Definition

Proper noun * John Dryden: An English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who is considered the most prominent and influential literary figure of the English Restoration period (1660-1700). He served as the first Poet Laureate of England in 1668.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The works of John Dryden are essential reading for understanding Restoration literature.
  • In his criticism, John Dryden championed the use of heroic couplets and neoclassical principles.
  • The play All for Love is John Dryden's famous reworking of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.

Advanced Usage

• "the Age of Dryden": A term sometimes used to describe the literary period of the late 17th century in England, highlighting his dominant influence.
  • The transition from metaphysical to neoclassical poetry is often marked by the beginning of the Age of Dryden.

Variants and Related Words

• Drydenian (adj): Relating to or characteristic of John Dryden or his literary style.
  • The poet's Drydenian use of the heroic couplet was widely admired.

Synonyms

• The Poet Laureate of the Restoration: A descriptive synonym referencing his official title and era.
• The Father of English Criticism: A title acknowledging his significant contributions to literary criticism in English.

Related Phrases

• Heroic couplet: A verse form consisting of pairs of rhyming iambic pentameter lines, perfected and popularized by Dryden and later by Alexander Pope.
  • Dryden mastered the heroic couplet, making it the dominant poetic form of his age.

Noun

1. the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)