I need help with a few questions. They need to be answered to help me write an essay on Neoclassicism. Please help me. Thank you!
1. Throughout his career, critics accused John Dryden of catering to people in political power. Does Annus Mirabilis fit this accusation? Why or Why not?
2. What is the overall tone of Annus Mirabilis?
A.) fierce,angry,and prideful
B.) gloomy,dark,and ominous
C.) gentle,breezy,and lighthearted
D.) proud,majestic,and hopeful
3. Which group experienced a loss of power relative to other groups during the 18th century?
A.) parliament
B.) the middle class
C.) the nobility
D.) the merchant class
4.) Great Britain became increasingly democratic during the 18th century. However, at the same time, British writers used terms like "primitive" and "savage" to describe other cultures. Also, Great Britain imported slaves and even ran slave trades. How might have Britons justified these practices?
A.) Many Britons did not believe that "savages" were capable of civilized living in the same way that Europeans were.
B.) Many Britons believed that the Bible advocated slavery.
C.) Many Britons believed that slavery was a natural institution that recreated the hierarchy of nature.
D.) Many Britons could not justify such practices, and so they boycotted the British slave trade.
5.)Imagine you are a British scholar who favors the creation of a national language academy. How would you react to the opinions Johnson expresses in his Preface?
A.) you would completely agree with him
B.) you would mostly agree with him but think that he doesn't go far enough to protect the English language
C.) you would mostly agree with him but you would think that he goes too far
D.) you would completely disagree with him
You should be able to answer these questions from your reading. We'll be glad to check your answers. For further reading, try:
http://www.countriesquest.com/europe/united_kingdom/history/18th-century.
http://www.england-history.org/2011/04/britain-in-the-eighteenth-century..
http://www.poemhunter.com › John Dryden
http://www.online-literature.com/samuel-johnson