ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE 18TH CENTURY (ENLIGHTENMENT IN ENGLAND)
Keywords:
English literature, Enlightenment, 18th century, Age of Reason, Augustan Age, novel, satire, sentimentalism, periodical essay, middle class, Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe.Abstract
The eighteenth century in England, known as the Age of Enlightenment, represents a period of intellectual, cultural, and literary transformation. Enlightenment thought emphasized reason, progress, and the perfectibility of man, fostering a society guided by knowledge, science, and rational inquiry. English literature of this period reflects these ideals, combining classical influences with a focus on middle-class values, social morality, and human experience. This paper investigates the characteristics of eighteenth-century English literature, analyzing major genres, literary trends, and notable authors, including Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between literature and philosophical thought, the rise of the novel, the role of satire, sentimentalism, and the development of periodical essays as instruments of social instruction and public engagement. The study highlights the evolution of literary forms, themes, and social purpose in a period when England emerged as a political, economic, and intellectual leader in Europe.
