Do you know, according to Samuel Johnson, John Dryden was the ‘Father of Criticism’ because for him, Dryden was the only one to determine upon the principles regarding the merit of composition. Originally, he was a puritan but in the year 1685 he converted himself into Catholicism and later he was announced the first poet laureate of England in the year 1688 but soon, after James the second was dethroned, he lost his glory. The progression of his writing career was based on his political decision which he made according to the changing political scenario. To glorify the commonwealth period, he wrote about Oliver Cromwell and also in May 1660, when Charles the Second was restored to the throne, he joined the poets of the day to welcome him in England. His two poems Astraea Redux and To His Sacred Majesty were created to praise the glory and the aura of the monarchy. In this article, we'll try to look at a few of his significant poems. So, let's learn about them –
Mac Flecknoe (1682)
This poem was basically written in the criticism of the so- called literary pieces of the contemporary poets. Through this poem he attacked Thomas Shadwell, one of his literary rivals. So, it is basically a lampoon as it shows the personal grudges of Dryden towards Shadwell. In this poem, Flecknoe, a minor poet chooses Shadwell over Dryden as a great playwright, so the entire poem is written in a mock-epic style. Let's quote some lines for better understanding –
'Shadwell alone my perfect image bears / Mature in dullness from his tender years.
Annus Mirabilis (1667)
This title which means ‘the remarkable or auspicious year’ shows nothing but Dryden’s fondness for the monarchy. The poem talks about the time 1665-1666 as great and remarkable though we all know the tragedies of these years which are the great plague (1665) and the great fire of London (1666). Dryden wrote about the generosity of England as a Nation because it survived even after these tragedies.
Astraea Redux (1660)
This poem was written immediately after the restoration of the king Charles the second after eleven years of exile. It is a panegyric for the king where Dryden apologized for his previous royalty for the Cromwellian government.
Lastly, we would like to end the discussion with a not so serious quote of him –
“There is a pleasure sure in being mad which none but madmen know.”
