Dryden's dramatic poesy

                                  

Dryden showed that he was equally able to turn his fine intelligence towards criticism as well as the production of poetry and drama, and the criticism he produced is widely recognized as being analytical and outstanding in its argument and rhetoric. One of his most famous works of criticism is Of Dramatic Poesies: An Essay, which was published in 1668, and contains Dryden's shrewd assessment of the genre of drama. 

Dryden is father of English criticism. Because he was the first who do criticism specific on English literature. The aim of dramatic poesy is clear by himself. He says that " My aim is to vindicate English writer."

Question 1 difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of Play. 

We can clearly see the difference. That both of they talk about imagination but in a different sense. Dryden talks about human nature with it's passions and humor where is Aristotle talks about serious action. Aristotle's definition ended with the word catharsis where as Dryden's definition ended with delight and instructions of man kind. Putting equal emphasis  on delight. he move  further than Aristotle.

  Question 2.If you are supposed to give your personal predilection, would you be on the side of the Ancient or the Modern? Please give reasons.

I would like to take a side of modern. Because when we see something we try to relate our self with that. So we can connect our self more with modern than ancient .They present some new ideas as well, regarding the present situation which ancient cannot do. 

     

  Question 3 Do you think that the arguments presented in favour of the French plays and against English plays are appropriate? 

No, I do not agree with argument present against the English play. As they says that death can not be a part of play because it is not lively but death is a part of life. And according to definition of drama it is a imitation of life. So why we can't show that  part of life ? Life is not only story of one person so many other people are also connect with his or her so to show a plot with subplot is not a bad. Every body is connected with someone to see their story give us wider way to see the life.

        

     Question 4 What would be your preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogues are concerned in the play?  

        

         I prefer the poetic dialogue rather then prosaic dialogue. Crites says rhyme makes  the play unnatural but if we choose appropriate word at appropriate place then there is no point of unnaturalistic. I feel that use of rhyme makes the play more beautiful and live. It affects the reader's soul if we use appropriate rhyme. So the poetic dialogue are more capable to make reader active and live. Prosaic dialogue sometime boarding the reader.