
with Coleridge he
launched the
Romantic Age in
English Literature.
His earliest verses
were written at school
as few sonnets &
tender poems.
In 1793 his poems
appeared as An
Evening Walk and
Descriptive
Sketches (Collection
of his college poems)
with little
originality & view
of nature.
The Lyrical Ballads
(1798) collaborated
with Coleridge. Total
23 poems, (19+4)
published at Bristol
Famous poems are
The Rhyme of the
Ancient Mariner and
Lines Written Above the
Tintern Abbey.
Blank Verse- iambic
pentameter-
Monologue &
imagery. Some of
his poems like The
Thorn & The
Idiot Boy
condemned for
childish style.
Second edition of
Lyrical Ballads
(1800) published
with a Preface,
In 1802 another
edition with an
appendix to
Preface ‘Poetic
Diction’.
Bet 1798 – 99
he composed
some fine
poems Michael,
The Old
Cumberland
Beggar but it is
uneven quality,
striking lyric &
delicacy of
touch.
Wordsworth…
Preface divided into
3 parts
1. Subject &
language of
Poetry (1-300)
2. What is
Poem/Poet
(345 – 570)
3.Nature of
Poetry
(694-876)
In 1807 two
volumes of
poems – fine
flower of his
genius which
includes The
Solitary
Reaper, The
Green Linnet &
Ode to Duty.

36. Autobiographical
poem The Prelude
(1805) in 3 versions
describes the
development to his
love of Nature from
childhood to
mature age
The poem run up to
14 books .
Wordsworth…
Explains his
experience with
fullness, closeness
& laborious anxiety
Books 1-7 half
literal & fanciful
Book 8 – a reprise
Books 9 -11 fluid
narrative
Books12 -14
Metaphysical –
Philosophy of art.
Vast philosophical
work The
Recluse – never
completed.
The Prelude
planned to be
include as a
prologue to this 3
part epic - He
wants to surpass
to Milton’s epic !
Excursion(1808)
long
meditative &
prosaic poem.
1795-97
wrote his only
play The
Borderers
(1842) – verse
tragedy.
Later volumes of
poems The White Doe
of Rylstone (1815),
Peter Bell (1819)
Immortality Ode –
philosophic
idealization of
innocence of
Childhood.
The Subject
should be
“ Incidents and
situations from
common life…”
“Humble and
rustic life was
generally chosen...”
The style should
be
“Real language of
men…”
“The language of
prose and
metrical
composition…”
Says Wordsworth
Features of his
poetry/ genius:
Broad Sympathy
for humanity, man
as a apart of
Nature.
Poet of Nature –
lyrics, narrative,
elegiac.
Wrote 500 Sonnets
in Blank verse.
His treatment of
Nature is first
hand & accurate.
He had passion to
travel.
Travelled along
with his sister &
wife.
Great poet of
Country and
nature life.
Loves solitude in
Nature.
Made walking
tour, compose
poetry whence
he unite
simplicity with
sublimity with
middle style
grace & dignity.

38. 1803 enslaved to opium,
ill – health, unhappy life & went
abroad to Malta & Italy.
1811 delivered good lectures on
Shakespeare
Shook himself from opium
spent his last years contended.
Born on 21-oct-1772
at Ottery St Mary,
Devonshire, England.
Died on 25 July 1834
(61) Highgate, Middle
sex, England.
Poet critic &
philosopher, founder
of romantic movement,
known for The Rime of
the Ancient Mariner,
Kublakhan &
Biographia Literaria.
Coined many words
& phrases example,
Suspension of
Disbelief
he influenced
Emerson.
He was unhealthy in
his young age.
Youngest of 13 children.
Father Rev. John Coleridge – vicar
& head master of king’s school.
Mother Anne Bowden.
As a child he was precocious,
dreamy, imaginative & sensitive.
His father died when he was 9.
Send to
Christ's
Hospital
school=>
astonished
his
classmates
including
Charles
Lamb.
Coleridge…
Went to Cambridge
University 1791,
attracted by revolutionary
doctrine,
After a short military
service he rejoined in
Cambridge university
met Robert Southey –
planned to establish an
ideal society.
Married
Sarah,
published his
poetry &
lecture in
“The
Watchman”
(1796)
journal.
Met Wordsworth &
published Lyrical
Ballads (1798),
served as Unitarian
minister & attempt
political journalism

