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The Following Are The Chief Feature of The Period

The Restoration period marked a break from Renaissance literature and reflected the moral laxity of society. Neoclassicism became dominant, prioritizing rules over substance. Restoration comedy focused on manners, treating sex and adultery with cynicism. William Congreve was a notable writer of comedies of manners, though the genre declined as middle-class values changed. Writers imitated ancient Latin authors and emphasized form over creativity, characterized by precise elegance. Realism focused on London fashion and manners while formalism stressed correctness.

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39 views5 pages

The Following Are The Chief Feature of The Period

The Restoration period marked a break from Renaissance literature and reflected the moral laxity of society. Neoclassicism became dominant, prioritizing rules over substance. Restoration comedy focused on manners, treating sex and adultery with cynicism. William Congreve was a notable writer of comedies of manners, though the genre declined as middle-class values changed. Writers imitated ancient Latin authors and emphasized form over creativity, characterized by precise elegance. Realism focused on London fashion and manners while formalism stressed correctness.

Uploaded by

Vidita Duhan
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Characteristics of the

Restoration Literature
The literature of the Restoration period
marked the complete breaking of ties with the
Renaissance literature. It reflected the spirit of
the age. The spirit of corruption and moral
laxity, which were predominant in the social life
of the Restoration, are reflected in literature.

The following are the chief feature of the period.


- Rise of Neo-classicism
The Restoration marks a complete break with the
past. For the writers of this age, both of prose and
poetry, rules and literary conventions became more
important than the depth and seriousness of the subject
matter. They express superficial manners and customs
of the aristocratic and urban society and did not pry
into the mysteries of human mind and heart.
- Restoration Comedy of Manners
The Restoration Comedy is also known as Comedy
of Manners. Fashionable intrigues, sex, marriage and
adultery were treated with cynicism, with worldly wit
and a sense of the comedy of life.
Actually, William Congreve is the best and finest writer of the
Comedy of Manners. His famous comedies were The Double
Dealer, Love for Love and The Way of the World. George
Etheredge, George Farquhar, William Wycherley and
Vanbrugh were the comedy writers of that age.
- Decline of Restoration Comedy of Manners
From 1700 a change began to discernible in stage production.
It was felt that the appeal of the Restoration Comedy of
Manners was restricted only to aristocratic society. The
immoral and antisocial influence of these plays was clearly
perceived and the voice of the protest was also heard. It was
felt that a more human note was needed. With the rise of the
middle class the moral standards changed. Moreover, the
periodical essay and newspapers which expressed the moral
code of the rising middle class emerged as powerful rivals of
drama.
- Imitation of the Ancient Masters
The authors of the period were not endowed with
exceptional literary talents. So they turned to the ancient
writers, in particular, to the Latin writers, for guidance and
inspiration. They directed their attention to the slavish
imitation of rules and ignored the importance of the subject
matter. This habit was noticeable in the age of Dryden. It
strengthened in the succeeding age of Pope.
-Realism and Formalism
Restoration literature is realistic. It was very much
concerned with life in London, and with details of dress,
fashion and manners. Dryden accepted the excellent rule for
his prose, and adopted the heroic couplet. It is largely due to
Dryden that writers developed formalism of style – precise,
almost mathematical elegance, miscalled classicism, which
- Correctness and Appropriateness
The work of the authors of the Restoration period was imitative and
of limited quality as they lacked creativity and flight of imagination.
This new tendency, which reached its climax in the Age of Pope, is very
clearly marked in the literature of the Restoration period.
Conclusion
 The style of French writers was copied.
 Two important writers emerged John Dryden and John Bunyan.
 Drama, Poetry and Prose were restored.
 Poetry was divided into three forms
1- Political Satires
2- Doctrinal Poems
3- The Fables
 Rise of Neo-classicism
 Imitation of the Ancient Masters
 Realism and Formalism
 Correctness and Appropriateness

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