Thinking Activity : Dryden's Dramatic poesie

Dryden's Essay:of Dramatic poesy: short vedio review.

On 19th September, we had flip learning lecture on “Dryden's essay of Dramatic poesy”. After watching short videos on Dryden’s essay it was compulsory for sem-1 students to give our responses about the questions asked in our thinking activity. Here total four question in our unit task that after watching videos to give answers of questions about our understanding from vedios.so, here is my answer about my understanding from vedios.

1) Do you any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden’s definition of play?

Aristotle has given definition of Tragedy while Dryden has given definition of play.

Samuel Coleridge called Dryden father of English criticism. As Dr. Mukherjee says in video that we can break definition of Tragedy given by Aristotle in three parts. First is lovely image of human nature, second is it represents passions and humour and changes of future, and third is its purpose is give delight and instructions to mankind. According to Aristotle tragedy with catharsis, while According to Dryden play ends with delight and instruction. Tragedy ends with sadness while play ends with pleasure and delightness. In this way both are different. According to Aristotle tragedy creates seriousness while play represents humour.

2)If you are supposed to give your personal predilection would you be on the side of the Ancient or the Modern? Please give reason.

According to my opinion Ancient and modern both are true and necessary on its place. I can’t take side of anyone from both, because moderns are still imitating the ancient. Progress and Newness is necessary but how we can accept Newness.
I.e. : without roots how tree can remain stand, without foundation how building sustain.
So I think without ancient modern can’t grow more it means support of ancients also necessary. Moderness is necessary because if we sustain with oldness. We can’t get more progress. For development in any field innovation is important. So I prefer to speak from both side.

3)Do you think that the arguments presented in favour of the French plays and against English plays are appropriate?

Yes,  I think the arguments presented in favour of the French plays and against English plays are appropriate. According to Lisideius  French plays are the best of all Europe because they maintain all unities.
The most important point is French maintain the unity of action. In French plays we can’t find any confusing sub-plots. While in English play many time unity of broken by playwright due to sub-plots the plot structure of the play can be hard for understanding. As like English plays, we can’t find many characters in French plays. There are limited characters and each and every characters connected with each other in anyway. We can also say that the plot of the French plays are always based upon some well known story. Due to  sub-plots I’m English play attention of the audience or readers can be diverse. While in French play due to one plot this happens in rare case. The French avoid horror science, bloodshed, violence while, English play represents Death on the stage. Due to use of rhyme in plays the French are superior than English plays because English plays also uses rhyme but, their rhymed plays are written not a proper way. So, I can say French plays are superior than English plays.

4)what would be your preference so far as poetic or prosaic dialogue are concerned in the play?

I prefer poetic dialogue than prosaic in play. Poetic my be rhyme Verse or Blank verse also. According to Neander use of poetic makes the Language natural. According to crites rhyme helps the poet to control his fancy, but Artistic control is a Matter of judgement. Use of poetic language helps the judgement and makes it easier. Due to Poetic use poet can perform “ delight and pleasure” very well. Poetic language gives path to imagination. Interpretation of poem can be different. People can read poem with different mind or point of view. So we can’t say that interpretation of any poetry must be one. Blank Verse is Poetic prose and it is only fit for comedy. It means we find poetic prose in comedy and use of poetic language audience must get entertainment. So, I prefer Poetic dialogue more than prosaic.