Excerpt from “A Modest Proposal” by J. Swift
A satirical pamphlet in which Jonathan Swift denounces the incompetence and inadequacy of the English government regarding the Irish issue and its people’s despairing situation during his time.
Tag: The Augustan Age
Daniel Defoe (The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders) Video Lesson n. 2
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) is the author of “The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders” (1722) one of his two most renowned novels, the other one is “Robinson Crusoe” which is also generally considered the first modern novel of English literature. In this novel the protagonist, Moll Flanders, can be said to be the female counterpart of the other novel’s protagonist, Robinson. In “Moll Flanders”, Defoe, unlike in his previous novel, highlights the negative aspects of the emerging industrial English society and points out at women’s poor life-conditions during this time emphasising how their struggle is much more incessant, bitter than that that the rising middle class man faces, thus causing at times mental and emotional distress. Therefore, in this case, Defoe even if he still celebrates the individual’s will power and inner strength as qualities needed to succeed, he also points out the downsides of the Augustan Age (1714-1760).
Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) Video Lesson n. 1
Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) is the author of “Robinson Crusoe” (1719) which is generally considered the first modern novel of English literature. This novel celebrates the rising middle class individual and it belongs to the Augustan Age which is an historical and literary current (1714-1760).
Gulliver in Brobdingnag
Gulliver’s Travels (1726) is a peculiar travel novel, books about journeys were quite popular at the time as they were often used by their authors to convey their philosophical theories, … Continue reading Gulliver in Brobdingnag
Outline of The Augustan Age
A quick overview of the main points regarding the historical background of “The Augustan Age”.
THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE NOVEL
BRITISH GOLDEN AGE The 18th century, in Britain, is generally considered a golden age, it is a time of surprising broad views and growing freedoms, an age of greater individual … Continue reading THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE NOVEL
JANE AUSTEN (1775-1817)
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. Jane Austen BIOGRAPHY Jane Austen, one of the best known English … Continue reading JANE AUSTEN (1775-1817)
