The Roots of Neoclassicism Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is neoclassicism?

The revival of a classical style or treatment in art, literature, architecture, or music.

Which of the following are characteristics of early neoclassical writing? (Select all that apply)

Emphasized appropriateness and 'proper' subject matter (correct)

Believed humans are flawed (correct)

Valued logic, tradition, and balance (correct)

Promoted chaos and complexity

What did neoclassical poets seek in their writing?

Simple and clear structure.

What is Calvinism?

A Protestant movement established by John Calvin during the Reformation that emphasizes predestination. Signup and view all the answers

How might Puritanism be considered a similar movement to the Reformation?

Puritanism sought to reform the Church of England, believing the English Reformation had not done enough. Signup and view all the answers

What do the lines 'Oh! could I lose all father, now! for why, Will man lament the state he should envy?' from Jonson's 'On My First Son' express?

They express Jonson's grief over the death of his son and reflect the loss of his identity as a father. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main metaphor in 'The Pilgrim's Progress'?

Life is a journey. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an allegory?

An allegory is a story with two layers of meaning: a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. Signup and view all the answers

Match the characters from 'The Pilgrim's Progress' with their meanings:

Christian = Represents the search for religious truth Evangelist = Represents messengers who guide spiritual journeys Obstinate = Represents resistance to change Pliable = Represents humanity's weak will and lack of resolution Signup and view all the answers

What is the central theme of 'The Pilgrim's Progress'?

The central theme is that life is a journey. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'depute' means to ______ someone to perform a task.

appoint Signup and view all the answers

The term 'allure' means to ______ charm powerfully.

powerfully Signup and view all the answers

The term 'plight' refers to an ______ situation.

unfortunate Signup and view all the answers

The term 'raiment' refers to ______.

clothing Signup and view all the answers

The term 'contrive' means to ______ with cleverness.

plan Signup and view all the answers

The term 'revile' means to ______ in an insulting manner.

criticize Signup and view all the answers

The term 'hubbub' refers to a ______ caused by a crowd.

chaotic and noisy din Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neoclassicism

A revival of classical styles in art, literature, architecture, and music.

Early Neoclassical Writing

Human flaws are acknowledged.
Emphasis on logic, tradition, and balance.
Values simplicity and practicality in design.
Focus on appropriate subject matter, using clear and concise language.

Neoclassical Poets

Aimed for simple and clearly structured works.

Calvinism

A Protestant movement founded by John Calvin during the Reformation.
Central belief in predestination, where God's will decides one's eternal fate.

Puritanism

Emerged from the English Reformation aiming to purify the Church of England.
Believed that prior reforms were insufficient and sought a Bible-centric authority in all aspects of life.
Opposed traditional practices not explicitly found in the Bible.

Ben Jonson's "On My First Son"

Poem expresses profound grief over the death of Jonson's 7-year-old son.
The line "Oh!could I lose all father, now!" highlights the pain of losing fatherhood.
Suggests that death can be envied as it avoids the suffering of life.

Jonson's "Song: To Celia"

The speaker prioritizes love over divine desires.
Uses alliteration and rhyme to enhance the comparison between Celia's love and divine nectar.

The Pilgrim's Progress

A highly regarded allegory in English literature.
Central metaphor: life as a journey.

Allegory

A narrative with dual meanings: literal and symbolic.
Characters, events, and settings represent deeper ideas beyond their surface roles.

Vocabulary Definitions

Depute: To appoint someone for a task.
Allure: To charm powerfully.
Plight: An unfortunate situation.
Raiment: Clothing.
Contrive: To plan cleverly.
Revile: To criticize insultingly.
Hubbub: A chaotic and noisy din caused by a crowd.

Characters in The Pilgrim's Progress

Christian: Central figure symbolizing the quest for religious truth.
Evangelist: Represents God-sent messengers guiding spiritual journeys.
Obstinate: Symbolizes resistance and refusal to change.
Pliable: Represents humanity's weak will and trends-following nature.

Themes in The Pilgrim's Progress

Life as a Journey: Christian's journey reflects personal trials and temptations during the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.
Encounters with obstacles mirror real-life challenges; distractions like Obstinate and Pliable highlight human indecision.
Temptations such as wealth and beauty represent barriers to spiritual goals, embodied in Vanity Fair.
Wise guides like Evangelist symbolize the supportive forces encountered in life's journey.

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Description

Explore the key concepts and definitions surrounding Neoclassicism with these flashcards. Dive into its characteristics, philosophy, and the revival of classical styles in various art forms. Perfect for students studying literature and art history.