enlightenment literature “a little learning is a dangerous thing.” -alexander pope

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Enlightenment Enlightenment Literature Literature A A little learning little learning is a is a dangerous thing.” dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope -Alexander Pope

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Page 1: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Enlightenment Enlightenment LiteratureLiterature

““A A little learninglittle learning is a is a dangerous thing.”dangerous thing.”

-Alexander Pope-Alexander Pope

Page 2: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

OverviewOverview

Enlightenment LiteratureEnlightenment Literature Journalistic EssayJournalistic Essay Birth of the Western NovelBirth of the Western Novel Alexander PopeAlexander Pope Literary termsLiterary terms

Page 3: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

What do you know about the What do you know about the Enlightenment?Enlightenment?

Page 4: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

So, what is the literature So, what is the literature like?like?

Journalistic EssayJournalistic Essay– Social criticismSocial criticism– Aimed at Middle ClassAimed at Middle Class– London’s two major London’s two major

newspapers:newspapers: TattlerTattler SpectatorSpectator

– Joseph AddisonJoseph Addison From poetic prose to more From poetic prose to more

informal proseinformal prose Birth of the Western novelBirth of the Western novel

– Daniel Defoe’s Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Robinson CrusoeCrusoe

American “Age of Reason”American “Age of Reason”

Page 5: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

The Age of Satire

The Growth of a New Reading Public

Alexander Pope—attacks upper classes for immorality and bad taste

Throughout the Period . . .

Writers focusingmore on middle-class concerns

More people inmiddle classesable to read

Readers with different tastes and interests

Jonathan Swift—exposes the mean and sordid in human behavior

Page 6: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

The Growth of a New Reading Public

Journalism: A New Profession

Daniel Defoe—stood for thrift, prudence, industry, respectability

Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele—essayists and journalists

Eighteenth-century journalists

• saw themselves as reformers

• published journals; described social and political matters

Page 7: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

The First English Novels

The Growth of a New Reading Public

• Corresponded to development of the middle class• Often broad and comical

• Adventures frequently recounted in a series of episodes or letters

Page 8: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope (1688-Alexander Pope (1688-1744)1744)

English poet of the English poet of the Enlightenment andEnlightenment and

Staunch Staunch neoclassicistneoclassicist– Created new Created new

translations of translations of Iliad Iliad and and OdysseyOdyssey

Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Self taughtSelf taught

Page 9: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope’s PoetryAlexander Pope’s Poetry Essay on Man Essay on Man and and

Rape of LockRape of Lock his two his two most famous pieces.most famous pieces.

Essay on ManEssay on Man assesses assesses Humankind’s place Humankind’s place in the universal in the universal scheme.scheme.– Evil is simply part of Evil is simply part of

God’s plan.God’s plan.– ““Whatever is, is Whatever is, is

right”right”

Page 10: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Pope’s poetic stylePope’s poetic style

EpigramEpigram– a short a short poem with a clever twist at the end or with a clever twist at the end or

a concise and witty statement.a concise and witty statement. Here lies my wife: here let her lie! Here lies my wife: here let her lie! Now she's at rest — and so am I.Now she's at rest — and so am I.

John DrydenJohn Dryden

I am His Highness' dog at Kew; I am His Highness' dog at Kew; Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you? Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?

Alexander PopeAlexander Pope

Page 11: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Pope’s poetic stylePope’s poetic style CoupletsCouplets

– a pair of lines of verse. It consists of two lines that usually a pair of lines of verse. It consists of two lines that usually rhyme and have the same meter rhyme and have the same meter

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter– a meter in poetry. It has an unrhymed line with 5 iambs or a meter in poetry. It has an unrhymed line with 5 iambs or

feet. Iambic means the stress is on the second syllable, an feet. Iambic means the stress is on the second syllable, an example is the word example is the word good-byegood-bye. Pentameter shows us that . Pentameter shows us that a line has 5 feet or clusters of two syllables adding up to a line has 5 feet or clusters of two syllables adding up to 10 syllables a line. These feet are marked like this 10 syllables a line. These feet are marked like this Hello/hello/hello/hello/hello.Hello/hello/hello/hello/hello.

– ““Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Heroic CoupletsHeroic Couplets

– A pair of rhymed iambic pentameter lines that reach A pair of rhymed iambic pentameter lines that reach completion in structure and in sense at the end of the completion in structure and in sense at the end of the second line. second line.

Page 12: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

SatireSatire

Grab handoutGrab handout

Page 13: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

English SatireEnglish Satire

Swift has sailed into his Swift has sailed into his rest. rest.

Savage indignation* there Savage indignation* there

cannot lacerate his breast. cannot lacerate his breast.

Imitate him if you dare, Imitate him if you dare,

world-besotted traveler. world-besotted traveler.

He served human liberty. He served human liberty.

