An 18 th Century movement which followed after the mysticism, religion and superstition of the middle ages. The neoclassical age came after the Renaissance period. The writing in the Neoclassical Age was influenced by Sophocles.

Augustan Literature was produced in the 18 th Century. It is a literary epoch – a calendar year – which featured the development of the novel. T h e r e w a s a l s o t h e e x p l o s i o n o f t h e S a t i r e g e n r e. Satire is a literary form of drama. Satire is mostly sarcastic and witty. Augustan Literature was also used to organise a new government – this showed the heavy political criticism. Jonathan Swift

The features of novels and poems are characterised by the development of poetry and the rise of the novel. The development of poetry – showed irony, satire and meditation. This led to a breach in the metaphysical tradition. Relation to Nature – the Augustan writers followed nature and its laws. Ideals of Harmony – represented a way of life which was crucial in relation to the Age of Reason. Ideals of Beauty – this was a representation of the idea of perfection and simplicity which was based on the neoclassical idea. Ideals of Order – this represented stability and balance.

Jonathan Swift (born 30 November 1667) was an Irish satirist, as well as a political pamphleteer. Swift was an important person in the political life of London – until he was dropped and exiled back to Ireland. Swift’s most famous novels ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ was published after Swift was dropped and exiled.