
Full Answer
What is a heroic tragedy?
Characterized by highly stylized poetic dialogue, larger-than-life heroes and idealized heroines, and sensationalistic action often played out in exotic locales, heroic tragedy is a genre of English drama that flourished in the years of the Restoration.
What are the main features of Restoration drama?
Most of the features of Restoration Drama are seen even today. The success of the plays of the Restoration period was dependent upon the strange staging devices, weird plots, and dramatized language. Attention was increased to the commercial rather than the artistic aspect of making theatre.
Is heroic drama a popular form of Drama in the restoration?
However, unlike other dramatic forms of the period, such as the comedy manners, heroic drama seems to have been uniquely suited to Restoration audiences and never became a mainstay of the English theatrical repertoire.
Why were the plays of the Restoration period so successful?
The success of the plays of the Restoration period was dependent upon the strange staging devices, weird plots, and dramatized language. Attention was increased to the commercial rather than the artistic aspect of making theatre. Earlier Elizabethan texts like King Lear were given a happy ending.

What are the characteristics of Restoration tragedy?
Restoration tragedy refers to neoclassical rules making it very imitative. Usually these tragedies are reworkings of Shakespearean plays. There are three types of comedies that were popular during the Restoration. These three types are: Humour, Manners, and Intrigue.
What is the other name of Restoration tragedy?
Restoration tragedy developed the heroic plays of the Restoration period. The Restoration tragedy is known as the 'heroic tragedy' which has been traced to French influence particularly the influence of heroic romances such as those of Madeline de Seudery.
What do you mean by Restoration drama?
Restoration drama Plays and performances in the period following the restoration of Charles II, when the theatres reopened. The drama reflected the laxity of Court morals through broad satire, farce, wit, and bawdy comedy. Distinguished playwrights included Dryden and Congreve. World Encyclopedia.
What are the main characteristics of Restoration or heroic tragedy?
The Restoration Heroic Tragedy The influence of French romance and drama produced its first important result in the form of the heroic play. The Restoration Tragedy is artificial. Its emotions are unreal. It mainly deals with conflict between love and honour.
Why it is called Restoration period?
The name 'restoration' comes from the crowning of Charles II, which marks the restoring of the traditional English monarchical form of government following a short period of rule by a handful of republican governments.
What are the main characteristics of Restoration drama?
Restoration Literature CharacteristicsComedy of Manners. The Comedy of Manners is a theatrical genre that was uber-popular during the Restoration period. ... Satire. The Restoration writers couldn't get enough satire. ... Heroic Couplet. ... Social Life. ... Politics. ... Faith. ... Restoration of Monarchy. ... Rejection of Puritanism.More items...
What is restoration period?
The Restoration period refers to the time following the restoration of the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies under King Charles II in 1660. While the exact dates differ depending on context, for Restoration drama it is often seen as continuing through until 1710, during the reign of Queen Anne.
Is Restoration tragedy and heroic tragedy same?
Restoration Tragedy Heroic Tragedy was also called “Heroic Drama”, but Dryden, the main supporter of Tragedy, called it “Heroic Drama”. These plays were written in the Classical model of the rhymed heroic couplet and later in blank verse tragedy. This tragedy was only near tragedy.
What are Restoration plays known for?
Restoration comedies are English plays written and performed between 1660 and 1710, the "Restoration" period. Also known as "comedy of manners" plays, these works are known for their risqué, explicit depictions of sex and extramarital affairs.
What are the elements of Restoration?
The three fundamental elements of restoration:A defined reference condition.A disrupted ecosystem.A defined desire future condition.
What is restoration period in English literature?
Restoration literature is the English literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the English Restoration (1660–1689), which corresponds to the last years of Stuart reign in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
What are the main features of Restoration comedy?
Main characteristics of Restoration Comedy of Manners include a flamboyant display of witty, blunt sexual dialogue, boudoir intrigues, sensual innuendos and rakish behaviour. The tone of the plays is cynical and satirical, while the language and actions are sexually explicit.
What is the English Restoration period also known as?
Restoration literature is the English literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the English Restoration (1660–1689), which corresponds to the last years of Stuart reign in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
What is Restoration in history?
Restoration, Restoration of the monarchy in England in 1660. It marked the return of Charles II as king (1660–85) following the period of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth. The bishops were restored to Parliament, which established a strict Anglican orthodoxy.
Which age is called restoration age and why?
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF RESTORATION AGE The period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the Restoration period or the Age of Dryden. Dryden was the representative writer of this period. The restoration of King Charles II in 1660 marks the beginning of a new era both in the life and the literature of England.
Which of the following is an example of Restoration comedy?
George Etherege, The Man of Mode. With a central character, the libertine Dorimant, who is thought to be based on the poet John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, this 1676 play is one of the most famous examples of the Restoration comedy.
What was the audience of Restoration Drama?
The audience was of the middle class and upper-class people. Most of the features of Restoration Drama are seen even today.
Who is the writer of dramatic tragedy?
The heroic play flourished for some 20 years and then died a natural death, exhausted by its own excess. Dryden is the major writer of dramatic tragedy.
Why did the theatres have horseshoes?
Horse-shoe shape was given to the theatres with an inclined stage; thus allowing more people to enjoy drama.
What era were theatres closed?
Theatres were closed during the Puritan Age. During the Restoration Age, they re-opened with new types of plays and performances which were different than the before.
What is the theme of the heroic plays?
This tragedy was only near tragedy. The theme of the heroic plays was based on the struggle between love and honor, the hero and heroine were cast on the grand scale and their dialogues consisted of elaborate speeches, in rhymed 10-syllabled couplets, full of emotional and bombastic of such kind that its parallel would not be found.
