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How did John Dryden contribute to the development of English literary criticism?
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John Dryden
John Dryden, oil painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1693; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
John Dryden is widely regarded as the "father of English literary criticism," a title bestowed upon him by Samuel Johnson due to the unprecedented scale and originality of his critical work. Throughout his career, Dryden produced a substantial body of commentary on poetic practice and dramatic theory, which helped establish a dedicated audience for such discourse.123
His contributions are characterized by an exploratory, undogmatic tone that reflects his perspective as a working author rather than a detached theorist. Key aspects of his development of the field include:1
- Foundational Analysis: His work Of Dramatic Poesie, an Essay (1668) is considered the first significant piece of modern dramatic criticism in English. It utilized a dialogue format to defend English drama against both Classical and Neoclassical French models, effectively breaking down conventional oppositions between ancient and modern traditions.3
- Detailed Commentary: He provided high-order analysis of specific works, such as his examination of Ben Jonsonâs Epicoene and his Discourse Concerning the Origin and Progress of Satire (1693).1
- Critical Prefaces: Dryden frequently used the prefaces to his plays and translationsâsuch as the preface to Fables Ancient and Modern (1700)âto offer detailed reflections on literature, blending general principles with practical analysis.123