3 Questions
Who was the target of satire in Mac Flecknoe?
Thomas Shadwell
What was Shadwell's profession?
Poet
What did Dryden think of Shadwell's understanding of true wit?
He believed Shadwell had no understanding of true wit
Study Notes
- Mac Flecknoe was published anonymously in 1682
- Thomas Shadwell was the target of satire in Mac Flecknoe
- Shadwell was born in 1642 and was a dramatist and professed imitator of Ben Jonson
- Shadwell's wit and writing made him popular
- Dryden had been friendly with Shadwell from 1668 to 1679
- Dryden had praised Shadwell's genius in an Epilogue to The Volunteers and a Prologue to A True Widow
- Dryden and Shadwell had worked together on critical comments for Settle's Empress of Morocco
- Dryden and Shadwell had a literary debate on rhyme, wit, humour and other issues
- Dryden believed that Shadwell had no understanding of true wit or the merit of Ben Jonson
- The real or historical Shadwell is less important than Dryden's Shadwell in the context of Mac Flecknoe.
How well do you know the literary feud between Dryden and Shadwell? Test your knowledge of the satirical poem Mac Flecknoe and the witty exchanges between the two writers. From their collaborations to their disagreements on wit and humour, this quiz will challenge your understanding of 17th century English literature. Keywords: Dryden, Shadwell, Mac Flecknoe, satire, literary feud, wit, humour.
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