Page 86 - DENG402_HISTORY_OF_ENGLISH_LITERATURE

Unit 11: The Age of Johnson-The Decline of Neoclassicism (Devotional Verse, Popularity of Periodical Essays)

Burke’s chief contributions to literature are the speeches and writings of his public career. The Notes
earliest of them were Thoughts on the Present Discontent (1770). In this work Burke advocated the
principle of limited monarchy which had been established in England since the Glorious Revolution
in 1688, when James II was made to quit the throne, and William of Orange was invited by the
Parliament to become the king of England with limited powers. When the American colonies
revolted against England, and the English government was trying to suppress that revolt, Burke
vehemently advocated the cause of American independence. In that connection he delivered two
famous speeches in Parliament. On American Taxation (1774) and on Conciliation with America,
in which are embodied true statesmanship and political wisdom. The greatest speeches of Burke
were, however, delivered in connection with the French Revolution, which were published as The
Reflections on the French Revolution (1790). Here Burke shows himself as prejudiced against the
ideals of the Revolution, and at time he becomes immoderate and indulges in exaggerations. But
from the point of view of style and literary merit the Reflections stand higher, because they
brought out the poetry of Burke’s nature. His last speeches delivered in connection with the
impeachment of Warren Hastings for the atrocities he committed in India; show Burke as the
champion of justice and a determined foe of corruption, high-handedness and cruelty.
The political speeches and writings of Burke belong to the sphere of literature of a high order
because of their universality. Though he dealt in them with events which happened during his
day, he gave expression to ideas and impulses which were true not for one age but for all times. In
the second place they occupy an honourable place in English literature on account of excellence of
their style. The prose of Burke is full of fire and enthusiasm, yet supremely logical; eloquent and
yet restrained; fearless and yet orderly; steered by every popular movement and yet dealing with
fundamental principles of politics and philosophy.

Notes Burke’s style, in short, is restrained, philosophical, dignified, obedient to law and
order, free from exaggeration and pedantry as well as from vulgarity and superficiality.
Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) was the first historian of England who wrote in a literary manner. His
greatest historical work—The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which is an authoritative
and well-documented history, can pass successfully the test of modern research and scholarship.
But its importance in literature is on account of its prose style which is the very climax of classicism.
It is finished, elegant, elaborate and exhaustive. Though his style is sometimes marred by affectations
and undue elaboration, yet on account of his massive intellect, and unfailing sense of literary
proportion, he towers above all competitors as the model historian.

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Johnson was died in .................... .
(a) 1774 (b) 1784 (b) 1788 (d) 1794
2. .................... was the earliest eighteenth century poet who showed romantic tendency in his
work.
(a) James Thomson (b) Thomas Gray
(c) William Blake (d) Robert Burns
3. .................... is famous as the author of Elegy written in a country churchyard, "the best-
known in the English language."
(a) William Collins (b) James Macpherson
(c) Thomas Gray (d) James Thomson

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