Abstract
This paper seeks to analyze the Norton Anthology of English Literature and other materials with the aim of summarizing the techniques of the major authors of the 18th-century in expressing an ideal.
The paper will focus on the ideal the 18th century authors’ address. This includes the reshaping poetry, humanity, the society, and social practice. The paper will examine the linguistic structures, and the literary techniques used by these authors to express or support the ideal.
Lastly the paper will explain the success of these authors in use of technique to express the ideal. The Norton Anthology of English Literature will form the basis of this paper.
Analysis of the Techniques of Major 18th-Century Authors Used To Express an Ideal
Prior to the 18th century writing had not been conceptualized and most people regarded it as separate if not a linguistic process. The art of writing developed from different social cultures.
However, during the 18th Century, authors realized and appreciated the need of writing. Writing became influential and also replaced the traditional beliefs. It developed as rhetoric (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006).
The reasoning and wit used in the 18th century literature is remarkable. The authors applied ideal techniques that played a key role in reshaping poetry, humanity, the society.
The authors managed to observe and expose the apparent follies and the corruption of the morals in the society for the period of the neoclassical era.
They enlightened the rationality, array and the knowhow, how the society cuddled with pervasive obsession eroding the traditions. The authors exposed the vanities within the political circles.
The 18th century authors employed satire to ridicule the acceptable social standards exposing the flaws and the imprisoning the pretence that was within the society (Bros 2011).
Alexander Pope was an enlightened author who used various ideals to draw logic. He applied satire and ridicule the society. Jonathan Swift was no exception; he criticized the abundant corruption in the society (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006).
The 18th century authors are notorious for their witty work. They rhetorically mastered the coherent past and satirically designed their work, which inspired the society.
It his work The Rape of the Lock, Alexander Pope sensitized the society in a polished tone by creating a reflection of the evils and vanities within the members of upper class.
Although this work did not directly point a finger on the figures of the aristocracy, a clear and eloquent perspective of the leadership with nothing but a perception of the acts of a foolish as well as a ridiculous figure.
The authors managed to mock the members of the upper class in a delicate and poetic manner. Alexander pope clearly illustrated the level of moral decay in the society.
Jonathan Swift in his book A Modest Proposal exposed the issue of colonialism by the British Empire which regarded the Irish as savages (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006).
It created demarcate of an immoral and wicked economic relationship, this in considerable length attacked the social imbalances that existed between the rich and the poor. He applied the realism in the society creating a real ability of an author to depict the social ideals.
The Linguistic Structures and Literacy Techniques Used By the Authors
Alexander Pope in The Rape of Lock managed to assimilate traits of a brave epic; he applied an arrogant elitist and this literature to prosper. Authors like John Milton use poems which were of significant impact to the society.
The authors work compelled the rich, heroes and the poor alike. The 18th century managed to achieve an unusual mockery their combination of the societal values.
The works of the authors are written a playful tone that elucidated idiosyncratic traits. They managed to bring out the social conflicts that existed in the society (Bros 2011).
The authors were able to represent the fundamental elements by applying exaggeration while creating a representation in their epic. Personification was applied to create emphasis on the societal values.
They managed to set a mockery of the epic of the tradition through illumination of the detrimental effect. Alexander Pope is popular for his ability to personify, heroic coloring, this uplifted the subject of the work.
Jonathan Swift in his book, A Modest Proposal which can be related to the economic proposal to be included in the government policy, he spins the proposal on a ruthless economic gain made at the cost of the colony of the government.
The colony depicted as being consumed’ by its colonial master, the British Master. The author critically analyzes the impoverished population (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006).
The 18th Century authors knew extremely well the need for understanding the mankind. They based their work on reasoning. The age of reasoning can only be said to be in the era of the 18th century. The authors sought to have an understanding of what humanity was like.
The 18th century appeared during an era of political upheavals. The characteristic of the authors work done during this age is that it laid emphasis on the unity of politics and literature.
The authors applied various themes like satire to illuminate the history of the subjects. Their works also give a partial account of what transpired during the 18th century (Bros 2011).
The Ideal That the Authors Addressed
Although the work of the authors of the 18th century did not exist as one genre, the work of the authors brings a rival of romanticism and development of modern literature (Luebering 2010).
