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Anglistik (Subject) / 18th Century Literature (Lesson)
From the Augustan Age to Early Romanticism, major writers and their works
This lesson was created by Wuehlmaus.
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- Why is the English Augustan Age called Augstan Age? Because Karl II and Augustus of Rome had a lot in common High expectations on Karl II Augustan=historical analogie
- What is the content of an "Essay on Man"? no matter how complex the world seems, it functions in a rationalnway, according to natural laws--> perfect work of God Man doesn't know everything yet, but he can discover praises science and Newton, but still doesn't claim man to be the center of the universe written in heroic couplets, 4 epistles
- What caused the rise of the novel? expansion of reading class (more people read, thus works had to be invented that spoke to the common people--> common language and realism)
- What is the content of "Moll Flanders"? "Moll" (not her real name) was born in Newgate prison raised in foster family of whom both brothers love her sleeps with 1,marries other,becomes widow in search of someone rich to marry her several men, 1 takes her to Virginia, finds out:her half brother! meets her real mother back to England:imprisoned in Newgate(!) for cheating and steeling,meets one of her former husbands-->marry becomes a penitent and confesses to real mom and new hubby
- Horace prodesse et delectare
- What is the content of Gulliver's Travels? Liliput: meets small people Brobdingnang: meets giants LaPuta (the whore): island where ppl learn math(...) but have no use for it-->Swift attacks reason & deism Glubbdubdrib: meets magician, talks with historical figures of past Luggnagg: struddbuggs: immortal, but not young. Always grow older Houyhmns (=horses, perfection of nature, are the rulers) and Yahoos= deformed creatures, human beings in their base form --> Gulliver becomes attached to Houyhmns, admires the, but is later expelled by them and brought back to England There, he is unable to adapt back to "Yahoo" lifestyle, avoids humands and his own family and spenda hours a day talking to horses
- What is "A Beautiful Nymph Going to Bed"? satire by Jonathan Swift Corinna's exhausting process before going to bed (pulls out teeth, eye lashes,...)
- The Beggar's Opera-A Newgate Pastoral-Content? Framestory: Begga & Player introduce Opera Main Plot: The Peachum's daughter Polly has married Highwayman MacHeath-->parents are shocked But: Mr. Peachum realizes that he could get a good inheritance-->plans to improsin & kill MacHeath Polly tells Macheath this-->he flees betrayed by women involved in the plan & taken to Newgate prison with warden Lockit Lockit'S daughter Lucy loves Macheath: he swears his affection but Polly arrives--> says Polly is mad Lucy helps Macheath to escape Lockit finds out about promised marriage to Lucy and realizes he could get a good bit of money He & peachum get together, capture Macheath and wanna share the money Polly and Lucy get together to save Macheath & plead with their fathers Macheath is ready to die: 4 women claim him as husband Beggar returns and says: This opera has nor moral, but a happy ending Macheath marries Polly and everyone's invited to their dance
- The Beggar's Opera-background info and intentions it stings Prime Minister Walpole other writes become more outspoken on criticism: 1737 repressive Licensing Act satiric aim on passionate interest of upper class in Italian opera also criticizes criminals: Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard
- "Pamela"-content and style style: epistolary novel, sentimental Johnson: don't read Pamela for the story, but for the sentiment.Story is only a given occasion to the sentiment Story: 15 year old maidservant Pamela's maid dies, Mr.B (son of maid) digs on P. abducts her, locks her up, attempts to rape seduce & raper her she rejects him continually, but starts to realize she's falling for him Mr.B. reads letters she writes to her parents becomes enarmored by her innocence, intelligence--> Pam's virtue is rewarded--> Mr.B. proposes to her 2nd part: Pam tries to build a good relationship and adjust to high class society
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- Reaction to "Pamela" Some praised the virtue, other criticized the lust very widely read, bestseller Henry Fielding criticized it too: "Shamela"--> amoral social climber who wants to seduce "Squire Booby while feigning innocence to manipulate him into marrying her some loved/praised Pam's character, others said she was a hypocrit, part of her femaleness