39. In1797
wrote first part, added
2nd part in 1800,
remained unfinished till
1816. Based on his
dream motivated by
Wordsworth to write.
It is a tale of a kind of witch
who by taking the shape of a
lovely lady wins the
confidence of the Heroine
Christabel.
It contain passages of wonderful
beauty & charming description.
The meter is known as Christabel
metre -Octosyllabic couplet full of
skilful rhythmic variations.
He reached
the zenith of
poetical
achievement
in the poem it
has vision,
psychological
truth &
supernatural
imagination.
The conversation poem:
8 poems listed as conversation poems.
I. “The Eolian Harp” (1795)
II. “Fears in Solitude” (1798)
III. “Reflection on Having Left a Place
of Retirement” (1795)
IV. “The Lime – Tree Power My
Prison” (1797)
V. “Frost at Midnight” (1798)
VI. “The Nightingale” : A Conversation
Poem (1798)
VII. Dejection : “An ode”
VIII. “To William Wordsworth”(1807)
Features of his poetry:
Intense imaginative power &
dreamlike quality.
Witchery of language -
discover mystery in ordinary
things, e.g. Water Snakes in
& Bitch in
Love of Nature & fine
simplicity of diction.
His prose:
1) Scrappy, chaotic &
tentative,
philosophical in
theme.
2) 1808 – began series
of lectures on poetry
and other subjects.
3) 1817 published
Biographia Literaria
& Sibylline Leaves.
Coleridge…

40. His genius:
 As a romantic poet, he revolt against
Augustan conception of poetry.
 Visionary and a man of gigantic genius.
 Imagination + Observation  Description
+ Narration = Delicacy of touch & Strange
beauty.
 A poet of human soul & critic.
Biographia Literaria:
1. Establish him as a great critic .
2. It has lectures on Shakespeare and other
poets delivered between (1808-1819).
3. Intend to be include as a short preface to
“Sibylline Leaves” but it expanded into 2
volumes.
4. Explain his poetic theory.
5. Coin many new phrase like – Suspension
of Disbelief. He wrote Aids to Reflection
(1825) & Table Talk (1835).
“Poetry: The best words in best order”
-Coleridge
Coleridge…
His Dejection: An Ode (1802)
Lat great poem, profoundly
melancholy due to ill-health &
worries.

42. P.B.Shelley was an English
Romantic poet known for
his classic poems & verse
dramas, he did not get due
recognition while he lived.
Best known for Ozymandias
Ode to the West Wind
St.Irvyne (1810) – Shelley together
with his sister Elizabeth published
Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire.
At university wrote several
Pamphlets, for The Necessity of
Atheism he was expelled from
Oxford.
Married Harriet Westbrook & Mary Godwin,
comes under the influence of Robert Southey
& William Godwin.
In 1816 befriended Byron & wrote few poems under his
influence, he hate tyranny & posses generous nature.
Died drowned in a sudden storm of Gulf of Spezia.
His aim as a poet is to transmute his
revolutionary idealism into lyric.
His father was a Baronet & M.P. Eldest
son of 6 children
Published his first book a
gothic novel Zastrozzi (1810) –
Vented his early aesthetic view
through Villain Zastrozzi.
Shelley…

43. Alastor theme is isolation viewed with
complacency, it is a revolt of imagination
against human life, worship nature .
1818 – 1822 most productive period, stayed
in Italy. Queen Mab poem rhyme was made
popular by Southey, philosophical poem in
Spenserian stanza.
Laon and Cythna later named as The
Revolt of Islam contains 4,818 lines.
Cenci (1819) – romantic drama in 5
acts. Poem s of this period is Julian
and Maddalo, The Masque of Anarchy
(1819), The Witch of Atlas (1824) &
Epipsychidion (1821)
The Witch of Atlas (1824 ) 78 lined
Ottava Rima poem with travels &
adventures
In Ode to the West Wind the west wind
presented as a destroyer, purifier;
parallel himself & his revolutionary
spirit with imagery & music.
Ozymandias written in a friendly
competition with poet Horace Smith.
“King of Kings Ozymandias...”
The Defence of Poetry (1840) sounds
romantic . His prose style is heavy, clear &
readable.
Shelley…

