In English literary history, a large part of the 18th century has been termed as the Augustan Age, a name echoing the brilliant literary period under the Roman emperor, Augustus. Soon after the restoration, English poetic conventions were governed by the classical writers- Juvenal for satire, Virgil for epics and pastoral, and Horace for general literary taste. The leading writers shrank from emotionalism and replaced it with the spirit of reason. Poetic language was classical, infused with a satirical tone and artificial diction. Poetry was mainly urban in theme and content. The heroic couplet raised as the best medium Continue reading...