An Essay of Dramatic Poesy by John Dryden | An Expalanation

"An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden is an important piece of writing that helps us understand the art of drama and its development. John Dryden wrote this essay in 1668. It is written in the form of a dialogue among four characters. These characters represent different points of view on dramatic literature. This video explores this essay step by step, in simple and clear language, so that everyone can understand it.

Introduction to John Dryden.

John Dryden was an English poet, playwright, and literary critic. He lived during the 17th century, a time when England was undergoing many changes. Dryden is called the father of English criticism. This is because he wrote a lot about literature and its qualities. He had a significant influence on the development of English literature.

Context of "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden.

The essay was written during the Restoration period in England. This period began in 1660 when Charles II became the king. It was a time of great change and excitement in English literature and drama.

The essay is written as a dialogue among four friends: Eugenius, Crites, Lisideius, and Neander. These friends discuss the nature and qualities of drama. They talk about both ancient and modern drama and compare English drama with French drama. The essay takes place on a boat ride on the River Thames in London.

Characters in "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden.

Eugenius supports modern English drama and praises the works of contemporary playwrights.
Crites defends the classical drama of ancient Greece and Rome, believing it to be superior.
Lisideius prefers French drama over English drama, emphasizing its rules and structure.
Neander represents Dryden's own views. He supports English drama and appreciates both ancient and modern works.

Let us discuss the key themes and arguments presented by each character.

Ancient versus Modern Drama.

The debate begins with Eugenius, who argues that modern English drama is superior to ancient drama. He believes that contemporary playwrights have improved upon the works of the ancients. Eugenius highlights the creativity and originality of modern playwrights.

Crites, on the other hand, defends the ancient drama. He argues that the Greeks and Romans established the rules of drama and that these rules should be followed. Crites believes that ancient drama is more disciplined and structured. He criticizes modern playwrights for not following these classical rules.

Discussion about The Unities in "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden.

One of the major discussions in the essay is about the three unities of drama: unity of time, unity of place, and unity of action. These unities were first proposed by a Greek philosopher, Aristotle.

Unity of Time means that the action in a play should take place within a single day.
Unity of Place means that the play should have a single setting or location.
Unity of Action means that the play should have one main plot without subplots.

Lisideius argues that French drama follows these unities strictly and makes it superior to English drama. He praises French playwrights like Pierre Corneille for their adherence to the unities.

Neander, representing Dryden's views, argues that strict adherence to these unities is not necessary. He believes that English drama is more realistic because it does not follow these rigid rules. Neander points out that life itself is full of complexities and subplots, so drama should reflect that. "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden is significant because it provides a comprehensive discussion of these principles of drama.

Conclusion of "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden.

"An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden concludes with a summary of the main points discussed by the characters. The writer John Dryden, through Neander, emphasizes the importance of creativity and flexibility in drama.

To summarize, "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden is an important work in the history of English literature. The main themes discussed in the essay include.

1. The comparison between ancient and modern drama.
2. The three unities of drama: time, place, and action.
3. The differences between English and French drama.
4. The genre of tragicomedy and its significance.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the key points of "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden. Thank you for watching.

00:00 - Introduction
00:29 - Introduction to John Dryden
00:55 - Context of "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden
01:37 - Characters in "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden
02:13 - Ancient versus Modern Drama
02:54 - The Unities in "An Essay of Dramatic Poesy" by John Dryden
04:11 - English versus French Drama
04:53 - Tragicomedy
05:37 - Conclusion
06:13 - Impact and Significance

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