Enlightenment Literary Period

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Enlightenment refers to an intellectual and cultural movement that took place mainly in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It is also known as the Age of Reason. Thinkers and writers of this period believed strongly in the power of human reason, scientific inquiry, and education to improve society. They rejected ignorance, superstition, and blind faith, and instead promoted knowledge, progress, and individual freedom.

In literature, the Enlightenment was marked by works that emphasized clarity, order, balance, and rational thought. Writers used satire, essays, poetry, and drama to criticize corruption, social injustice, and religious intolerance. Many literary works from this period aimed not only to entertain but also to teach and reform.

Key Features

  • Faith in reason, logic, and science.
  • Emphasis on education and knowledge as tools for progress.
  • Use of satire and wit to expose flaws in society.
  • Belief in natural rights, freedom, and equality.
  • Desire to create a just and rational society.

Famous Writers and Works

  • John Locke – Essay Concerning Human Understanding, which explored human knowledge.
  • Voltaire – Candide, a satirical novel criticizing optimism and social evils.
  • Alexander Pope – An Essay on Man, which reflects rational and philosophical ideas.
  • Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels, a satirical work exposing human follies and political corruption.
  • Denis Diderot – Encyclopรฉdie, a massive collection of human knowledge.

Importance in Literature

The Enlightenment period is important because it:

  • Encouraged critical thinking and free expression.
  • Shaped modern ideas of democracy, liberty, and human rights.
  • Produced literature that continues to influence philosophy, politics, and culture.
  • Shifted literature from purely religious concerns to social, moral, and political issues.


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