The restoration poetry was mostly satirical, realistic, and written in the heroic couplet, of which Dryden (1631-1700) was the supreme master. In his youth, he came under the influence of Cowley, and his early poetry has the characteristics of conceits and exaggerations like metaphysical poets. But later, he emancipated himself from the false taste and wrote in a clear and forceful style, laying the foundation of the classical school of poetry in England.
The poetry of John Dryden can be divided into three parts; Political Satires, Doctrinal Poems and The Fables.
Political Satires
In poetry, Absalom and Achitophel and The Medal are well known political satires in the English language.
Dryden defended the king against the Earl of Shaftesbury who is represented as Achitophel. It contains powerful character studies of Shaftesbury and the Duke of Buckingham who is represented as Zimri.
The Medal is another satirical poem full of invective against Shaftesbury and MacFlecknoe. It also contains a scathing personal attack on Thomas Shadwell who was once a friend of Dryden.
Also Read: What is Philosophy: Branches, Aspects, and Key Concepts – University Notes
Doctrinal Poems
The two doctrinal poems of John Dryden are Religio Laici and The Hind and the Panther. These poems are neither religious nor devotional, but theological and controversial.
The first is written when Dryden was a protestant and it defends the Anglican Church. The second is written when Dryden has become a Catholic and vehemently defends Catholicism.
The Fables
The fables, written during the last years of Dryden’s life, show no decrease in his poetic power. Written in the narrative form that ranked him among the best storytellers in verse in England.
The Palamon and Arcite, which is based on Chaucer’s Knight Tale, gives us an opportunity of comparing the method of art of a fourteenth century poet with one who is belonging to the seventeenth century.
In many miscellaneous poems of Dryden, Annus Mirabilis is a fine example of his sustained narrative power. His Alexander’s Feast is one of the best odes in the English language.
Conclusion
The poetry of Dryden owns all the characteristics of the Restoration Period and is therefore thoroughly representative of that age. The poetry of Restoration Period does not have the poetic glow, spiritual fervor, moral loftiness, and philosophical depth that were sadly lacking in the Restoration Period.
But his poetry has formalism, intellectual precision, argumentative skill, and realism which were the main characteristics of the Restoration Period.
Dryden’s greatest contribution to English Poetry was his skillful use of heroic couplet, which became the accepted measure of serious English Poetry for many years.
Also Read: Restoration Period: A Revolutionary Era of Change in England (1660-1700) – University Notes
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