The authors of this century brought up the feature of constitutional governance. This is what had followed the revolution age which so the coming into place of parliamentary government. The enrichment of literature with the politics dominated the society.
The issue of party politics is also not left out; politicians hired most of the satirical writers. The work of Addison, Defoe and Swift illustrated these issues. This was a landmark change because it replaced the traditional nobleman.
There was drastic social development in the social life (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006). Life changed from the individualism to the development of coffeehouses and private clubs.
This influenced the literature to a great deal, with writers interacting with people in the urban life and thus incorporating most of the social issues in their work.
The authors placed emphasis on style and things like writing prose, verse, and this influenced the development of literature (Bros 2011).
The was one more issue in the 18th century, the continental wars, regarding the expansion of the British Empire as indicated in the work of Addison. This resulted to the growth of British Empire.
Authors who shared the voyage and exploration advanced the English literature. This shifted the work from politics and critic to the adventure of the world exhibiting the human achievement.
The literature addressed the lure of sailing in the sea; explaining what was past the horizon and this illuminated it (Greenblatt & Abrams 2006).
The authors in the 18th century developed literature due to their ability to write outstanding literature. They were convenient ways of addressing, analyzing, educating, contrasting and pointing out the exact nature of the society (Luebering 2010).
The 18th century authors get credit for mastering the literature by understanding the nature of their work. The developed a distinction between the genres of literature and their relationship with the society.
The aspects of this distinction led to an easy understanding of their work and many people enjoyed their working.
The Success of the Authors in Using Techniques to Express the Ideal
The 18th century authors developed a motive of composing their work. Their work was fashionable in the neoclassical era. They were able to represent the characters of the facsimile personalities who played the pseudo-heroes in most of their work. They were able to make a mockery in a metaphor during this period.
The authors who did poems designed them to draw attention of the nobles as well as the society. This gave a compelling theme of humor, and they also brought out the cultural changes.
The authors also motivated the politics of the day and this demonstrated in the book of Swift which sought to undermine the British Empire practice of colonization.
Some of their work done in a satirical nature; this was a risk; due to the nature of implication they drew from those they criticized (Bros 2011).
The authors of this era were profound and dissatisfied with the society. They used literature to bring reforms socially and politically. They successfully entrenched the traditions and its dialectic force as a synthesis.
This meant to influence the mobility of the society from certain vices and towards certain norms (Luebering 2010).
They managed to influence the society to change and embrace the norms of the new era of enlightment in regard to political and social morality.
The views of modern literature are that the 18th century was the sensibility age. This is because the global perspective of the era as one characterized with enlightenment. The literature that advanced by the 18th century authors facilitated the development, and positive change (Bros 2011).
The rationalism of the authors of the 18th century facilitated the universal discoveries both in the level of humanity and science. They facilitated the coming into place of romanticism.
This was to be later advanced by the Gothic fiction writers who managed to combine the art of several genres. This genre developed during the 18th century. Ann Radcliff renowned for her horror literature advanced the influence of 18th century literature.
Conclusion
The development of romanticism, a genre of literature brought emotions from various authors. This demonstrated imagination of the writers; they managed to take tracked their trail of thoughts to real life.
In Lake District, this inspired many authors like Lord Byron. The authors of the 18th century facilitated the development of the modern literature.
They developed sentimental work that addressed the human history. Although they began at the era of enrichment, the creativity of the authors that shifted to what came to be romanticism.
The literature of the eighteenth century created the age of antagonism art developed by writers who displayed their witty. The era ushered in the age of modern literature from the former eras of literature.
The authors of the 18th century improved and transformed the English literature through the ideal that they addressed and this facilitated the transformation of the humanity, reshaping the poetry, changing the society.
It is clear that the linguistic structures and the literature techniques that these authors applied in expressing the ideal were of enormous success.
Reference List
Bros, M. (2011). English Literature of the 18th Century. California: university of California Publication.
Greenblatt, S., & Abrams, M. (2006). The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors. London, England: W.W. Norton Publication.
Luebering, E. (2010). English Literature from the Restoration through the Romantic Period: Britannica Guide to World Literature. London, England: The Rosen Publishing Group.