:The Age at a Glance
The eighteenth century in English Literature is roughly called the Augustan Age. It is also called the Classic or Neo-Classical Age in English literature. Broadly speaking, the eighteenth century is divisible into two literary Ages:
1, The Age of Pope (1700-1745)
2, The Age of Johnson(1745-1798)
Though the broad features of both the Ages are alike, there is a marked advance in literary values in the Age of Johnson over the Age of Pope.
Why it is called the Augustan Age?
The term 'Augustan' was first applied to the literature of the 18th century as a term of high praise. The eighteenth century is called our 'indispensable century'. Those who used this term believed that as the Age of emperor Augustus was the golden age in Latin Literature in the Roman Empire, so the eighteenth century was the golden age in literature in England. Now the term has just become a catchword to draw an analogy between the English literature of the first half of the Eighteenth century and the Latin literature of the times of Vergil and Horace. Commenting upon this analogy W.H.Hudson says :"In the both cases men of letters were largely dependent upon powerful patrons. In both cases a critical spirit prevailed. In both cases the literature produced by a thoroughly artificial society was a literature, not of free creative effort and inspiration, but of self-conscious and deliberate art.
Why it is called the Classical Age ?
Eighteenth century is also called the Classic or Neo-Classical Age . The term Classical refers to ancient Latin literature which flourished in the Roman Empire. The latin poets and critics of this age were believed to be the best models and ultimate standards of Literary taste. The English poets and critics of the early eighteenth century felt honoured in being able to copy these classical poets and critics. Hense they were called Neo-classicists. Again , like these Latin poets and critics, the English poets and critics of this Age had a little faith in inspiration and talent of individual genius and had absolute faith in the laws and rulesw as precribed and practised by the ancients. A notable Critic Walsh wrote to Pope: "The best of the modern poets in all languages are those that have nearest copied ancients" This was the basic principle of Classicism.
an Age (18 century literature )
There are many other characteristics like
1 .Lack of passion and emotion in literature.
2. Literature of Town-life.
3. Satirical and didactic.
4. Closed Heroic Couplet.
5. A gradual changes in the latter half of the eighteenth century .
6. Predominance of Logic and Reason