**indignationindignation: anger around : anger around by something unjustby something unjust

Page 14: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

SatireSatire

Satire: Satire: literary art literary art of diminishing of diminishing subject by making subject by making it ridiculous and it ridiculous and evoking toward it evoking toward it attitudes of:attitudes of:

AmusementAmusement ContemptContempt ScornScorn or indignationor indignation

Differs from comic:Differs from comic:– Comic evokes laughterComic evokes laughter

Satiritist:Satiritist:– Uses laughter as Uses laughter as

weapon against:weapon against: An individualAn individual A type of personA type of person A classA class An institutionAn institution A nationA nation Human nature itselfHuman nature itself Among otherAmong other

Page 15: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

English SatireEnglish Satire

Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift– IrishIrish

Traveled between Traveled between Ireland and EnglandIreland and England

Fought hard for IrishFought hard for Irish

Pessimistic view of Pessimistic view of human naturehuman nature

Page 16: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Gulliver’s Travels (1726)Gulliver’s Travels (1726)

Page 17: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

A Modest Proposal A Modest Proposal (1729)(1729)

Background:Background:– IrelandIreland

British ColonyBritish Colony Entirely dependentEntirely dependent Land loss and starvationLand loss and starvation

– TextText Mocked both English & IrishMocked both English & Irish

Page 18: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Voltaire (1694 – 1778)Voltaire (1694 – 1778) French PhilospheFrench Philosphe Attacked: Attacked:

– bigotrybigotry Manmade evilManmade evil

– InjusticeInjustice Institutional evilInstitutional evil

Asian, Russian influence:Asian, Russian influence:– Western & Eastern Western & Eastern

influenceinfluence Hated organized Hated organized

ReligionReligion

Page 19: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Optimist TheoryOptimist Theory

German philosopher Leibniz German philosopher Leibniz believed:believed:– This is the “best of all possible worlds”This is the “best of all possible worlds”

Voltaire hated this, because:Voltaire hated this, because:

Page 20: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Lisbon, Portugal 1755Lisbon, Portugal 1755

Page 21: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Candide Candide (1759)(1759) Satirical parody of travel Satirical parody of travel

talestales– Like Like Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels

CandideCandide– Translates to “candid” or Translates to “candid” or

“frank”“frank”– Approaches life with Approaches life with

optimism taught to him optimism taught to him by:by:

Dr. PanglossDr. Pangloss– Translates to “All-Tounge”Translates to “All-Tounge”– Mirrors LeibnizMirrors Leibniz

Page 22: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Candide witnesses:Candide witnesses: Horrors of warHorrors of war

– Two self-righteous Two self-righteous armiesarmies

Evils of religious Evils of religious fanaticismfanaticism– Spanish inquisitionSpanish inquisition

Diasters of natureDiasters of nature– Lisbon EarthquakeLisbon Earthquake

Effects of human greedEffects of human greed– Apparent in the Apparent in the

aristocracyaristocracy

Page 23: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Final lineFinal line

““We must cultivate We must cultivate our garden”our garden”– We will discuss We will discuss

meaningmeaning

Page 24: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

As we read Chapter 1As we read Chapter 1

What hints does the What hints does the tonetone give us. give us. – How are we to know this is a piece of satire How are we to know this is a piece of satire

and not to be taken seriously?and not to be taken seriously? What can we learn about Candide from What can we learn about Candide from

his introduction? About Pangloss?his introduction? About Pangloss? Notice some Notice some fallacies fallacies (errors in logic). (errors in logic). How do we know Candide has a small How do we know Candide has a small

world view? What effect will this have world view? What effect will this have on himon him

Page 25: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Candide witnesses:Candide witnesses: Horrors of warHorrors of war Evils of religious Evils of religious

fanaticismfanaticism Disasters of natureDisasters of nature Effects of human Effects of human

greedgreed

Page 26: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Immediately upon leaving Eldorado, Candide Immediately upon leaving Eldorado, Candide and Cacambo encounter a slave who has had and Cacambo encounter a slave who has had a leg and a hand cut off. He tells them, “It is a leg and a hand cut off. He tells them, “It is the price we pay for the sugar you eat in the price we pay for the sugar you eat in Europe” (p. 52). What relationship is Voltaire Europe” (p. 52). What relationship is Voltaire suggesting here between happiness and suggesting here between happiness and suffering, suffering,

between the best of all possible worlds and between the best of all possible worlds and the worst of all possible worlds?the worst of all possible worlds?

How might Voltaire make this point if he were How might Voltaire make this point if he were writing today? writing today?

Page 27: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

The old woman tells Candide: “Imagine my The old woman tells Candide: “Imagine my situation, the daughter of a pope, only situation, the daughter of a pope, only fifteen years old, who in the space of three fifteen years old, who in the space of three months had been exposed to poverty and months had been exposed to poverty and slavery, had been raped almost daily, had slavery, had been raped almost daily, had seen her mother torn to pieces, had seen her mother torn to pieces, had endured war and famine, and was now endured war and famine, and was now dying of the plague in Algiers” (p. 29). What dying of the plague in Algiers” (p. 29). What does this passage, and others like it, does this passage, and others like it, suggest about the reality of women’s lives suggest about the reality of women’s lives during the Age of Reason? during the Age of Reason?

Page 28: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Near the end of the book, while Pangloss Near the end of the book, while Pangloss was “being hanged, and dissected, and was “being hanged, and dissected, and beaten, and made to row in a galley,” he beaten, and made to row in a galley,” he still holds firm to his original views that still holds firm to his original views that this is the best of all possible worlds. “I am this is the best of all possible worlds. “I am a philosopher after all. It would not do for a philosopher after all. It would not do for me to recant” (p. 88). me to recant” (p. 88).

What are the dangers in holding beliefs What are the dangers in holding beliefs that are impermeable to reality, that do that are impermeable to reality, that do not alter according to actual experience? not alter according to actual experience?

Page 29: Enlightenment Literature “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” -Alexander Pope

Final lineFinal line

““We must cultivate We must cultivate our garden”our garden”– We will discuss We will discuss

meaningmeaning