‘Classic’,
‘classical’ and ‘classicism’ are the terms describing the style historical
period or quality of a work of art, literature or music. The terms generally
were associated with the aesthetic achievements of the ancient Greek and Roman
civilizations. However thy have come to have much broader meanings and
applications.
The word ‘classic’ refers to attitude of mind towards life and
its expression in art. The term used primarily to denote and characterize a
type and style or period of creative work. Strictly speaking a classic is any
ancient Greek or Roman literary work of the highest quality. e.g. works of
Greek dramatist Sophocles and the Roman Poet Virgil. In broad sense the term is
applied to anything as a model of excellence. The word ‘Classical’, in the
strictest sense is used to characterize the art, literature and aesthetics
created by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Broadly speaking, the term classical
may be used to characterize any style or period of creative work distinguished
by qualities that are derived from classical Greek and Roman. While the word
classicism refers to specific movement. It is an to return to the art forms. It
was born of the Renaissance rediscovery of Greek and the desire to imitate
Greek and Roman literature and art. Before discussing classicism, we must
understand the word ‘classical’.
Classicism imitation of classical age:-
(1) Classical:-
Classical’
this word dates from the Renaissance and come from Latin words ‘classiscus = Of
the highest class or rank and classis = a class cat school). The Greek and
Latin were considered to be the only first class literature. The same time they
were the only literature taught in the classes. The adjective classical is used
in below stated senses.
To describe everything, belonging to cultures of Greek
and Rome (e.g. their language, art, philosophy etc.)
Any work of art produced in imitation of forms of
Greek and Roman art.
The word is used in the sense of highest range.
(2) Classicism:-
Classicism
was the result of the Renaissance rediscovery of Greek philosophy, literature
and art. To the Renaissance classicisfy, everything Greek became a standard of
civilized perfection. What was not Greek or Roman was barbarous. There was one and only one way of creating a
work of art- the classical. For it they formed the rules as they had no
tradition. This the reduction of everything to rule is special feature of
classicism. They believed that Homer and Virgil had constructed their epic in a
certain way, so every epic must have the same construction. Because Greek plays
had unities of time and place so they must obey them. There were so many rules.
There are two principles which are necessary to understand neo classical art
and Romantic reaction against it.
(1) The General not
particular:-
Classicists
followed this rule very strictly. Because Aristotle had stated the principle
that the poet’s work was to describe not the things that has happened but the
things that might happen. He said that poetry was universal while history was
singular. Whatever the Greeks sad the classicists turned into a dogma. The
Greeks said that the artist’s business was to deal with universal
characteristics which all men of certain type have in common. They were
concerned with human nature as it is always and everywhere and not with
individual or particular aspects. The classicists followed it blindly
(2) Idealization:-
This
principle is most evident in the visual arts rather than in literature. For in
drama or narrative poetry, the character must have fault, though there was
noble qualities they are on the grand scale. The lesser classicists who worked
by rules only developed a tendency to idealize to the point of making their
characters inhumanly faultless. Dryden had done such idealization in his
preface of ‘of heroic plays’. The Greek and neo-classical sculptors and
painters aimed at representing the human form not as it is but as it would be
had nature done her work perfectly. No Greek Venus is a representation of any
individual woman; all are idealizations with nature’s mistakes corrected.
(3) The original classical
Doctrines:-
With
the Renaissance the classicism started to flourish in Europe. Greek and Latin
learnings became wide spread. To understand classicism perfectly it is
necessary to remember the criticisms of Aristotle, Horace and Longinu. Without
their knowledge we can not understand classicism fully. Before Aristotle, Plato
dealt with literary criticism. Poetry was considered to be an illusion on
imitation. Aristotle expected that the poet should be more than historian or
slavish imitator. He wanted them to reach for some universal truth, to build up
a convincing plot about the downfall of a worthy man, a complex plot with a
twist, such as a sudden reversal or discovery. The action should be motivated
by thought and character. There were aims of tragic poetry and the means
employed to attain those aims. e.g.
A law of genre: a tragedy must end badly.
A moral purpose: a warning is given to the spectator.
An ideal; a play must be beautiful and convincing.
A piece of advice; keep to certain limits, within the
bounds of reason.
A preference; tragedy is superior to epic poetry and
history.
