Main directions of the English Literature in the Early Middle ages

34.Significant works and literary heritage of JOHN DRYDEN.John Dryden was the outstanding English poet from the Restoration in 1660 to the end of the 17th century. He was born to a Puritan family in London and graduated from Cambridge University in 1654. Dryden wrote verse in several forms: odes, poetic drama, biting satires, and translations of classic authors. His early poem “Heroic Stanzas on the Death of Cromwell“ was published in 1659. A year later, it was followed by “Astraea Redux”, which celebrated the Restoration of the Stuart line to the throne.In 1667, Dryden published “Annus Mirabilis”, a poem commemorating three events of the previous year: the end of the plague, the Great Fire of London, and the Dutch War. This is a most unusual feat in transferring almost immediately contemporary events into poetry.Dryden wrote notable prose as well, including literary criticism of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and others. His venture into political satire began in 1681, with the publication of “Absalom and Achitophel”, written after an unsuccessful attempt by Charles’ illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, to seize the throne. In 1682, he wrote another literary satire “Mac Flecknoe”.Dryden was a talented translator too. His translation of Virgil’s “Aeneid”, published in 1697, was extremely popular. As a translator, he also rendered Juvenal, Ovid and Chaucer, and the best of his prose in the preface of 1700 to the “Fables”, in which, in the year of his death, he introduced some of his translations to the public. His range cannot be estimated without a consideration of his criticism and his plays in verseDryden.John Dryden was the outstanding English poet from the Restoration in 1660 to the end of the 17th century. He was born to a Puritan family in London and graduated from Cambridge University in 1654. Dryden wrote verse in several forms: odes, poetic drama, biting satires, and translations of classic authors. His early poem “Heroic Stanzas on the Death of Cromwell“ was published in 1659. A year later, it was followed by “Astraea Redux”, which celebrated the Restoration of the Stuart line to the throne.In 1667, Dryden published “Annus Mirabilis”, a poem commemorating three events of the previous year: the end of the plague, the Great Fire of London, and the Dutch War. This is a most unusual feat in transferring almost immediately contemporary events into poetry.Dryden wrote notable prose as well, including literary criticism of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and others. His venture into political satire began in 1681, with the publication of “Absalom and Achitophel”, written after an unsuccessful attempt by Charles’ illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, to seize the throne. In 1682, he wrote another literary satire “Mac Flecknoe”.Dryden was a talented translator too. His translation of Virgil’s “Aeneid”, published in 1697, was extremely popular. As a translator, he also rendered Juvenal, Ovid and Chaucer, and the best of his prose in the preface of 1700 to the “Fables”, in which, in the year of his death, he introduced some of his translations to the public. His range cannot be estimated without a consideration of his criticism and his plays in verseDryden next began a career as a playwright. In 1663, the same year that he married Lady Elizabeth Howard, Dryden’s first play, The Wild Gallant, was produced, followed by The Rival Ladies (perhaps acted in 1663), and The IndianQueen (performed in 1664), a collaboration with his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Howard. The Indian Emperour (1665), Dryden’s sequel to The Indian Queen, represents his first entirely original play and was written wholly in rhymed couplets.