An Essay of Dramatic Poesy

Why does Dryden give his companions (and himself) Latinate names? Why does he not use the actual names of those involved, especially given that their identities were widely known? How would the essay be different if he had used their real names?

What (according to Crites) are the qualities of the ancients that make their writing superior? What qualities (according to Eugenius) hinder their writing? Write an essay comparing and contrasting the relative strengths and weaknesses of the ancients, as the essay depicts them.

What (according to Eugenius) makes the writing of the moderns superior to the writing of the ancients? What does Crites argue is lacking in the writing of the moderns? Write an essay comparing and contrasting the relative strengths and weaknesses of the moderns, as the essay depicts them.

What are the hallmarks of French theater, according to Lisideius? What sets English theater apart, according to Neander? How does Neander use the theater to illustrate national values and virtues?

Why does Crites argue against the use of rhyme in theater? What examples does he provide in order to prove his points? Is he successful? Why or why not?

Why does Neander argue for the use of rhyme in theater? What is his justification, given Crites’s point that rhyme is unnatural in typical conversation? Is his argument successful? Why or why not?

How does the historical context of the period inform the essay itself? Why is Dryden concerned with the state of the English theater, given that context? In what ways is the essay more than just literary criticism?

What do Dryden’s (as Neander) contradictions reveal about his philosophy? What does he value most in theatrical writing (or poetry in general)? What does he think the purpose of plays (or poetry in general) is? What’s at stake?