Mac flecknoe analysis line by line. Mac Flecknoe Flecknoe and Shadwell 2022-10-23
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Mac Flecknoe is a satirical poem written by John Dryden in the 17th century. It is a biting critique of Thomas Shadwell, a contemporary poet and playwright whom Dryden considered a poor imitator of his own work.
The poem begins with a description of the title character, Mac Flecknoe, as the "idle King of Dulness," and goes on to mock Shadwell's lack of originality and talent. In the first stanza, Dryden compares Shadwell to Flecknoe, stating that "Heir to his vacancy, and filled the throne, / Which for a long succession, he had own'd." This line suggests that Shadwell is simply a copycat, inheriting his throne of mediocrity from Flecknoe rather than earning it through his own merit.
In the second stanza, Dryden continues to ridicule Shadwell, saying that "His wit, like lead, still drops from off his pen," and "His style, an odd hodge-podge of farce and tragedy." These lines highlight Shadwell's lack of wit and his inability to effectively blend different genres in his writing.
The third stanza takes a more direct attack on Shadwell, stating that "He spends his hour, in scribbling of romances / In courts of kings, where subjects rarely granted / Or dares to write tragedies in the same." This line suggests that Shadwell's writing is shallow and superficial, focusing on romanticized portrayals of courts and kings rather than tackling more complex or serious subject matter.
In the fourth stanza, Dryden compares Shadwell to a "miserable wretch," stating that "Nature, that washed his brain, and had forgot to dry it." This line suggests that Shadwell is not just a poor writer, but also lacking in intelligence and creativity.
Overall, Mac Flecknoe is a biting and humorous critique of Thomas Shadwell's writing. Dryden effectively uses satire to mock Shadwell's lack of originality and talent, painting him as a copycat and a "miserable wretch."
Mac Flecknoe Analysis
Mac Flecknoe opens in Augusta with its ruler, Flecknoe, forced to determine who will assume his place as leader of the empire. Verging on blasphemy, Mac Flecknoe likens himself to St. When he warbled with his lute for King John I of Portugal, he was merely preluding the day when Shadwell would sail down the river Thames, puffed up and proud with his royal task. It was ludicrous to find little boys and girls playing out the parts of kings and queens. The imposing structure comes across as a huge oak that is monotonous and insensate. As potent ale issues forth urine, Virtuoso and Psyche are revealed to be tedious volumes of excrete.
Flecknoe died in 1678, and it was not long after that Mac Flecknoe. He should not, Flecknoe counsels, worry about plays; instead, he should focus on acrostics. One of the leading articles that the Onion had published is the best example of satire. The other dunces have occasionally showed flashes of genius while Shadwell has consistently exemplified his expertise in the field of dullness. He always produces the opposite effect rather than the intended one. The nursery that produces actors is near a brothel, and Dryden uses this imagery to contrast the glorified past with the debased present. The coronation celebration, involving a parade through the streets of Augustus, connotes the type of empty drama, all artistry and no art, of which Dryden accuses Shadwell and his ilk.
To conclude, these writers were very effective because through their writings they did indeed bring about awareness of social ills at the time. Dryden responded with Mac Flecknoe. The denizens of the neighborhood primarily include prostitutes and "unfledg'd actors" and "infant punks. If Shadwell really wanted to attain fame he should contest in the field of low-level and stupid idioms. His Brows thick fogs, instead of glories, grace, And lambent dullness plaid arround his face.
Shadwell pledges that he will venture industriously to promote and support insipidness. Dryden had caricatured Shaftesbury in his Absalom and Achitophel 1681. A Modest proposal was written to humorously critique the government of Ireland with the intention of them doing something with the overpopulation and poverty situation. Now it has been plagiarized at a few locations. Use Of Satire In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 1025 Words 5 Pages Reality in the Sarcasm A Discussion on Chaucer 's usage of Satire to Meet His Agenda.
