Neoclassicism is the name of a movement that is involved with artistic and creative movements that reflect the nature of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, culture, and art. To put it differently, Neoclassicism is the movement of the 18th and 19th centuries in English literature.
The word ‘Neoclassicism’ is a union of a couple of words, ‘neo’ and ‘classic.’ ‘Neo’ came from the Greek word ‘neos,’ which means ‘young’ or ‘new.’ And in accordance with Webster’s Dictionary, ‘classic’ is the style and work of the ancient writers of Greece and Rome. So, we can get Neoclassicism’s meaning, which is classicism’s rebirth.
More Notes: Literature and Society
Neoclassicism in art focuses on the ideal human form; the subjects of paintings imitate classical history and dress. Figures and idealizes are the perfect characteristics. Clean and green lines mark compositions. For instance, “The Greek Slaves” by Hiram Powers is one of the most celebrated literary works.
We know that Neoclassicism is the movement of English literature that laid strength on the revival of classical spirit between 1680 and 1750, called the age of Pope and Dryden. Writers of this age highly attempt to follow the paths of the antique writers of the Augustus age. For that, the age of Pope and Dryden is also called the Augustan age. The poets of the period imitate the writers of ancient times in Greek and Rome. Pope and Dryden were the leading poets of that period. They attempt to follow the poets of antiquity and the spirit of the period of Augustan.
To sum up, we can say that Neoclassicism is a significant literary movement in the history of English Literature.
