When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 things did not go back to normal in England. Traumatised and severely shaken England had to deal with yet another autocrat and a parliament which had tasted blood. Return of censorship and the dawning of the "Age of Reason" influenced theme, form and content of the poetry created. John Dryden and Alexander Pope are those poets most remembered from this age and their poems are prime examples of what distinguishes this period.

John Dryden was poet laureate from 1668 to 1688. The restored monarchy needed morale and foremost it needed an example. This architects and poets alike found in the early imperialism of Rome. Here greatness, power and (so they thought) moderation had been combined to create a golden age. Dryden's most famous works are MackFlecknoe (published 1682) and Absalom and Achitophel. MackFlecknoe, arguably one of the best embodiments of the mock-heroic poem, is an undisguised attack on Thomas Shadwell, a fellow playwright of Dryden and poet laureate to be. While the manuscript first changed hands without being published (in this

Should only rule who most resembles me. 11 - 12

What defines the satire of the Restoration is not only style versus content. With heroic couplets style often combats style, epic opposing the wit of rhyme. Dryden's and Pope's satiric endeavours used ancient poetry to create guidelines while adapting them to fit the themes of their age. Satire could be used for politics, religion and everyday life. It gave the poet an armour to battle with, while still bearing a clear message. And it by taking a step back from emotional debates, using reason and learning to gain a superior view, it took a stand without becoming dogmatic.

Dryden was poet laureate from 1668 to 1688, a title he truly deserved, for in him we find a representation of an age. He was an impersonal poet, who formulated in critical works what he wanted his poetry to be: representative, moderate, in good taste and clear. The model he found in early imperial Rome where greatness, power and moderation had been combined to create a Golden Age.

Alexander Pope was largely self educated and showed the talent of genius from an early age. He had severe physical impairments and was also disadvantaged for being a Roman Catholic. The closed heroic couplets and which Dryden used with such fervour where perfected by him. While he inherited the Augustan ideals, he possessed romantic notions of beauty not found in Dryden. He thought to see the disease of mediocracy spreading through the nation, infesting learned and common people alike.

Some topics in this essay:
Thomas Shadwell, Charles II, Rape Locke, Roman Catholic, Alexander Pope, Milton Pope, Ben Johnson, Dryden's Pope's, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis, alexander pope, poet laureate, heroic couplets, dryden poet laureate, fellow playwright, roman catholic, rape locke, published version, john dryden, dryden poet, thomas shadwell fellow, shadwell fellow playwright, charles ii restored, ii restored, rome greatness power,