The Age Of
The Transition in English literature
The
Historical Background:
The period covered
by the present chapter is the middle and later stage of the eighteenth century.
During this time there are several historical movements were noticed. It was an era of change from pseudo-classicism to romanticism.
1. Decline of Party Feud: The rivalry between the Whigs and Tories still continued but it had lost its previous bitterness. This naturally led to a considerable decline of the activity in political pamphleteering. The poets and satirists ceased to be statesmen. The institution of literary patronage gradually crumbled during this period. Men of letters learnt to depend entirely on their public.
2. 2. Commercial and Imperial Expansion: Under the management of whig minister Walpole England show
the immense growth in the British Empire. This expansion shows England new
culture, way of living. This brought the new ideas and sight in literature as
well. The passion of India and America in itself was an inspiration also these
new territories brought the new burdens like the American revolt.
3. 3. The French Revolution: During the second half of the
eighteenth-century new ideas were germinating and new forces were gathering
strength. The French Revolution of 1789 was only the climax of a long and
deeply diffused unrest. Revolutionary ideas gave birth to democratic and
humanitarian feelings. And it influenced literature greatly.
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