4. D’s Responses to Epic 1 Epic is superior to tragedy Epic does not lack anything that tragedy contains Pride humbled, virtue rewarded and vice punished In two respects they differ 1. tragedy’s message in a shorter compass 2. stage is handicapped to show many things
8. D’s Responses to Epic 2 Visual effect of the tragedy is denied to the epic For visual effects poets alone can take credit for it What cannot be presented on the stage can be presented in epic through words More beauty is lost in the performance A worthless play well acted may succeed in the theatre Heroic poem is the greatest work of human nature
9. D’s Responses to Epic 3 Epic’s 1. Action is greater 2. Structure more elaborate 3. Characters more dignified 4. Language more exalted 5. Episodes more varied 6. Effects more lasting
10. D’s Responses to Epic 4 D disagrees with Aristotle’s insistence on morals in epic On Choice of words in epic: sublime subjects with sublimest expression To make use of more rhetorical devices such as: metaphor, hyperbole etc
11. D’s View on Unities 1 D against accepted interpretation of the three unities such as: 1. the plot should be single 2. the time of action 24 hours 3. place the same throughout Unity of place not mentioned by Aristotle Unity of time is violated by Terence There is a logic behind the unity of action which requires a plot to be a coordinated whole It does not affect the unity when a sub-plot is introduced as one more part woven in to the main design
12. D’s View on Unities 2 The strict adherence to unity of time and place lead to dearth of plot and narrowness of imagination Increasing the time of the plot does not affect the unity The scene of the play need not be confined to one place D considered the unity of time and place too rigorous
13. 6.Dryden considered the unities of time and place too rigorous- Discuss Action is constrained because of the time factor In tragedy it is much difficult to adhere to these unities Because in tragedy the design is weighty and the persons great In comedy unities wont affect much It will not allow the plot to mature
14. 7. D’s Remarks on Tragic Hero Should be true to life He must be one capable of exciting pity and fear He must be exalted in rank Virtuous to be able to excite pity for his misfortune Tainted in one particular
15. 8. D’s View on Satire It is a species of heroic poetry It follows the epic in its design The satirist should choose one folly or vice Fine raillery is the manner preferred by D Verse is more suitable for satire He prefers the verse of ten syllable for satire
16. 9. On Verse forms On Stanzas On meter On Unities On subject matter His criticism has a wide compass
17. Father of English Criticism First taught to determine upon principles the merit of composition Others before him only presented occasional views Ben Jonson only mere jottings of few things England had great writers before Dryden but not great critics Touched upon wide range of issues concerning literature of his time
18. To be continued