Elizabethan era/Renaissance period/The age of Shakespeare

1.Compare Renaissance Age With Restoration Age, Regarding Its general characteristics?



The Elizabethan age dates from 1550-1620, while Restoration from 1660-1700. That is the age of dreams and fantasy, this is the age of realism. That is the age of enthusiasm and unbounded patriotism, this is the age of formalism and Individualism. That is the age of drama or Shakespearan, this is the age of heroic couplet(prose) or Dryden. That is the age of eternal youth(emotions&feelings), this is the age of imitation(copying vices of French people).That is the age of extravagent thoughts and feelings, while here it is nakedness, explicity, clear cut and short sentence with mathematics plainness. Here Shakespeare is the pioneer of Elizabethan age, while in Restoration Dryden is.
                 


-In Elizabethan age, writing style was  imaginary, while in this age, It was realistic, real in the sense, only with surface appearance of something, absence of its deeper reality. Somewhat  superficial(writer lacking knowledge of soul and idealism only concerns for body and appetite).
-In former age extravagancy was prevailing, so the produced products can be assumed as length and stuffed with many meaningless words(seems imaginary) while in latter age, writing style was explicit and meaning was conveyed in “a heroic couplet", which was concise and to the point.
-Here people had freedom of thought, while in this age It was based on truth(what is seen, was depicted). Free from religion, social injustice, while in restoration age people were blindly imitating French vices, so the works written by French writers works weren't being read. The works of Elizabethan age were flourishing day by day the England country and its people's minds, furthermore they were inspired to publish more works.
- The Elizabethan age was totally artistic and imaginary based, while this was somewhat following scientific and realistic approach. As It was artistic, It was unbounded, while the latter  had some limitations.
-In Elizabethan age, It was flourishing England as well as other countries, while in this age, It was narrowed down to French people, so It had very least life span of “forty years", while It had “seventy years" of life span.
-Collectivism overcoming Individualism.
-As intellectuality was given space, people were free to think of any aspect, from any perspective, of what they like. At one juncture, It also seems stupidity, of producing such works, which don't have any realistic base and totally as based on imagination, unable to convey any meaningful meaning(prisoners fettered in gold) the line seems the result of over imagination. While in latter age we see that Dryden had avoided, using unnecessary words(served, what is needed) seems intellectual approach, contrasting former age in some respects.
-In Elizabethan age and Restoration age, the concept of intellectuality is contrasted.
-In Elizabethan age, we see unity in Idealism. While in this age conflict in idealism.
-Elizabethan age is due to the ruler herself has existence. while this age is constructed in some manner from destruction by the pioneer writer called Dryden.
-Elizabethan age was influenced by classical literature while Restoration age with French literature.

Thus in some respects both ages, are contrasting from each other.






2. Brief Life History of  Francis Bacon (1561-1626)


Francis Bacon was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper of the Seal, and of the learned Ann Cook, sister-in-law to lord Burleigh, greatest of the queen statesmen. He was also called "a little lord keeper" by Elizabeth.

-Entered in Cambridge(1572-74)
-Indulged in practical studies(Statistics,       Diplomacy 1574-76)
-father's death in London(1577)
-Chilled with death(1626)

He seems in some measure like Plato(as Bacon demanded three things, investigation in nature, dicovery of facts instead of theory and, verification of results by experiment rather than by argument).


"As a Sophomore" he had rejected, then prevailing education system and philosophy of Aristotle, where his insight was somewhat logical that (Aristotle's philosophy, though in practice since three centuries, was unable to produce any fruit, and the jungle was full of dry and useless branches). Then how It can be given prominence?


Furthermore, we encountered his means of establishing his own high position among people, seems judgemental by nature rather than giving acceptance or approval to others, and  putting forward his views, he simply has the intention of uprooting someone to establish his place.

which communicate his personality as selfish, advantageous, and also the victim of hubris.

If his life story had been dramatized, he would be picturized as committing 'hamartia'(who met his as he chosen to be the part of politics and tried to achieve everyone's favour, who were at the top(reference of James1). Being part of politics,  perhaps at first he wasn't willing to join, but as abruptly joined, realized the power of politics, and If he is situated at highly top peak, then he might be ruling all over world, and this greed led him to accept bribes and also found him guilty, when he is caught{as mentioned by W.J.Long in (HOEL)}. Though he was exonerated from all charges,  ultimately he met his fate while experimenting with his theory, he was chilled to death(in snowstorm)

Works of Bacon:

1. The advancement of Learning and the Novum Organum(connection with instauratio magna)

2. Studies, Goodness, Riches, Atheism, Unity in Religion, Adversity, Friendship and Great place(are wise philosophies)

3. History of Henry(the seven) and many more works had been introduced by Bacon..

Thus is the brief life history  of Francis Bacon.

http://samiyakagdi.blogspot.in/2019/07/Thinking-activity-renaissance-literature1.html

Plato's objection>Aristotle's poetics

Q.1:
How far do you agree with Plato’s objection to freedom of expression and artistic liberty enjoyed by creative writers? Name the texts (novels, plays, poems, movies, TV soaps etc. which can be rightfully objected and banned with reference to Plato’s objections)

A.1:
It seems as what Plato is saying ‘Perhaps, It might be true'. As he says in his book “Republic”.

•All arts are imitative and mimetic in nature:

It may be agreeable in some context, that the poets are copying original one and framing it as per their artistic liberty. But is it harmful for the readers, who read, see, watch or visualise it? So mine answer should be, “yes”. If the art is depicted in negative manner then only it can reflect on readers mind negatively or also the reader's perception of looking on anything matters. [i.e. practically if we look into this issue, we may see that If a girl and boy are eloped from their home, as nowadays It is a trend, changing their places and playing various roles to hide themselves. Those who facilitate this Idea would support them and those who detest(who we may say, are mature and know that morally it isn't good) would oppose this idea] similarly we see in movies, plays, vivid advertisement, those who favour would accept and those who don't would revolt against it. So only the perception differs.

