John Dryden's Critical Essays Quiz & Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Upon what source did John Bunyan model his writing style in The Pilgrim's Progress?

Martin Luther's 'The Ninety-Five Theses'

The English Dictionary

English Bible (correct)

Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

Which of these quotes from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan contains an underlying allegory representing humanity's resistance to change and lack of will?

The name of the one was Obstinate and the name of the other Pliable. Now, by this time the man was got a good distance from them; but, however, they were resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. (correct)

I see it be so; and dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good neighbors, and go along with me.

Then said the man, Neighbors, wherefore are ye come?

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Not, he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return.

Which of the following is not a principal of Puritanism?

Humans are flawed and sinful beings.

People should view the Bible as their sole authority.

A person can earn salvation through good deeds and a pious life. (correct)

People have no control over whether they go to heaven or hell.

Match each character in The Pilgrim's Progress with the idea it represents:

Evangelist = God's ability to guide humans by sending messengers Pliable = Humanity's weak will and lack of resolution Obstinate = Resistance and the inability to adapt to change Christian = The search for religious truth Signup and view all the answers

How does John Milton link the mirth of 'L'Allegro' with the melancholy of 'Il Penseroso'?

He links melancholy and mirth by saying they both help people find their true nature and soul. Signup and view all the answers

In John Milton's 'Paradise Lost', the term for eternal punishment is ______.

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT Signup and view all the answers

Which three lines or sets in this excerpt from John Milton's Paradise Lost reflect Satan's apparent regret that he can never experience love?

Imparadis't in one another arms, the happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust, where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, Signup and view all the answers

Match the underlined words in the lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost with their definitions:

perdition = ETERNAL PUNISHMENT shade = GRASSY AREA torments = DISTRESS guile = CUNNING Signup and view all the answers

John Dryden's critical essays foreshadow the satire of which eighteenth-century writer?

Jonathan Swift Signup and view all the answers

What viewpoint does the excerpt from Annus Mirabilis by John Dryden reflect?

It is hard for humans to evaluate events in terms of potential outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Match each famous writer with his most notable work:

John Dryden = Annus Mirabilis John Locke = Second Treatise on Government Thomas Hobbes = Leviathan Samuel Johnson = A Dictionary of the English Language Signup and view all the answers

In 1688, the Glorious Revolution forced out Charles's successor, the Catholic king James II, and brought ______ back to Great Britain.

Protestantism Signup and view all the answers

What do the 'principal breeders' of the nation refer to in Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal?

The Catholic population. Signup and view all the answers

Which line in The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope suggests that women were expected to accept proposals from rich gentlemen without much opposition?

O say what stranger cause, yet unexplor'd, could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord? Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is common to the narrators in these excerpts?

The narrators were separated from their birth parents. Signup and view all the answers

In A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, what does the author list?

Viable measures that could improve Ireland's situation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

John Bunyan and The Pilgrim's Progress

Bunyan's writing style is modeled after the English Bible.
A key quote reflects humanity's resistance to change: it features characters named Obstinate and Pliable, symbolizing conflicting human traits.
Central tenets of Puritanism include the belief that one's fate after death is preordained, rejecting the idea that good deeds can earn salvation.

Character Symbolism in The Pilgrim's Progress

Evangelist represents the search for religious truth.
Obstinate stands for resistance and inability to adapt to change.
Pliable symbolizes humanity's weak will and lack of resolution.
Christian is guided by Evangelist, highlighting divine guidance.

John Milton's Works: Intertwining Mirth and Melancholy

In "L'Allegro," Milton employs musical imagery to convey joy, whereas "Il Penseroso" evokes a sense of peace through melancholy.
Both aspects of life are linked, assisting individuals in discovering their true nature and soul.

Key Themes in Paradise Lost

In "Paradise Lost," Satan expresses regret over his exclusion from love and joy, wishing to experience a blissful existence like those in Eden.
Lines indicate Satan's acknowledgment of God's authoritarian nature, questioning divine hierarchy and fairness in creation.

Influence of John Dryden

John Dryden's critical writings anticipate Jonathan Swift's satirical style.
Notable works:
- "Annus Mirabilis" by Dryden
- "Second Treatise on Government" by Locke
- "Leviathan" by Hobbes
- "A Dictionary of the English Language" by Johnson.

The Eighteenth Century Restoration

The Glorious Revolution in 1688 reinstated Protestantism in Great Britain after the Catholic reign of James II.
The seventeenth century's turmoil was followed by a more stable eighteenth century, despite religious tensions.

Swift's "A Modest Proposal" critiques the Catholic population by labeling them as "principal breeders."
The author encourages reader introspection about the "good Protestants" who abandoned their country for personal choice.

Women's Expectations in Eighteenth Century Society

In "The Rape of the Lock," Pope implies that women were expected to accept romantic proposals passively, questioning the societal norms of acceptance or rejection.

Common Traits in Narratives

Narrators in selected excerpts commonly face separation from their birth parents, influencing their life trajectories.

Swift's Proposals for Ireland

Swift presents viable measures intended to improve the situation in Ireland, criticizing ineffective reforms and inviting readers to consider feasible solutions.

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Description

Test your knowledge on Neoclassicism and its influences by answering questions about John Bunyan's writing style and allegorical elements in The Pilgrim's Progress. Review key concepts that shape this literary movement.

Neoclassicism Post Test Flashcards