John Dryden

John Dryden was a dominant literary figure in Restoration England, born in 1631 and dying in 1700. He served as Poet Laureate from 1668 and as historiographer royal, and he produced a wide body of work including poems, plays, and critical essays. His verse often addressed political and religious controversies, employing sharp wit and allegory. 'Absalom and Achitophel' (1681) satirizes the Exclusion Crisis through biblical parallels, while 'Mac Flecknoe' (1682) mocks literary rivals. He perfected the heroic couplet, making it the standard form for English satirical and didactic poetry for decades. His later religious poems, such as 'The Hind and the Panther' (1687), reflect his conversion to Catholicism. He also made major contributions as a translator, rendering works of Virgil, Ovid, and Chaucer into English. As a critic, his prefaces and essays, including 'An Essay of Dramatic Poesy' (1668), laid the groundwork for neoclassical critical theory. His influence shaped the works of later poets like Alexander Pope, and he remains a central figure in the canon of English literature.