The Onion: Satire Analysis 772 Words 4 Pages Out of all the genre of writing, Satire is the one that speaks the most to people because it is humorous. In Beer Street, The Distrest Poet, and A Midnight Modern Conversation, William Hogarth uses satire to convey a message to the person viewing his work of art. One of the most leading satire website that we have today is The Onion. The poet uses another mock-heroic feature. Thus, Shadwell's writings are ideally used for nothing better than wiping one's ass and lining the bottom of a street food. Here, Shadwell has "thick fogs" about his brow, and his face is filled with "lambent dullness. Richard Flecknoe was a recently deceased minor poet who wrote a satire.
Like tautology they collapsed. Dryden, like other literary lights, would have been saturated in the trends of his day. A "drugget" is a rough woolen fabric. Dryden contrasts this grand image with scatological references and a disturbing image of the severed limbs of other poets although the "limbs" are actually book pages, it still disturbs. Flecknoe was indubitably the undisputed King of Dullness in the realms of prose and verse. A wind it is unknown if it is normal wind, flatulence, or a draft from Hell pushes up his cloak, which then adorns his son. GradeSaver, 18 August 2017 Web.
The others should try to imitate him and thus be not mere copies but his own issue. Flecknoe concludes that he must select the one who most resembles him, noting Sh——alone my perfect image bears Mature in dullness from his tender years. Rousseau dedicated the work to his birthplace, Geneva, and praised the social system there as an ideal, near-perfect one. No Persian Carpets spread th'imperial way, But scatter'd limbs of mangled poets lay: From dusty shops neglected authors come, Martyrs of Pies, and Reliques of the Bum Much Heywood, Shirly, Ogleby there lay, But loads of Sh—— almost choakt the way. In the Bible II Kings, ch:2;11-17 Elijah leaves his mantle to Elisha as he ascends towards his heaven. Instead, he identifies the place over which the ruler presides: the realm of Nonsense. His major works include Epigrams of all sorts 1670 , Enigmatical characters 1658 , The Idea of his Highness Oliver, Late Lord Protector 1659 , and Short Treatise of the English Stage 1664.
Shadwell should be proud for his dry, verbose, sleep-inducing verses. Satire is the use of humor or irony to reveal a person 's stupidity. Shadwell, who is dull and brows like thick fogs, swears to maintain dullness until his death, and the king gives him the right to rule. Flecknoe winds up his lengthy speech with comments about writing itself. The term "Maximins" refers to the inhabitants of Augusta, but ironically the Latin meaning of "greatness" does not apply. Satire is making fun of some aspect of culture, society or human nature, human voice through the use of ridicule, mockery, irony, humor, or other methods to hopefully improve it or inspire some sort change. Here he suggests that Shadwell is like Ascansius, the son of Aeneas and the founder of the city of Alba Longa.
Thus he disparages in the guise of praise and employs a satiric tone in the process. Geoffrey Chaucer was known as the father of the English Language. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. He attacked Dryden in his The Medal of John Bayes 1682. Decker prophesied that a mighty prince would rule this pile, and his pen would create misers, humorists, and hypocrites. The language is high and flowery, there are long similes and grand metaphors, the setting and references to kings and emperors and heroes are epic, and there are multiple comparisons to ancient Greece and Rome. Exposure to the upheaval and its resultant pressures led to obvious tension among factions, and jealousy or suspicion may have prompted a quarrel that led Dryden to expose Shadwell to ridicule.
As Hannibal did to the Altars come, Sworn by his Syre a mortal Foe to Rome; So Sh—— swore, nor should his Vow bee vain, That he till Death true dullness would maintain; And in his father's Right, and Realms defence, Ne'er to have peace with Wit, nor truce with Sense. This is tremendously ironic, of course, and Dryden heaps on the insults with spelling Shadwell's name as "Sh--," a stand-in for "shit" if there ever was one. Satire often uses laughter as a weapon against something that exists outside the world itself. As per Dryden, Shirley and Heywood were insignificant and loquacious. Where their vast Courts, the Mother-Strumpets keep, And, undisturb'd by Watch, in silence sleep. He is pleased that Shadwell will be duller than him and advises him not to even try to be dull; rather, just trust in his natural proclivities. The speaker here brings twelve owls, the birds of Zeus ,a symbol of ill-omen instead of vultures.
