It is believed that Charles II sought the help of Dryden in this connection, and shortly afterwards, Absalom and Achitophel, a political satire was written. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This is not an example of the work written by professional academic writers. ( Log Out / Satire is fundamentally a literary form that depends much on the writer’s perspective and personal bias, but Mac Flecknoe is liberated by its merits from the limits of mere lampoon. Dryden in “Mac Flecknoe” does not discuss what good literature is; but by attacking bad literature, he makes it clear what needs to occur if literature is to be valued. ( Log Out / Word Count: 1066. Dryden also described it as Varronian satire, a category for which its primary qualification seems to be that it is based on a story of the poet's own invention. The heroic verse implied in the poem magnifies its satiric effect. Clarence Hugh Holman and William Harmon define satire as “a literary manner that blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of improving human institutions or humanity” (447). In Mac Flecknoe there is no single reference to the bitter political controversy of the time, nor even to the medal bearing Shaftesbury's image. Both as a poem and a satire MacFlecknoe. Political circumstances of the late seventeenth century gave Dryden plenty of material for writing satirical verse. ” Dryden goes on mocking Shadwell by widening the idea of succession. Joseph Addison, an early eighteenth century critic, explains that Dryden’s own definition of wit is “propriety of words and thoughts adapted to the subject” (Norton Anthology 2497). Although a first authorized published edition of Mac Flecknoe; or, A satyr upon the True-Blue-Protestant Poet, T.S. of Ben Jonson is presented as the son and successor of Flecknoe from whom he inherits the throne of dullness. MacFlecknoe is a fine short satirical poem in which Dryden has treated Thomas Shadwell with humorous contempt. This literary convention, known for its use of clever and unusual conceit, seeks to both inform and educate readers about social decorum and moral values. 1/ Nomor 2/ Juli – Desember 2001129 has a great hope for Shadwell’s future as Dryden writes: here stopped the good old sire, and wept for joy/ In silent raptures of the hopeful boy. (H), English, IInd year Q. There are others with similar virtues, such as Heywood and Shirley. Dryden also uses opposing parallels simultaneously to indicate the nonsensical nature of Shadwell/MacFlecknoe’s status as heir-apparent of the realm of low art. But the most helpful classification of the poem, as well as the most familiar, is that of the mock-heroic. At the basis of every good traditional satire is a sense of moral outrage or indignation. This video is presented for the poem Mac Flecknoe by John Dryden. But Shadwell never wrote a line that made any sense. Epithets like “perfect”, “genuine”, “confirmed” are used with epithets such as “dullard”, “stupid” to create ambivalence. All human things are subject to decay And when Fate summons monarchs must obey This Flecknoe found who like Augustus young. Flecknoe is on the throne. is a verse mock-heroic satire written by John Dryden. He jumped into the sea where dolphins carried him safely to shore. In writing “Mac Flecknoe,” John Dryden imitated not only the characteristics of Homer’s epics but also those of later writers such asVirgil, Dante, and Milton. S.” is Thomas Shadwell. Shadwell, the worst poet who uses tautologies becomes the successor to the throne of “dullness”. He suggests Shadwell not to base his characters upon experience and knowledge of mankind. Shadwell’s borrowings are as distinct as oil in the water. , in speech or writing for the ostensible purpose of exposing and discourage vice or folly. The same thing happens to literary world. It was Neo-classical period in English literature and Dryden, along with another brilliant satirist Alexander Pope, was the power who dominated the literary scene. By attacking what is wrong and exposing it to ridicule the satirist is acquainting the reader with a shared positive moral doctrine, whether the satire actually goes into that doctrine in detail or not. Who stands confirmed in full stupidity. The phrase fruitless industry is an irony for Shadwell indicating that Shadwell is unproductive writer. Mac Flecknoe is a personal satire.