44. His choice of subject is
visionary & prophetic, prefer
shorter lyrics- Master of lyrics.
Master of lyrics.
Shelley…

46. Sent to
John
Clarke’s
school,
Enfield. He
developed
on interest
in classics
& history.
His father
Thomas
Keats was a
rich stable
keeper, inn-
keeper.
Mother
Francis
Jennings
Keats was
born on
31October
1795
Moorgate,
London,
England.
He died on 23
February
1821(25)
Rome. One of
the major
figures of 2nd
generation
romantic poet.
In 1818
published his
second volume
of verse. The
Quarterly
Review and
Blackwood’s
Magazine
criticized him
badly.
He met his
predecessors
in romantic
movement.
Coleridge,
Wordsworth
Met Fanny
Browne
whom he
engaged.
His
Parents
died
early At
the age
of 15
In 1821,Keats
died of
Tuberculosis
Shelly wrote
an elegy
Adonais
(1821)
Biography
Keats… Poetry of Keats is
characterised by
sensual imagery,
notably in Ode.
Typical Romantic
Poet ,accentuate
extreme emotions
through natural
imagery.
Most popular &
most analysed
poet, Main figure
of Romantic
poets. Eldest of 4
Children.
He apprenticed
Surgeon, 1814
moved to London
– an apothecary
there.
He moved places & walking
tours in search of peace.
In 1816
acquainted
with Leigh
Hunt –
journalist –
poet, radical
brotherhood
developed.
Shelley is fond of Keats
His malady become worse & frantic, reflected it in his letters.
In 1817
published
his first
volume of
verse -
less
noticed

47. The poems
I Stood Tip-Toe
upon a Little
Hill & Sleep
and Poetry
shows the
influence of
Spenser
on him.
His great odes
Ode to Psyche
Ode on a Grecian Urn
Ode on Melancholy
Ode to Autumn
Ode to a Nightingale
Ode on Indolence
Endymion (1818)
Based on Drayton’s
The Man in the
Moon and
Fletcher’s, The
Faithful Shepherdess
Famous opening line
of the poem is “A
thing of beauty is a
joy for ever”
At 17 Keats
inspired by
Spenser’s works,
Elizabethan
mannerisms
attracted him, his
Imitation of
Spenser, written
when he was 18 ,
earliest
attempt.
In 1817 Poems
published
known for
sonnets like On
First Looking
into Chapman’s
Homer
Looking into
Chapman’s
Homer Tells
about the poet's
astonishment
while reading
Homer. It is often
quoted poem of
epiphany.
“What is more
gentle than a wind
in summer ?”
opening line of
Sleep and Poetry
an example for
bower-centric
poem, an attack
on Pope.
Story of lovely
youth who was
kissed by Moon
Goddess at
Mt. Latmas.
Keats developed
this myth into
intricate allegory of
4000 lines (IV
Books).
Clearly
immature, with
beautiful passages -
tender Keatsian style.
Beauty & richly
ornamented in Iambic
pentameter
In 1820 3rd &
last volume of
verse published.
Isabella or The
Pot of Basil
(1818) based on
tale of Boccaccio
in Ottava Rima
& deeper tone.
Hyperion – poem
about struggle
between Older race of
Gods (Saturn) &
younger divinities
(Apollo),
modelled after
Milton’s Paradise Lost
– Blank verse,
sonorous weight &
dignity.
The Eves of St
Agnes (1819) – finest
narrative poem, tale
of elopement ,
Spenserian
influence, Chivalric
tone, Keats’s beauty
of description,
colorful & attractive.
Keats…

48. His choice of
subject differs
from most
romantic
poet. His love
of nature is
intense.
Poet of legend
& myth of
romances
chivalric tale.
Pure
romantic
poet.
He was not
a rebel like
Shelley
nor stormy
like Byron.
Keats was
self-taught
genius.
Preoccupied
with idea of
beauty.
Most sensuous
of all romantic
Poet.
Most romantic
of the all
Hellenistic
romantic
poets.
Meditation
on sensous
beauty was
central
experience of
his life.
G
e
n
i
u
s
F
e
a
t
u
r
e
s
Wrote poetries
for the sake of
poetry.
Believes art for
art’s sake.
Lamia (1819) – full
of Keatsian
pictorial richness.
Ode on a Grecian
Urn – 5 stanzas of
10 lines each,
narrative discourse
on designs on urn.
To Autumn 11
line stanza of
Shakespearian
quatrain &
Petrarchan
Sestet.
61 sonnets made him to rank
English’s best sonneteer
Othello the
Great, King
Stephen.
Drama = The
Camp and Bells
are incomplete
works
Impersonal, love of nature
&meditation on sensuous beauty
Keats…

