History of english literature plan

Literary Features of the age:

The ideals of neoclassicism which originated in the previous age became obvious in this period.Most of the writings of this age were satires in prose. The modern novel began during this time. A kind of new morality became the guiding force of the age. The literature of the period suggests a political awareness of the people.

 ( c) The Age of Sensibility (1745-85)

This age is called The Age of Sensibility because in this age a sense that prefers instinct, feeling and "original genius" to neoclassical balance, restraint and perfection became dominant. It is also called The Age of Johnson after the nay of Dr.Samuel Johnson who dominated this period. This age started after Pope's death and ended with the first edition of Lyrical Ballads in 1798. The important events of this period were.

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  James Watt invented steam engine in 1769. In 1733 John Kay inverted the flying shuttle. In 1764 Hargreaves invented the spinning Jonny. All these contributed to the Industrial Revolution.
  
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  Industrial towns appeared.
  
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  There was revolution in agricultural production.
  
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  The British founded its empire in India in 1757 and lost its American colony in 1776. 
  
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  French Revolution started in 1789 and continued till 1799. Voltaire (1694-1778) and Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) taught individualism and inspired revolution for more freedom and equality. During the reign of Louis-XVI of France (whose wife was Maria Antoinette) there were several social inequalities among the people. The king and the nobility were enjoying all the good things of the country and the common people were deprived of their due shares. The law of the country was not equal for all classes of people. The existing social injustices prompted the great revolution known as the French Revolution, in 1789. The slogan of the revolution was "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." The king along with his queen was overthrown by the comments people. This revolution had tremendous effect on the life and literature of the people of England. 
  
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  In 1764 Dr. Johnson founded his famous literary club known as Johnson's Literary Club; its members were Burke, Pitt, Fox, Gibbon, Goldsmith and many other great persons of the time.