Moreover, since long we observe that various mythical fable stories are created, which by referring or watching, at the end give moral lessons. Isn't it contradictory, story based on fantasy but giving moral lessons..? In many English institutions these stories are the base to enhance the student's ability to think morally, solely to refrain them from committing  such misdeeds.

If the poet is depicting something, It cannot be considered as unintelligible, deeply Its roots are dispersed  somewhere(which is allegorized, It will come out when illuminated by the reader and some poetries simply conveys the meaning).

So as Plato said, “poetry as fostering evil habits and vices in children”, It may be considered as true  but not in some context.

•The imitator or maker of the image know nothing of true existence.

Let us agree with him. But what about the predictions, which are made by scientists, physicists, astronomer.  They predict after examining the present state, to make people appraise that in advancing days, some unpleasant or weird things are going to happen, so people should refrain, If they are wrongdoers of anything and If they won't rectify themselves, as they shows (in what if videos, those are predicting our universe, Earth and Environment) would transform everything in annihilation.

So first poets or any writer, study the present state, and on its base, endeavour to make people appraise.

Fantasy as well as morality, both are interwoven with each other and both should be balanced to equilibrium human beings lives and also It would compulsively have impact on our ecology, which retain us.


Q.2:
With reference to the literary texts you have studied during B.A. programme, write brief note on the texts which followed Aristotelian literary tradition (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)

A.2:
There are few literary works, which comprise Aristotelian literary tradition.

• Yussouf (James Russell Lowell)
• All My Sons (Arthur Miller)
• Othello (Shakespeare)
• Heart Of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
• Ghashiram Kotwal (Vijay Tendulkar)
• Tughlaq (Girish Karnad)

1. We will discuss in detail “Heart Of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad to see entire Aristotelian literary tradition features.



In this novel “Marlow and Kurtz" both can be considered as protagonist. But Marlow plays a role of puller to drag Kurtz away from the bog. While Kurtz is hurled into it by his intended parents, to earn money at any cost and he indulges in ivory trade.


•Kurtz indulges in ivory business                    [Hamartia(loosen his moral sense)]

•The ambition of being honourable and powerful (Hubris)

•At last, when Kurtz is dead. Emotions of Marlow for his friend, sees himself in kurtz in some context and feels sorry for it(Catharsis).
Thus is the enunciation of Aristotelian literary tradition, followed in few works, during our B.A. programme.




Q.3:
With reference to the literary texts you have studies during B.A. programme, write brief note on the texts which did NOT follow Aristotelian literary tradition. (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)

A.3:
We had a few literary works, which didn't follow “Aristotelian literary tradition", those are mentioned below.

•Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
•The Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri)
•Mobydick (Herman Melville) from Ahab's perspective, it can be seen but not from Mobydick's.
•The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde(R.L.Stevenson)
Hubris effect can be seen but not the rest.
Thus are the works, uninclusive of Aristotelian literary tradition.

Q.4:
Have you studied any tragedies during B.A. programme? Who was/were the tragic protagonist/s in those tragedies? What was their ‘hamartia’?

A.4:
Having studied a few tragedies, during my B.A programme, the literary texts which consists tragic hero and Hamartia effect are mentioned below.

•Ahab (Mad to kill the natural creature)
•Othello (placed trust on Iago)
•Joe Keller (Installation of faulty parts in Aircraft)
•Ghashiram Kotwal (overambitious for power)

Thus are the tragic heroes with Hamartia, whom we studied, during our B.A. programme.



Q.5:
Did the ‘Plot’ of those tragedies follow necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle? (Like chain of cause and effect, principle of probability and necessity, harmonious arrangement of incidents, complete, certain magnitude, unity of action etc.)


A.5
To illustrate rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle, we must focus on "Othello" by William Shakespeare.
Which perhaps comprises all rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle.

Note: This last question needs to be enunciate in detail, by implicating a tragedy as an illustration.

Aristotle's-poetics-Plato's-objections-Questions-through-various-intervening-videos

Such tasks are assigned by our department, to see If their students's analytical, critical, comprehensive and reflective tendency is developed or not...And are they able to muse upon each and every idea shared by through the respective video, and if they can raise relevant, different and indifferent questions, through these..

Aptly this thinking activity is the part of such process..

Aristotle & Plato

"Based on Aristotle's defensive approach and Plato's opposing approach towards poets and poetry"

Q.1: Arousal of emotions through outside reasons, which helps to create a poetry, is constructive or destructive for humanbeing in literal sense(while considered destructive by plato)?

Q.2: According to Aristotle, If 'Mimesis' is to make, one can make and also know it by copying something, but how one understands(Mathesis) it? could you please elaborate it in detail...           

Q.3: As per Aristotle's statement, "plot is the soul of tragedy", given due importance to plot than characters and also opposed Plato's moralistic approach, then why he himself preferred 'moral characters' than fictitious one?    

 Q.4: Does purification through catharsis block the moral sense of thinking rationally?

.Q.5: Why as per Aristotle "plot is the soul of tragedy", does it has some root somewhere/there is any concept/myth/belief connected with it?                   

Explain "Freytag's pyramid" explicitly?

                                             

In this manner, what are those raisable questions, which can be raised by comprehensive understanding and in logical and critical form, which may give a new perspective, of looking towards an old concept/idea and similarly since history the game keeps on changing, from one writer to another.

Thankyou..