Eighteenth Century and the Arts

(visual art, music, literature)

I. Introduction

Dates:

Neoclassical Art: later 1700s

Neoclassical Literature: 1660-1789

Classical Music: 1730-1810

II. Some initial examples

A. Jacques-Louis David

The Oath of the Horatii

B. Wolfgang Mozart

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

III. Some characteristics of Neoclassical literature

A. Teach and delight

B. “Nature”

C. Orderliness/decorum

1. Alexander Pope in Essay on

Criticism:

“Those rules of old discovered, not

devised

Are Nature still, but nature methodized.”

2. Rules

3. Genre conventions

4. Heroic couplets

D. Wit

Alexander Pope in Essay on Criticism

“True wit is Nature to advantage

dressed,

What oft was thought but ne’er so

well expressed;

Something whose truth convinced at

sight we find,

That gives us back the image of our

mind.” (II. 297-300)

E. Humans in society

IV. Drama—the Unities

A. Action

B. Time

C. Place

V. Satire

A. Key ideas

1. Hold up human folly for ridicule

2. Wit and laughter to bring correction

3. Goal is to inspire rebuilding

B. Examples from Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

VI. The Novel

A. Connections to neoclassical

B. Differences from neoclassical, especially middle class connections

C. Some definitions

1. Longer fiction, more developed plot and characters

2. Overall coherence/development

3. Particular place

4. Characters become real people