John DrydenThe World’s Best Battle-Rapper

Outline Education 1659 – 62: Political/monarchical verse 1663 – 65: Dabbling in Plays 1666 – 78: POWER-PERIOD – Criticism, Drama

and the year of Miracles. 1678-82: Attack, Decline of Drama, rise in Satire. 1682 – 88: Religiosity and Loss of Laureateship 1688 – 1700: Return To Drama and Translations. Conclusion

 

Early Years + Education

Born in Northamptonshire, England on August 9, 1631 Sent to Westminster School in London in 1644 –

Learned Rhetoric + Logic + Translation Continued into post-secondary education at Cambridge,

where he earned a BA from Trinity College. Graduated: 1654. Here he became incredibly well-read and began to develop

his poetic abilities.

1659 – 62: Political/Royalist Verse

1659: “Heroic Stanzas.” Dryden, through his use of epic

language and Heroic Couplets, glorifies the death of Cromwell, endorsing his regime and presenting him as a “a miraculous gift to England” (Cope, 484).

Dryden, essentially, uses his poetry to ally himself with the ruling governmental structure of the time – whatever it may be. This will become a recurring

phenomenon.

Cromwell

1659 – 62: Political/Royalist Verse When Charles II assumes the throne

in 1660, Dryden shifts, again, his political allegiance and writes “Astrea Redux”: an impressive panegyric that apologises for his former allegiance to the Cromwell regime, and celebrates the ascension of the new monarch.

Dryden continues to “celebrat[e] his restoration to the throne” (Brown, 395) in the 1662 poem “To his Sacred Majesty.”

In doing so, secures a position in the Royal Society.

1663 – 65: Dabbling in Plays

As the theatres reopened during the restoration, the desire for theatrical entertainment increased.

Dryden attempts to take advantage of this rising popular interest but, unfortunately, produces nothing of note.

As a result of the plague, the Kings court moved to Oxford; here, finally,

Dryden earns a reputation as a dramatist with his 1665 heroic drama “The Indian Emperor.”

1666 – 78: Diversification

In 1666 Dryden enters a period of enhanced success and productivity

his 1667 “Annus Mirabilis” (Year of Miracles) Dryden documents the year’s collection of debilitating catastrophes: The Fire of London, the Dutch Naval Wars and of course, the (already mentioned) plague. He places a hopeful spin on the country’s downfall Takes the opportunity to further glorify Charles II

Effectively, secured him the position of Poet Laureate

1666 – 78: Diversification

Between 1868 and 1872, in addition to poetry, Dryden also produced three very important critical works: his “Essay of Dramatic

Poesy”, “A Defence of an Essay” and an “Essay of Heroic

Plays.”

The Essay of Dramatic Poesy

Written as a classical-style dialogue between four intellectuals

Discusses a number of dramatic styles and their respective merits

Dryden argues in favour of Drama as a respectable form of poetry and invokes Shakespeare as proof of his claim. when [Shakespeare] describes anything,

you more than see it, you feel it too” (Dryden, Dramatic Poesy, p.48, ln.1284)

1666 – 78: Diversification

Dryden uses his plays as a medium with which to test this critical theory.

“Marriage a la Mode,” produced in 1673, and his 1678 play “All for Love” both represent Dryden’s dramatic implementation of his literary theory.

He proves himself correct by synthesizing drama and poetry in two, incredibly different, but equally successful plays.

Suggesting that effective drama CAN be poetry.

1678-82: Satire

Dryden’s popularity earns him certain enemies within the literary community.

He is attacked both verbally in the work of his contemporaries...

and physically... With fists. Dryden often responded to these petty,

poetic attacks with a verse or two of his own.

This is demonstrated most effectively in his satirical poem “Mac Flecknoe.”

Mac Flecknoe

“Mac Flecknoe” is a direct attack on Thomas Shadwell: a man with whom Dryden disagreed frequently.

Dryden uses a mock epic tone, with heroic elements to glorify Shadwell, before revealing that his Heroic quality is “Dullness” and a severe lack of wit.

Come at me bro!

