Neoclassicism And Rationalism: The Age Of Reason

The 18th century is known as The Age of reason, to stress the rational trend of the epoch and the attitude according to which judgment and reason should be the managing ethics for human activities. It saw the birth of a new literary movement: Rationalism or Neoclassicism.
An important principle in literary criticism is the call to follow Nature. Since the Renaissance, this could mean either realism or idealism. In the neoclassical epoch, the principle of following Nature might be realistic, as in satirical comedy. Also, the concept of man is thus singular and collective. There is little opening for the individual. The main ideologies of truth to nature are the idea of the universal, reason as a guide to nature and as being common to everything,

and the art of writing as an accomplished technique. Moreover, two main influences from classical times are “Ars Poetica” and “On the Sublime”, which praises passion and ecstasy. Expressing a living reality requires wit. Indeed, wit has the power to express an idea clearly, a clarity which serves the idea well.
Victorian period and Romantic period are two remarkable periods in literature. Victorian period is the period during the reign of Queen Victoria. The main difference between Victorian and Romantic poetry is that Romantic poets admired and adored nature whereas Victorian poets regarded nature as in a more realistic and less idealistic.
Romantic poetry was a reaction against conventions, rules, and traditional laws of poetry. It is considered to be the exact opposite of neoclassical poetry; neoclassical poetry is the poetry of reason and intellect whereas romantic poetry is the poetry of emotion, passion, and sentiments. The romantic poets were against the influence of intellect in their poetry.
The reclaiming of the past was a major element of Victorian literature; Victorian poets displayed an interest in the medieval literature of England. The heroic and chivalry knights were a particular favorite of Victorian poets. The use of sensory elements was another important characteristic of Victorian poetry. Many Victorian Poets used imagery and the sensory elements to express the struggles between Religion and Science and ideas about Nature and Romance. Notable Victorian Poets include Emily Bronte and Dickens.
In sum, Nature is one of the most used themes from neoclassical to Victorian poetry; nature was something to be revered and admired. It was a source of inspiration, happiness, and satisfaction. Pastoral life, medievalism, Hellenism, supernaturalism are also important features of neoclassical poetry. notable neoclassical poets such as Defoe, Swift and Walpole.