9. How much of their personal peculiarities and weaknesses appears in the writings of Swift, Pope, and Steele? How far does the nature of their literary work drive them to this self-revelation?
10. Account for the decline of the drama during the first half of the eighteenth century.
11. From an examination of the table given on p. [273] answer the following questions: What branches of poetry are most weakly represented during the age of Pope? Why is that so? What branch of prose-writing is the strongest? Why is that so?
12. Why is the period of Pope called “the Age of Prose”? Does this description of the time need modification?
13. Give reasons for the rise of periodical literature during this period.
14. The humor of Addison “is that of a gentleman, in which the quickest sense of the ridiculous is constantly tempered by good nature and good breeding.... He preserves a look of demure serenity.... The mirth of Swift is the mirth of Mephistopheles.... Swift moves laughter, but never joins in it.” (Macaulay.) Compare the humor of Swift with that of Addison. Which of the two does Pope more closely resemble in humor?
15. “Fancy, provided she knows her place, is tolerated; but Imagination is kept at a distance.” (Saintsbury.) Show how far this statement applies to the poetry of this time.
CHAPTER IX
THE AGE OF TRANSITION
TIME-CHART OF THE CHIEF AUTHORS
The thick line shows the period of active literary work.