The Augustan Age in English Literature - Origin of the term Augustan - Characteristics of the Augustan Age - Major Writers of the Augustan Age

Origin of the term Augustan 

The term "Augustan" refers to King George I desire to be associated with Augustus Caesar, the very first Roman Emperor, during a period when poetry and arts were promoted and admired and flourished. Anyone who has been educated in the 18th century would know the original texts because classical studies are a necessary element in the process of education.

Augustan Age

A remarkable characteristic of the literature of the 18th century is that it is mostly philosophical, logical, and reasonable. In this age, Emotion, creativity, and passion are clearly lacking. Therefore, writing of the 18th century is sometimes sarcastic. The dominance of logic, rationality, common sense and emotions, and passion are denied. The appearance is more emphasized than the actual meaning. Most of the writing of the 18th century is either sarcastic or educational. It is the principal result of intellect on the surface of existence. The poetry of this era was one of criticism of politics and the parody of individuals. The satires were both socially and personally political. Another key characteristic of the poetry of this era is that it deals mainly with city life instead of rural life or nature. The poets were limited to two lifetimes and aristocratic people in their quest for decency, reasonableness, grace, and mannerism. Poetry is primarily composed in literature and heroic couplets from the 18th century. This literary phrase is ideally suited to the closing Heroic couplet because of its epigrammatic compassion and sarcastic property.

Characteristics of the Augustan Age

The Political Time:

The Augustan era was the reign of Queen Anne in England at the beginning of the 18th century. The poet Alexander Pope, satire, essayists Joseph Addison, Jonathan Swift and the and Sir Richard Steele were among the most famous authors of this period.

The Style in Motions:

In this age, the approach emphasized common sense, balance, passion, and grace. The subjects of the study increased in quantity and in the 18th century systematically. And prose had become a versatile and valuable vehicle in England's prosperity.

Transitional Period:

Throughout this century, England led Europe in intellectual research. The rapid social development of England in the early 18th century was remarkable. For the first time, the art of coexistence was mastered. In a decade, nearly 2000 public coffee shops only emerged in London. This improved social status refined the language and manners of males.

Political Parties' Emancipation:

By 1700 (during the reign of Charles II), the Wing Party had been advocating personal independence, while the Tories were Jacobites.

The Spirit of the Age 

The Spirit of the Age was one of tolerance, restraint, and common sense. The explanation was accurately depicted in Swift, Steele, Addison, and Defoe's works.

Clubs and cafes:

The growing political involvement has increased the number of political organizations and cafes and inspired stylish and public life. In the first edition of 'The Tatler,' Steele announces that his new magazine will focus on clubs. In White's Chocolate House, you'll discover stories of gallantry and pleasure, poetry at Will's Coffee House, and learning in Grecian, foreign, and domestic news in Santiago.

Major Writers of the Augustan Age

Following are the major writers of the Augustan age;

 

Thomas Gray

Thomas Gray was the English author, poet, classics philosopher, and teacher at Cambridge Pembroke College.

• Thomas Gray Works
• On the Death of a Favourite Cat
• The Bard
• The Progress of Poesy
• The Fatal Sisters
• The Descent of Odin
• Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
• On a Distance Prospect of Eton College

James Macpherson

The writer, poet, literature collector, and statesman James Macpherson was Scottish.

• James Macpherson Works
• Ossian Poems
• Fragments of Ancient Poetry Translated From Gaelic

William Collins

He was a poet from England who was an influential poet from the mid-18th century.

• William Collins Works
• Ode to Simplicity
• Odeon the Popular Superstitions of the Highlands of Scotland
• Ode to Evening

George Crabbe

George Crabbe was a poet, physician, and priest from England. He is most known for his initial use of the realistic style of narration and his portrayal of life and people in the middle and working class.

• George Crabbe Works
• The Borough
• Tales in Verse
• Tales of the Hall
• The Village
• The Parish Register

William Blake

In England, he was a poet, painter, and printer.

