Augustan & 18th Century Prose: Ultimate UGC NET Guide
Master the Age of Reason's prose masters - Swift, Johnson, Addison, Steele and the development of modern English prose
Introduction to Augustan Prose
The Augustan Age (1700-1750) and the broader 18th century witnessed the maturation of English prose, characterized by clarity, precision, and wit. This period laid foundations for modern essay, novel, and journalistic forms.
Why This Unit Matters for UGC NET
Augustan & 18th Century Prose typically carries 5-7 questions in UGC NET English. Key areas include:
- Major prose writers and their signature works
- Development of periodical essays and satire
- Transition from Renaissance to Neoclassical style
- Emergence of early novel and literary criticism
- Key literary movements and their characteristics
- Comparative analysis of major writers' styles
Major Prose Writers of the Augustan Age
The foundational figures who shaped 18th century English prose:
Master of satire and political commentary with razor-sharp wit.
- A Tale of a Tub (1704) - Religious satire
- Gulliver's Travels (1726) - Political allegory
- A Modest Proposal (1729) - Ironical pamphlet
- The Battle of the Books (1704) - Ancients vs Moderns
Pioneers of periodical essay who shaped middle-class tastes.
- The Tatler (1709-1711) - Steele's periodical
- The Spectator (1711-1712) - Joint venture
- Sir Roger de Coverley Papers
- The Guardian (1713) - Later periodical
The dominant literary figure of mid-century, "The Great Cham of Literature".
- A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
- The Rambler (1750-1752) - Moral essays
- Lives of the Poets (1779-1781) - Biographical criticism
- Rasselas (1759) - Philosophical tale
Key Characteristics of Augustan Prose
Clarity & Precision
Rejection of Baroque excess for clear expression
Satirical Edge
Sharp social and political commentary
Middle-Class Focus
Writing for emerging bourgeois readership
Didactic Purpose
Moral instruction through literature
Urbanity & Wit
Sophisticated humor and social observation
Neoclassical Values
Order, reason, and restraint
Later 18th Century Prose Developments
Mid to late century expansion of prose forms:
Political philosopher and master of rhetorical prose.
- Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
- A Philosophical Enquiry into... the Sublime and Beautiful (1757)
Historian who combined scholarship with literary artistry.
- The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-1788)
Versatile writer in multiple prose genres.
- The Citizen of the World (1762) - Letters
- The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) - Novel
Pioneer of realistic fiction and journalistic prose.
- Robinson Crusoe (1719) - First English novel
- Moll Flanders (1722) - Picaresque fiction
- A Journal of the Plague Year (1722) - Fictionalized account
Literary Movements & Prose Forms
Key developments in 18th century prose literature:
Major Prose Genres
Periodical Essay
Addison & Steele's moral-social commentary
Satirical Prose
Swift's political and social critiques
Literary Criticism
Johnson's evaluative biographies
Early Novel
Defoe's realistic fiction
Philosophical Writing
Burke's political philosophy
Historical Writing
Gibbon's monumental history
Evolution of Style
- Early 18th Century: Witty, urbane, satirical (Swift)
- Mid-Century: Moral, balanced, authoritative (Johnson)
- Late Century: Emotional, Gothic influences emerging
- Transition to Romanticism: More personal, emotional expression
Key Literary Clubs
The Scriblerus Club: Swift, Pope, Arbuthnot - Satirical collaboration
Johnson's Literary Club: Burke, Goldsmith, Reynolds - Intellectual discussions
Blue Stockings Society: Elizabeth Montagu - Women's intellectual circle
Historical Timeline of 18th Century Prose
Swift's A Tale of a Tub - Early satire
The Tatler - Steele's periodical essays
The Spectator - Addison & Steele's influential essays
Swift's Gulliver's Travels published
Johnson's Dictionary - Landmark lexicography
Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France
UGC NET Preparation Tips
Important Questions to Focus On
- Analyze Swift's satirical techniques in A Modest Proposal
- Compare Addison and Steele's essay styles
- Discuss Johnson's contribution to literary criticism
- Examine the development of periodical essay
- Trace the evolution of prose style through the century
- Analyze Defoe's contribution to early novel
- Discuss Burke's rhetorical style in political writing
- Evaluate Gibbon's historical prose style
Recommended Study Approach
- Read selections from major writers (Swift, Addison, Johnson)
- Compare early and late 18th century prose styles
- Practice analyzing passages for rhetorical devices
- Create timeline of major publications
- Solve previous years' UGC NET questions
Memory Aid: 18th Century Prose at a Glance
Early Masters: Swift (satire), Addison & Steele (essays)
Mid-Century: Johnson (dictionary, criticism)
Later Figures: Burke (politics), Gibbon (history)
Genres: Periodical essay, satire, early novel, criticism
Characteristics: Clarity, wit, moral purpose, urbanity
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