50. Charles Lamb was an English
essayist, Poet and antiquarian
best known for his Essays of
Elia & Tale from Shakespeare
Friends with literary
luminaries as
S. T. Coleridge , Wordsworth
& Hazlitt. He was the centre
of major literary circle in
England.
Born: 10 Feb 1775,
Inner Temple,
London, England.
Died: 27 Dec 1834
(59) Edmonton,
London, England.
Lamb was born as son
of John Lamb and
Elizabeth Field. His
father was a factotum.
Lamb was timid and
retiring youth.
Educated at
Christ’s Hospital,
Where he was a
fellow of
Coleridge
Rev. James Boyer,
the headmaster,
renowned for his
unpredictable
and capricious
temper.
He worked as a
clerk in Southsea
House in 1972.
Appointed in East
India House,
remained 1792-1825.
There was a strain of
madness in his family, from
1795-96 he was under
restraint. In September,1796
his sister murdered her
mother in a frenzy & often
she affected from insanity.
Lamb frequently mentioned
his sister in his essay Under
the name of .
*He remained as a Bachelor to take
charge of his sister lived in
London city, loved his city, his
country & University.
*After 30 years of service he retired
on 1825 with a pension. He was a
charming man, delightful talker &
least assuming of writers.
His reputation is
upon his qualities of
humour, pathos &
good will is
unsurpassed in
literature.
Lamb…

51. His EssaysLamb…
Lamb started his
literature career as
a poet.
Produced short
poems of moderate
ability.
The old Familiar
Faces & To Hester
are well known.
He attempted a
tragedy,
John woodvil
(1802) in the
style of
Elizabethan
playwright but
it had no success
on the stage.
Tales from
Shakespeare (1807)
by Charles lamb
&Mary Lamb is an
English children's book
to make stories of
Shakespeare plays
familiar to the young.
Mary lamb took
comedies, he took
tragedies. Total 20
tales.
His critical work
Specimens of
English Dramatic
Poets (1808) is of
delicate interest &
good literary taste,
clarifies the
Elizabethan
dramatist &
appreciate them.
Lamb’s
quality as a
critic
revealed in
Essay on the
Tragedies of
Shakespeare
The original
series was
published as The
Essays of Elia
(1823) & second
The last Essay of
Elia (1833).
First of essays
appeared in The
London
Magazine, when
he was 40. it was
signed as Elia ->
one of his friend
in Southsea
Unequalled
essays in English
of Miscellaneous
subjects, with
personal touch.
Many essays
have personal
touch like Dream
Children, The
Old Bencher of
the Inner Temple
Few essays bears
short story
structure like
A Dissertation
Upon Roast Pig it
is full of humour
& wit, it is an
essay-story of the
art of roasting
discovered
accidentally –
full of events,
suspense &
situation change.
Richness of feeling, delicacy of imagination found in Dream
Children. His word power evident in line “a lion in your path,
a frog in your chamber…” – Poor Relation essay.
He used deductive approach, signed Elia & used ‘I’ in his
essays – subjective.

52. “Lamb’s finest
essays are
nearest of all
poetry”
- Sampson“The most loveable figure in English literature”
– E.V.Lucas
Lamb…
No essayist is more egoistical than Lamb, So
artful, mirthful, pedantic & humane.
 Features of his Poetry:
 Unique feature is autobiographical element
he mixed fact & fiction in his essays. The
South Sea House, A Bachelor’s
complaint convey his student &
professional life.
 Essays filled with humour & Pathos
Humour from civilised satire to irony
from foolery to boisterous laughter.
 His humour is a part of his humanism a
tinge of sadness in it like A Bachelor's
Complaint it is about bitter agony of
married life.
 Lamb is a true lover of past. He
suffered a lot, he escapes from gloom
through humour. Personal reactions to
various aspects of life.
 His prose often considered as poem;
compared with poetry of Shelley & Keats.
 His quality of writing later framed as a new
genre Eliana .
Style:
1. One of the greatest stylist in
English.
2.Gathered pleasant tricks &
mannerism with freshness &
individuality.
3.With influence of “Bible”,
coin new words, place long
learned word in right place.
4.Influence of Elizabethans &
metaphysical seen in his style.
5.He used alliterations,
allusions, compound words &
quotations.
6.Conversational & intimate,
he talks rather than writes.
Genius:
1.Impersonal egotism
2.An egoist without
touch of vanity or
self-assertive.
3.Wrote with poetical
& musical quality.
4.Visualiser of
memories.
5.Matter harmonises
with the manner.
His essays are self-introductory reveals his personality.
Enchanting essayist ignored all conventional
approaches. Influenced by Montaigne & Bacon
followed Thomas Browne.

