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Thomas Sprat-History of the Royal Society of London
Language should be stripped of ornateness, should be simple and accessible to readers. Materialist/secular emphasis. Interest in the new vs the traditional. Writing was meant for the middle/upper class men to talk about in coffee shops and debate. -
William Wychely The Country Wife
Idea of Private Vs. Public life City Vs. country rhetoric, emphasizes that whit is more important than beauty. -
John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress
Language should be stripped of ornateness, should be simple and accessible to readers. Religious/spiritual, matterial and wordly problems are not important. Allegorical Characters whose names represent their characteristics. Journey to find religious fulfillment. -
Aphra Behn Oroonoko
Uses elements of an older literary tradition: Romance. Portrays protagonist as heroic and godlike. Author contradicts herself in the text emphasizing her own importance while feigning humility. -
John Locke Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Anti-religious/Secular Thinking. Emphasizes importance of the mind and sensations, interest in mental processes. -
Mary Astell 1694
Feminism Argues women should have the right to an education and to advance themselves intellectually. Is problematic because she states that women should be educated so they can make better wives and choose better husbands. -
Daniel Defoe A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal
Other: Gothic Elements Includes elements of ghosts and the supernatural. Though it is fiction it is conveyed to the reader as if factual. Also shows the friendship between two women. -
John Wilmot Earl of Rochester
Looks at themself/Reveals idea about themself: Uses poem to turn himself into the object to be exhibitionist, instead of using a female as an object. Exhibitionist poetry, emphasizes instinct over reason. -
Alexander Pope Rape of the Lock
Uses elements of an older literary tradition: Epic. Parody/mock epic. Contains Epic conventions in ridiculous situations. Heroic couplets found throughout. -
Robinson Crusoe
Emphasis on thought Processes. Shows humans as they are, not as they should be. Believable characters. Shows human frailty and psychological and mental processes. -
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu A Plain Account of the Inoculating of the Smallpox by a Turkey Merchant
Calls for societal Change. Criticizes the poor practices of doctors and the harm they cause. Calls for a change in their practices. -
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu Epistle From Mrs. Yonge to her Husband
Feminism Calling for more rights for the women in unhappy marriages. But asks that the reader still not pity her circumstances. -
Fantomina
Change in social and gender roles. Woman is "in charge." She has freedom to run around and pretend to be other women. In the end biology still causes her to lose her "power." -
Jonathan Swift Gulliver's Travels
Emphasis on thought Processes. Distaste towards useless, innaplicable knowledge. Satirizes meeting new people and politics. -
John Gay The Beggar's Opera
Other: Ballad Opera Includes elements of satire. criticizes political and social ideals. -
Jonathan Swift a Modest Proposal
Calls for societal Change. Satirizes social and political problems. Criticizes everyone, rich and poor. -
Jonathan Swift Lady's Dressing Room
Public Vs. Private life Shows men idolizing women so much that they see them as different creatures. Pastoral characteristics. -
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu The Reasons That Induced Dr. S to Write A Poem Called the Lady's Dressing Room
Feminism
Criticizes Jonathan Swift for his poem describing females as disgusting. Attacks him by suggesting he is impotent and that caused him to attack females. -
James Thomson Popular Ballads
Other: National pride Ballads. Attempts to convey the power of the country. Suggests that they have the right to rule and that they are more powerful and better than other countries. -
Eliza Haywood Female Spectator
Change in social and gender roles. Shows the importance of a woman being aware of themselves and their surroundings. Warning for women. Masquarade/ball social setting. Importance of social etiquette. Focuses on worldly/secular concerns. -
William Collins Ode to Fear
Looks at themself/Reveals idea about themself: See himself in the poem and sees that he himself looks fearful and fearsome. Uses personification throughout. -
David Hume An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
Anti-Religious/Secular Thinking Materialistic/secular concerns. Is condescending and argues that imagination is a disease. -
Samuel Johnson The Rambler No. 60 [On Biography]
Calls for social change. Argues that biographies should be about the common people because they will be more useful as iconic lessons. -
Thomas Gray Elegy in a Country Graveyard
Uses elements of an older literary tradition: Greek traditions Puts himself in line of great poets. Focuses on how everyone, rich or poor ends up in the same ground. Laments the death of people who have no one to remember them. -
Samuel Richardson The Rambler No. 97 [Change in the Manners of Women]
Change in social and gender roles. Criticizes the change in women and how it is only possible to meet them at parties and public spaces. Prefers when men could meet modest, proper, faithful and obediant women at church. -
Samuel Johnson The Rambler No. 114 [On Capital Punishment]
Calls for social change. Argues against the use of capital punishment to punish petty crimes. -
Samuel Johnson A Dictionary of the English Language
Looks at themself/Reveals idea about themself: Shows and reveals that he is anxious about not getting recognition for his work. Uses humor and verbal ironies. Gives his own opinion of things within his definitions. -
Evelina
Change in social and gender roles. Materialistic/secular concerns. Journey of a young woman attempting to find her place in society instead of trying to find God. Masquarades/ball setting.
