The Age of Johnson in English Literature (1744-1784) l Famous Poets of Dr. Samuel Johnson l Famous Works of Dr. Samuel Johnson

The Age of Johnson 

The time period covered by Dr Johnson's life, often referred to as the "age of transition," approximately corresponds to 1740-1790. By 1745, the large group of writers — Alexander Pope, Addison, and others — who had defended the conventional view had disappeared from public opinion.

Following the Popes' era, the classical legacy retained its authority. In the history of ideas and literary genres, there is no clear demarcation between them. However, the brilliance and clarity with which rational spirit was handled throughout the first four decades of the century faded or vanished with the ageing of the elder generation. Already, new ideas and inspirations are arising. These are not yet sufficiently powerful to compel a refurbishment.

As a consequence, the era had a very mixed air to it, as it was a time of transition during which old values faded and new ones emerged gradually. On the one hand, it follows traditional lines, while on the other, new impulses are gradually emerging. The two parts have a distinct relationship and spirit. If classical authority and the rational spirit remain dominant, resurgent emotions and middle-class literature will gain strength until the scales tip in their favor. The grandeur of tradition appeared to imply that it would ultimately give way to the hidden development of new ideas. In other words, the romantic renaissance, with its passion and inventiveness, was just around the corner.

In the meanwhile, a parallel process has taken place in society that accelerated the increase of romance and feeling. The middle class has been more influential in politics, culture and etiquette. The authority of the aristocracy progressively eroded, if not eliminated. Thus, the centre of gravity of the upper class shifted to the middle class. Thus literature, as it was in the past, could no longer be confined to the aristocracy. In order for literature to be a reflection of reality, the bourgeoisie and aristocratic elements have to coexist. But the middle class did not show a strong yearning for change at first. All in all, it was conservative. The overshadowed internal change had minimal impact on social and literary aspects. Sentimentalism permeated life and literature, yet the rising Puritan spirit kept a firm grip on freedom and emotion. So, although the attitude of the country drastically altered, the rational literature of the classical age maintained its dominance.

Dr. Johnson is a symbol of the classical survival that has been hiddenly undermined. His paintings are nonetheless inspired by new societal elements. It represents a brief confluence of the old and the contemporary. The works of his contemporaries, too, show a duality of opposing inspirations, because these writers could not conclude. These are the transitional poets that foreshadow the romantic movement. Thomson, Dyer, Cowper, Collins and Gray are the poets that live between the two worlds in the liminal zone. They are the poets of the change.

The split with the past was achieved at the conclusion of this time and led to the new age of romanticism. The French Revolution is a major historic event of the era because it changed the face of Western Europe dramatically. Although the Revolution started with the assault of the Bastille in 1789, revolutionary action started far earlier. Over a century, new ideas have sprouted and new forces have been gaining strength, and the Revolution has been the culmination of these emerging forces. It ignited the literary depths. The new philosophy of the French intellectuals of the 18th century had already impressed England. Rousseau, the emotional and democratic prophet, had a great influence on the educated English minds. In fact, his teachings covered the whole nation, laying the path for romanticism, among others, in Wordsworth, Shelley, and Byron.'

Dr. Samuel Johnson Famous Works  

• The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779-81)
• A Voyage to Abyssinia
• London: A Poem (1738)
• A Complete Vindication of the Licensers of the Stage (1739)
• Prayers and Meditations (1785)
• The Life of Admiral Blake (1740)
• An Account of the Life of Mr. Richard Savage (1744)
• The Plan of an English Dictionary (1747)
• The Tragedy of Irene (1749)
• The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749)
• Contributions to The Adventurer (1752-54)
• A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
• Essays in The Idler (1758-1760)
• The Life of Ascham (1761)
• The Plays of William Shakespeare, 8 vol. (1765)
• The Fountains: A Fairy Tale (1766)
• The False Alarm (1770)
• The Patriot (1774)

Dr. Samuel Johnson Famous Authors  

• James Thomson 
• Thomas Gray
• William Collins 
• James Macpherson 
• William Blake 
• Robert Burns 
• William Cowper
• George Crabbe