John Dryden(1631-1700)
John Dryden is rightly considered as the “Father of English Criticism”. He was the First to Teach the English people to Determine the Merits of Composition of principals. With Dryden, a New era of criticism began. Before Dryden, There were only occasional utterance on the critical Art. Though Dryden’s criticism was of scattered nature; He paid attention to almost all literary forms and expressed his view on them. Except an essay of ‘Dramatic Posies’ Dryden wrote no formal treaties on criticism.
Though Dryden was a poet, his critical ideas found in preface which were written on various works. A study on a creative and critical works help us to know his idea of the nature and the function of poetry. His criticism combines the merits of both the native tradition and the classical regarding the definition of poetry. Dryden says that ‘Poetry is an Art of Imitation’. So he agrees with Aristotle. Dryden was an original thinker, and he gives his own imitation explanation of imitation, the analysis why imitation pleases he comes out with finding that poetry unites ass this scattered beauty of nature. Poetry gives us, images that are more perfect than the life in any individual.
Regarding the function of poetry, Dryden says that, The final end of poetry is ‘Delight’. He gives the second place to instruction is teaching. He says that poetry only instructs as it delight. A Poet’s work is to imitate well, To affect the soul and excite passion therefore, a poet, according to Dryden, is neither a teacher nor a bare imitator, but a creator. Imitation brings life into the shapeless materials from life.
Dryden is of the view that the different genres of literature, though it came under classical influence, should be given original ideas. A drama is defined by Dryden to us "A just and lively image of human nature, representing its passion and humor for the delight and instruction of mankind". Drama imitates great and probable action, It represents great actions and moves in us petty and fear. Dryden says that, fear cures pride, petty moves men, it even moves the hard-hearted people. Regarding his view on “Tragic Hero”, we can say that he follows, (Aristotle and Horace). The tragic hero excites petty and fear and is true to life he is virtuous also, Dryden says that chorus is not necessary in Drams.
Regarding comedy, Dryden says, it is a representation of human life in inferior person and low subject. The persons in comedy are of lower qualities. The action in comedy is little. The faults and the vices are the failure of human nature.
Epic : According to Dryden, epic is superior to tragedy. Epic is the greatest work of human nature, and Dryden does not insist on the moral concepts in epic. Dryden respects the classical rules, at the same time he is original. Dryden says that, We need not follow the rules in TOTO No need to follow the classical rules, we can change the rules according to the age, live in Dryden gives the examples and says though Shakespeare violated the classical rule. He is considered to be the greatest dramatist of the world.
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