Graduation
Objectives:
To enable the students to understand the difference between prose and poetry
To introduce students to the distinct features of Medieval poetry
To make students comprehend what is meant by Metaphysical poetry and How John Donne contributed to the movement
To discuss the trends prevalent in the Neo-classical era and the attributes of Alexander Pope’s poetry
There is a great misconception that the study of Classical literature is of no avail because it is outdated and old. Literature, it should be remembered, does not exist alone. It is always related with the past. To have this sense of continuity, the study of this paper is imperative.
In ancient Greece and Rome, Classicism developed as an aesthetic attitude much like Romanticism and Realism. Where Romanticism focuses on what our hearts tell us the world should be and Realism deals with the world as it is, Classicism presents an ideal version of the world. Classicism celebrates simplicity, frowning upon individuality and examples of excess. Classical poetry is known for honoring tradition and exploring its subject with great depth. It is a grounded approach that does not deal in theories but, rather, underlines experience instead. Classicism was a contrast to the culture of ancient Rome that was very violent and sexually promiscuous. Classicism is still a common approach to art today, remaining the most pervasive aesthetic attitude in western culture. While artists tend to bend rules and break the mold created by Classicism, they are often most successful when dealing with less prominent aspects of tradition. The effect of Classicism on culture can be seen in everything from novels to Hollywood films and even soap operas. Well-known English poets whose work was influenced by Classicism include Ben Johnson who wrote "An Elegy" and John Dryden who authored "Absolom and the Achitopel".