• William Blake Works
• Songs of Innocence
• Songs of Experience
• Poetical Sketches

Tobias Smollett

Tobias George Smollett was a Scotland writer and poet. His picaresque novels made him famous.

• Tobias Smollett Works 
• Humphry Clinker
• The Adventure of Roderick Random
• Peregrine Pickle

Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding was an English author and dramatist famous for his terrestrial sarcasm and humor.

• Henry Fielding Works
• Jonathan Wild the Great
• A Journey from this World to the Next
• Voyage to Lisbon
• Tom Jones
• Amelia
• The Adventures of Joseph Andrews

Samuel Richardson

He was an English writer and printer.

• Samuel Richardson Works
• Clarissa or The Adventures of a Young Lady Clarissa Harlowe
• Sir Charles Grandison
• Pamela or Virtue Rewarded

Edmund Burke

He was an Irish patriot, economist, and philosopher.

• Edmund Burke Works
• On Conciliation with America
• Reflection on the French Revolution
• Letter to a Nobel Lord
• Letters on a Regicide Peace
• Speeches on American Taxation

Richard Steele

He was an Irish novelist, playwright, and politician.

• Richard Steele Works
• The Tender Husband
• The Conscious Lover
• The Tatler
• The Guardian
• The Funeral
• The Lying Lover

Joseph Addison

He was an English writer, poet, playwright, and statesman.

• Joseph Addison Works 
• The Vision of Mirza
• Cato
• The Campaign
• Public Credit
• Rosamond
• The DRUMMER
• The Spectator

Jonathan Swift

He was a satirist, writer, English politician, and poet.

• Jonathan Swift Works
• Journal to Stella
• The Drapier’s Letters
• A Tale of a Tub
• Gulliver’s Travels
• Cadence and Vanessa
• The Battle of the Books

Daniel Defoe 

He was an English writer, trader, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy.

• Daniel Defoe Works
• Captain Singleton
• Journal of the Plague Year
• Roxana
• Colonel Jack
• The Memories of a Cavalier
• Robinson Crusoe
• Mall Flanders

Oliver Goldsmith 

He was a writer, poet, and playwright of English-Ireland.

• Oliver Goldsmith Works
• The Vicar of Wakefield
• The Hermit
• Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog
• She Stoops to Conquer
• The Citizen of the World
• The Traveller
• The Deserted Village
• The Good-Natured Man

Samuel Johnson

He was the English writer, sometimes referred to as Dr Johnson, who was a permanent English literary writer, poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critical, biographical, publisher.

• Dr. Samuel Johnson Works
• Preface to Shakespeare
• Raselas
• Prince of Abyssinia
• The Life of Savage
• The Vanity of Human Wishes
• London
• The Lives of the Poets
• The Adventurer
• The Idler
• Dictionary of the English Language
• A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
• The Rambler

John Gay 

He was a poet and dramatist from England and a member of the Scriblerus Club.

• John Gay Works
• The Beggar’s Opera
• The Rural Sports
• The Streets of London
• The Shepherd’s Week
• Trivia
• Fables

Alexander Pope 

He was a poet and satirist from August and one of his greatest artists.

• Alexander Pope Works
• Dunciad
• Translation of Iliad and Odyssey
• The Lord Bathurst
• Pastorals
• Of the Knowledge and Characters of Men
• Of the Characters of Women
• An Essay on Criticism
• Windsor Forest
• The Rape of the Lock
• Satires and Epistles of Horace Imitated
• On the use of the Riches
• An Essay on Man
• Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot

Themes of The Augustan Age 

• Patriotism
• Love
• Nature
• Society
• Lack of Religion 
• Rational thinking

Conclusion 

The development of the printing press, inexpensive paper, literacy, and economic status has enabled many more people to read. During this period, literary styles appealing to a wide range of classes emerged, while arrogance in literacy began. Swift used the terms high and low frequency to describe his reading style and the prejudices of today. For the first time, authors' essays and biographies of famous people started to dominate the Traits and behaviors.

So you can see that this is a difficult time worth studying. It impacted our literary tastes and aspirations in many ways.