Neoclassical poetry reflects the ideas of the 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, morality, and order. It imitates classical works and focuses on generalities, with the purpose of providing moral instruction. The form is limited to classical types, with strict adherence to meter and rhyme. Satire is a popular form, offering freedom for writers. Wit is also important. Popular writers include Dryden, Pope, Swift, and Milton.
Neoclassical poetry is characterized as such because it reflects the ideas of the neoclassical period in history, which occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the major themes of this period included the importance of reason, morality, and order. In both content and form, these themes were emphasized in neoclassical poetry.
Another belief during the neoclassical period was that human nature is immutable. This is one reason why the works of classical Greek and Roman writers have become popular again, as well as how the time period got its name. Rather than focusing on individual expression, the content of much neoclassical poetry was an imitation or revision of classical works. In other words, writing about new ideas was not encouraged, but finding new ways to express classic ideas was.
Another common feature of neoclassical poetry is the prominence of the subject. It was also important for neoclassical authors to focus on generalities rather than specifics. This type of poetry was written with the intention of being public, not a private expression of ideas or emotion. The purpose of literature, and poetry in particular, during this period was to provide moral instruction for readers.
The form of the neoclassical poem is also important. The types of poems that could be written were somewhat limited to the same types written during the classical period, and it was important that poets strictly adhered to the meter and rhyme of the specific type of verse. Some pieces written during this period included tragedies, comedies, odes and pastorals, to name but a few. The dominant type of writing during this period, however, was satire.
Satire is a type of writing where something is ridiculed. This can be done in several ways. An example of satire would be mock epic, which is when a long epic is written on a subject that is not really epic worthy. Satire is often a form of social commentary. Despite the strict adherence to the rules in most forms of neoclassical poetry, satire offered a relatively large amount of freedom for writers.
While restraint and orderliness were emphasized, wit was also an important element in this period. There are several well-known writers of neoclassical poetry. John Dryden, Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift were all popular writers of the period. John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, was also a writer during this time.
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