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What are the four names of 18th-century period in English literature?

What are the four names of 18th-century period in English literature?

This “long 18th century” has been given many names: The Age of Reason, The Age of Enlightenment, The Age of Individualism, and The Age of Empiricism. In much of the literature of the era, writers did not just document their own times, but sought for general truths that applied to people at all times, everywhere.

What are characteristics of 18th-century literature?

The 18th-century literature was characterized by the spirit of realism and romantic features like enthusiasm, passion, imaginations, etc. declined in this period. Reason, intellect, correctness, satirical spirit, etc. were the main characteristics of 18th-century literature.

What were the common themes of writers of 18th-century British literature?

Common Themes in the Eighteenth Century Novels Most eighteenth century novels shared a number of themes. Some of these themes included: gender, money, love, travel, society/class, vanity, repentance, criminality, and identity.

What are the characteristics of 18th-century?

Characteristics of this period included observing human nature and nature itself which were considered unchanging and constant. The age is also known as the Neoclassical period. Writers of the time placed great emphasis on the original writings produced by classical Greek and Roman literature.

Who are the major novelists of 18th century?

10 Eighteenth-Century Novels Everyone Should Read

  • Selected by Dr Oliver Tearle.
  • Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe.
  • Eliza Haywood, Love in Excess.
  • Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels.
  • Samuel Richardson, Pamela.
  • Henry Fielding, Tom Jones.
  • Voltaire, Candide.
  • Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy.

What are the most important features of 18th century novel?

The main characteristics of the eighteenth-century English novel include realistic characters of different social classes, real-world settings, plots that center on real-life conflicts, individualism, and satire.

Why 18th century is called the age of reason?

Reason was an unchanging, uniquely human characteristic that served as a guide for man. Thus this time is often also called the Age of Reason or Enlightenment. Characteristics of this period included observing human nature and nature itself which were considered unchanging and constant.

Why is the 18th century called the Classical Age?

The eighteenth century is called the Classical Age, because the writers followed the ‘classicism’ of the ancient writers, which was taken in a narrow sense to imply fine polish and external elegance.

What are the major themes of British literature?

Themes

  • Rise of the novel.
  • Gender and sexuality.
  • Theatre and entertainment.
  • Politics and religion.
  • Georgian society.
  • Travel, colonialism and slavery.
  • Satire and humour.
  • Politeness, sensibility and sentimentalism.

Who is the first novelist of 18th century?

The 18th century saw the development of the modern novel as literary genre, in fact many candidates for the first novel in English date from this period, of which Daniel Defoe’s 1719 Robinson Crusoe is probably the best known.

Who is the greatest English novelist in 18th century?

Henry Fielding, (born April 22, 1707, Sharpham Park, Somerset, Eng. —died Oct. 8, 1754, Lisbon), novelist and playwright, who, with Samuel Richardson, is considered a founder of the English novel. Among his major novels are Joseph Andrews (1742) and Tom Jones (1749).

What is the most critical feature of the 18th century novel?

Realism. A key concern in the eighteenth century novel is its preoccupation with realism, and realistic depiction of society. Broadly speaking, ‘realism’ is a term that can be applied to the accurate depiction of the everyday life of a place or period in a literarily work.

What was the literary genre of the 18th century?

The 18th century saw the development of the modern novel as literary genre, in fact many candidates for the first novel in English date from this period, of which Daniel Defoe ‘s 1719 Robinson Crusoe is probably the best known. Subgenres of the novel during the 18th century were the epistolary novel,…

How did characters develop in the 18th century?

Characters develop over time. Before the 18 th century we can’t speak about novels. Previous writings showed general tendencies of society, stories were taken form past, history, fables. The novel challenged all this. It was the first time lengthy works were based on individual experience.

What was society like before the 18th century?

Before the 18 th century we can’t speak about novels. Previous writings showed general tendencies of society, stories were taken form past, history, fables. The novel challenged all this. It was the first time lengthy works were based on individual experience. In previous writings people were general types, determined by situations.

Who was the literary critic of the 18th century?

Addison, the more original of the two, was an adventurous literary critic who encouraged esteem for the ballad through his enthusiastic account of “ Chevy Chase ” and hymned the pleasures of the imagination in a series of papers deeply influential on 18th-century thought.