📘English Literature – 1670 to 1850 Unit 8 – Johnson's Era: Literary Prose & Poetry

Historical Context

• The Johnson era, also known as the Age of Johnson, spans the mid-18th century in England, roughly from 1750 to 1784
• Named after the prominent literary figure Samuel Johnson, who made significant contributions to English literature and lexicography during this period
• Characterized by the Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism
• Witnessed the rise of the middle class and the expansion of literacy, leading to an increased demand for literature and journalism
• Marked by political and social upheaval, including the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783)
• Saw the emergence of new literary genres, such as the novel and the periodical essay, which reflected the changing social and cultural landscape
• Influenced by the ideas of empiricism and the scientific method, as exemplified by the works of Isaac Newton and John Locke

Key Literary Figures

• Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), a prominent essayist, lexicographer, and literary critic, known for his Dictionary of the English Language (1755) and The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779-1781)
• James Boswell (1740-1795), a Scottish lawyer and author, best known for his biography The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791)
• Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), an Irish novelist, playwright, and poet, famous for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) and his play She Stoops to Conquer (1773)
• Edmund Burke (1729-1797), an Irish statesman and philosopher, renowned for his political treatise Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
• Thomas Gray (1716-1771), an English poet, best known for his Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751)
• William Collins (1721-1759), an English poet, celebrated for his odes and lyrical poems
• Christopher Smart (1722-1771), an English poet, known for his religious poem A Song to David (1763)

Major Works and Publications

• A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) by Samuel Johnson, a comprehensive and influential dictionary that set the standard for English lexicography
• The Rambler (1750-1752), a series of periodical essays written by Samuel Johnson, covering a wide range of topics from literature to morality
• The Idler (1758-1760), another series of periodical essays by Samuel Johnson, known for their wit and satirical observations of contemporary society
• The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) by Oliver Goldsmith, a novel that depicts the trials and tribulations of a country clergyman and his family
• The Deserted Village (1770) by Oliver Goldsmith, a pastoral poem that laments the decline of rural life and the encroachment of urban development
• Rasselas (1759) by Samuel Johnson, a philosophical tale that explores the search for happiness and the meaning of life
• The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779-1781) by Samuel Johnson, a series of biographical and critical essays on major English poets from the 17th and 18th centuries

Themes and Literary Techniques

• Neoclassicism, an aesthetic movement that emphasized order, clarity, and restraint, drawing inspiration from classical antiquity
• Satire, a literary technique that uses wit, irony, and exaggeration to criticize and expose human vices and follies
• Didacticism, a literary approach that aims to instruct and educate readers, often by conveying moral or philosophical lessons
• Realism, a literary style that seeks to depict life and society in a truthful and accurate manner, without idealization or romanticization
• Sentimentalism, a literary and artistic movement that valued emotion, sensibility, and the expression of feeling
• The concept of the "sublime," an aesthetic category that evokes feelings of awe, grandeur, and terror, often associated with the natural world
• The use of personification, a literary device that attributes human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities or abstract ideas

Influence on English Language

• Samuel Johnson's A Dictionary of the English Language (1755) had a profound impact on the standardization and codification of the English language
  • The dictionary provided definitions, etymologies, and illustrative quotations for over 40,000 words
  • It established a standard spelling and pronunciation for many words, helping to reduce regional variations and inconsistencies
• Johnson's dictionary remained the preeminent authority on the English language until the publication of the Oxford English Dictionary in the late 19th century
• The Rambler and The Idler, Johnson's periodical essays, contributed to the development of a more refined and polished prose style in English literature
• Johnson's literary criticism, particularly in The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, helped to establish a canon of English literature and shaped the way in which poets were evaluated and appreciated
• The works of other prominent figures, such as Oliver Goldsmith and Edmund Burke, also contributed to the evolution of English prose style, introducing new vocabulary and rhetorical techniques

Social and Cultural Impact

• The Johnson era witnessed a significant expansion of literacy and the reading public, thanks to the growth of the middle class and the increased availability of printed materials
• The rise of the novel as a literary genre reflected the changing social and cultural landscape, with works like The Vicar of Wakefield depicting the lives and concerns of ordinary people
• The periodical essay, exemplified by The Rambler and The Idler, became a popular medium for social commentary and moral instruction, shaping public opinion and taste
• The Enlightenment ideas of reason, individualism, and skepticism, which permeated the intellectual discourse of the time, challenged traditional authority and encouraged critical thinking
• The works of Samuel Johnson and his contemporaries often addressed social and moral issues, such as poverty, education, and the role of women in society
• The literary salons and coffee houses of London became important centers of intellectual exchange and debate, fostering a vibrant cultural scene

Critical Reception and Analysis

• Samuel Johnson's works, particularly his Dictionary and The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, were widely praised for their erudition, insight, and literary merit
  • However, some critics argued that Johnson's judgments were sometimes harsh or biased, especially in his treatment of certain poets like John Milton and Thomas Gray
• Oliver Goldsmith's novels and plays were generally well-received by contemporary audiences, who appreciated their humor, sentimentality, and social commentary
  • Modern critics have sometimes criticized Goldsmith's works for their idealization of rural life and their adherence to sentimental conventions
• The poetry of Thomas Gray and William Collins was admired for its elegance, emotional depth, and evocation of the sublime
  • Later critics, particularly the Romantics, sometimes found their work too formal and restrained, preferring a more spontaneous and individualistic style
• Edmund Burke's political writings, especially Reflections on the Revolution in France, were highly influential and controversial, sparking a debate about the nature of government and the rights of citizens
  • Burke's ideas have been variously interpreted as conservative, liberal, or pragmatic, depending on the historical and ideological context

Legacy and Modern Relevance

• Samuel Johnson's Dictionary remains a landmark in the history of English lexicography, and his approach to language and literature continues to influence scholars and writers today
• The works of Johnson, Goldsmith, and other writers of the era are still widely read and studied, both for their historical significance and their enduring literary merit
• The themes and concerns addressed in the literature of the Johnson era, such as the search for happiness, the critique of social inequality, and the role of the individual in society, remain relevant to modern readers
• The Enlightenment ideas that shaped the intellectual discourse of the time, such as the emphasis on reason, tolerance, and progress, continue to inform political and philosophical debates in the present day
• The literary techniques and genres developed during the Johnson era, such as the novel, the periodical essay, and the biography, have become staples of English literature and continue to evolve and adapt to new cultural contexts
• The Johnson era's contributions to the English language, including the standardization of spelling and pronunciation and the introduction of new vocabulary, have had a lasting impact on the way English is spoken and written around the world