Mac Flecknoe – Excerpt

Sh—— alone my perfect image bears, Mature in dullness from his tender years.Sh—— alone, of all my Sons, is heWho stands confirm'd in full stupidity.The rest to some faint meaning make pretence,But Sh—— never deviates into sense. Some Beams of Wit on other souls may fall,Strike through and make a lucid interval;But Sh——'s genuine night admits no ray,His rising Fogs prevail upon the Day.

- Dryden, Flecknoe, 15-24.

1678-82: Satire Through his use of heroic couplets and

hyperbole, Dryden presents Shadwell as the epitome of stupidity.

This poem, is but one of his attempts at Satire; his other notable satiric works include: “Absalom and Achitophel” “The Medal”

These however, were employed, not against his own critics but, instead, to diminish the value of Charles II’s political opponents – increasing his favour with the king.

1682 – 88: Religiosity and Loss of Laureateship

Dryden continuously changes his own beliefs to suit those of his monarch.

Before Charles’ death Dryden publishes his “Religio Laici:” a poem promoting Charles’ faith: Anglicanism.

when king James II assumes the monarchy in 1685 Dryden dutifully converts to Catholocism, producing “the hind and the Panther” and criticising his previous religion.

Dryden is caught out, however, by the abrupt arrival of a Protestant monarch, William III; he is stripped of his Laureateship and replaced... by Thomas Shadwell: the master of blandness.

1682 – 88: Religiosity and Loss of Laureateship

Despite this downfall, however, Dryden’s theological exploits influenced some of his best poetry.

“To the pious memory... of Mrs Anne Killigrew” attests both to Dryden’s poetic skill and his depth of theological thought.

1688 – 1700: Return To Drama and Translations

After losing his Laureate, Dryden, again, focussed heavily on drama;

He produced in this period a number of plays in a variety of genres, attesting to his continued skill and literary diversity.

In addition, he translated into English many substantial works of classic and roman literature.

The most notable of these was “The Works of Virgil” in 1697.

Conclusion

And Neither Does John Dryden

Questions Do you think Dryden’s substantial success

justifies his opportunistic lack of political/religious fortitude?

Based on Dryden’s inherent literary ability, what do you think would have been the result of a lifetime’s focus on one aspect of literature – ex) poetry, prose, drama? Would a timeless superiority in ONE be more

valuable than moderate success in MANY?

Questions Cntd. Do you think the tone of my presentation presented

a bias? If so, toward or against Dryden? In what aspects Do you think that bias is an accepted aspect of the

presentation form?

Who do you think would win in a rap battle: Eminem or John Dryden? Free style With a 3 week preparation period Should Dryden’s poetry, therefore, be recited as

intermittent overlay verses throughout catchy, yet overly repetitive pop-songs?

Works Cited Brown, Laura. “The Ideology of Restoration Poetic Form: John Dryden.”

PLMA 97.3 (1982): 395 – 407. Print. Cope, Jackson L. “Science, Christ and Cromwell in Dryden’s Heroic

Stanzas. Modern Language Notes 71.7 (1956): 483 – 85. Print. Dryden, John.

“Heroic Stanzas.” Poems. Poemhunter.com, 03 Jan. 2003. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. < http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/heroic-stanzas/>

“An Essay of Dramatic Poesy.” Toronto University – Robart’s Library. Internet Archives, 31 Oct. 2006. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. < http://www.archive.org/stream/anessayofdramati00dryduoft#page/n5/mode/2up>

“Mac Flecknoe.” Ed. Jack Lynch. Rutgers institute on ethnicity. Web. Oct 11. 2011. <http://ethnicity.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Texts/macflecknoe.html>

“To the pious memory... of Mrs Anne Killigrew.” University of Toronto. Representative Poetry Online. 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. < http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/754.html>

Works Referenced

Jokinen, Anniina. "Life of John Dryden." Luminarium. 21 May 2002. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.  <http://www.luminarium.org/eightlit/dryden/drydenbio.h tm>

“John Dryden.” Wikipedia. 8 Oct 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dryden>