Horace
in his ‘Ars Poetica’ admired the Greeks and wanted poets to learn their crafts
for them. For him poetry is an art that can be learned. He stressed the notion
of ‘decorum’. Propriety of thought and subject matter a fusion of all parts of
the poem, strict adherence to usage. Admiration of the ancients, decorum and
consistency within the work and craftsmanship. Were the main ideas he dealt
with. Castelvetro presented a clear picture of the unities of time, place and
manner.
(4) Classicism before
Restoration: -
In
the 16th century, literary critics in France and England had a
number of preoccupations. Evaluation of Greek and Roman texts that were
becoming available at the time. Greece influenced playwrights. Regarding
classicism sir Philip Sidney and Ben Johnson are noteworthy. In his ‘Apology
for poetry. (1595). Sidney draws examples from all realms of knowledge.
Aristotelian concepts of ‘pity and fear, unities are discussed. He says that
tragedy is tied to the laws of poesy and not of history. He preferred the
subject that moved round certain human failings.
Generally
Elizabethan art is experimental very free, powerful, varied, unafraid of mixing
the sublime with the ridiculous, often sensational or romantic. A Shakespeare
play is its own criterion. It can not be measured in terms of a theory. The
tragic or comic material found its own form and that is the only classic
feature to be found.
During
Elizabethan period Ben Jonson’s works contain classical doctrine. Jonson had
become the new mouthpiece of Aristotle; yet he remained a liberal classicist.
He tried to make a combination between England’s native genius and the best
that antiquity had given. Classical precepts remained a starting point him. For
him imitation stood for re-creating. Even Milton advocated freedom from convention
and a return to the live sources of antiquity e.g. Homer, Virgil etc as well as
Dante, Petrarch, Tasso etc.
(5) Restoration and Augustan
Classicism: -
It
is the period known as the ‘neo-classicism’. It begins from later half of the
17th century to the end of the 18th century. It extends
between the death of Dryden (1700) and the publication of the ‘Lyrical Ballads’
(1797). English writers after Cromwell’s regime and on the return of the King
from France slipped back into the traditional mould. The critics felt that the
ideals of Romanticism was now old and it should check. They began to imitate
classic with rigid rules. That’s how Neo classicism began. W.J. Long says ‘The
general tendency of literature was to look at life critically to emphasize
intellect rather than imagination, the form rather than content. Writers strove
to repress all emotion and enthusiasm and to use only precise and elegant
methods of expression. This is what is often meant by ‘classicism’ of the ages
of pope and Johnson.
They
accepted Aristotelian theory that poetry is an art not an inspiration. Poetry
expressed rational thoughts. They based the form according to the rules placed
by Greek writers Dryden, Chapman, Pope etc. followed these rules in their
words.
(6) Some theories of
neo-classicism:-
There
are some theories that makes this period distinct. It is useful in
understanding of the age.
(A) Classical poetry:-
Classical
poetry is centre on Pope. This type of poetry was polished unimaginative and
formal. Poetry waited for emotional aspects. Taste of correctness led for
verbal intensify but instead inspiration reason brings abstract and artificial
language.
(B) Correctness in Art
(Decorum) :-
Literature
is primarily an art. For that talent is essential. It can be achieved by long
study and practice. The neo-classical ideal is founded on Horace’s Ars
Poetica’. He placed weight on the craftsman’s ideal, demanding the almost
finish, correction and attention to detail. The authors observe stylistic
decorum. They established rules according to form of poetry.
(C) Imitation of Nature:-
It
is seen in following human nature. Pope believed that nature of men should be
studied which will enable a writer to express thoughts of character.
(D) Closed Couplets: -
The
poets wrote in closed couplets. End of each couplet tends to co inside with the
end of either of a sentence. They used it as a model for exploiting the
possibilities of the verse form. It was also used in dramas. Dryden had used it
earlier then pope did it niobly.
(E) Unities in Drama: -
Three
unities of time, place and action were maintained in dramas. The dramas were
based on France model. These writers believed in reason and order. They
adjusted their requirements with the given classical rules. Restoration
dramatists followed these unities.
The
whole 18th century saw the poetry governed by set rules and
regulations. But with the comings of Romantic poets the age ceased. The
Romantic age broke down the rules of Neo-classicism. In imitating the classics
writers the authors of this age lacked spirit and grace. Soul was not there.
Geniuses devoted themselves yet the literature lacked originality. But we got
some writers like pope, Dryden, Dr. Johnson, Swift, Addison and Steel.
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