54. Her plots explore
the dependence of
women on marriage
in the pursuit of
Social standing &
economic security.
She inspired a large
number of critical
essays & analogies.
Her biting irony with realism &
social commentary have earned
her great importance.
She was a
great reader
wrote stories
from early age.
Jane Austen was
an English
novelist known
for her 6 six
major novels.
Austen…
Her family staged plays, she
participated in that, at the age of 12 she
wrote a play & 3 within her teens.
Her small village is her world
she invented story /
characters within this.
Her Novels
The chronology of
Austen’s novel is not easy
to follow, her works are
not published in their
order of composition.
The two
masterpiece
Novels:
Pride and
Prejudice &
Sense and
Sensibility
George
Austen
A Clergy
Man
Cassandra
Leigh
(From
Prominent
Leigh
Family)
Jane
Austen
Born on
16.12.1775
.
At home from her Father,
who was a man of taste.
In 1783, she was sent to
Oxford but discontinued.
Grew up in a friendly
and affectionate
family in a Village.
Great reader and she
wrote many stories
from early age.
She wrote ≈ 3000 letters
but only 160 survived.
Her eldest brother
James wrote prologue
for their plays.
Her Education
Her Early Life
Her Alliance with Literature

55. Her first novel Pride and
Prejudice (1796-97)
published in 1813. It
circles with common
people of middle class.
The Heroine
Elizabeth Bennet is a
girl of spirit, story
lays around her pride
& prejudice.
Austen… Austen introduces the match making
mother Mrs.Bennet;
funny clergy man Collins;
imperious Catherine & proud Henry
The style is smooth
& unobtrusive,
delicate irony later
adopted as film.
Sense and Sensibility
(1797-98) published in
1811 was 2nd . A 3rd
person narrative
epistolary novel, first
edition sold 750 copies.
Published with the
words on the title
page as, ‘By a Lady’
It tells the story of
Dashwood sisters –
Elinor & Marainne
It was drafted when
she was 19.
She first titled as
Elinor and Marainne
‘Sense’ is identified
with Elinor &
‘Sensibility’with
Marainne
Northanger
Abbey (1798)
Published
posthumously
in 1818. it is a
satire on
Gothic novels.
The heroine
Catherine thinks
life is like a
gothic novel but
real experiences
brings her down.
Austen titled it
as Susan her
brother renamed
the novel.
Explicitly
comic, intricate
society& points
the danger of
believing life as
fiction.
Deft touch of
satire.
Between
1798-1811
there was a
pause in her
writing but
then her 3
great novels
appeared.
Mansfield Park (1811-
1813)
Presents a variety of
characters. Young
Funny Price with her
sterling character is
the central figure
Austen’s
most
controversial
novel
Briefs
British slave
trade.
Novel draws on
symbolism, social
satire, irony or
parady, probably the
least romantic &
most pragmatic novel
of Austen.
Emma (1815) Published in
1816. Comedy of Manners.
Central theme is marriage,
Clever egoistic young lady
Emma Woodhouse
overestimates her match
making abilities
Her imagination perception
leads astray. Emma is rich
lady of Highbury.

56. Two unfinished
novels The Watsons &
Sanditon
Features of her
novels:
Her plots are
skilfully constructed.
Life in her novels
governed by an easy
decorum.
Fierce passion,
deep emotions never
presented.
Simple with
minimal complication
& description.
Her characters:
Developed with
minuteness &
accuracy.
Individual-
ordinary people are
presented.
Skilful & lively
dialogues.
Precise & fluent
narration with good
control.
Her Genius:
1. Unaffected from romantic period.
2. Broke sentimental & gothic writing
trend.
3. Considered novel as an art close to
discipline.
4. Mastery over her material.
5. Detachment, ironic, humour &
tolerance of human frailties.
6. Cool delicacy, maturity & sanity
7. Wrote domestic type novels,
situation & dialogues.
8. Wrote with classical realistic touch.
9. Gifted with phrase, humour &
narration.
10. Finest artist of English Fiction.
Persuasion (1815-16)
published in 1818. Her
last completed Novel.
Has a graver tone with
characters like Walter
Elliot, Frederick, Mrs.
Clay & Anne Elliot
Anne Elliot is
Austen’s reflection
she used
‘free indirect
discourse’ (3rd person
narration) technique
“Iam going to take a heroine whom no one but
myself will much like”
–Austen
(in the preface of Emma)
“A heroine who is almost too good for me”
–Austen
(in the preface of Persuasion)
Austen…

57. GOOD
LUCK