British Poetry and Drama: 17th & 18th Centuries by Dr. S. Priya Dharsini is a comprehensive textbook designed for B.A. 3rd Semester English (Honours) students, prepared strictly as per the latest NEP and CBCS syllabus followed by Indian universities. Published by Mahaveer Publications, Dibrugarh, this book provides an insightful exploration of the literary developments that shaped the English literary tradition during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The book introduces students to the major poets and dramatists of the period—ranging from the metaphysical and neoclassical schools to Restoration and Augustan literature—highlighting their themes, styles, and contributions to English letters.

Written in a clear, analytical, and student-friendly manner, the book includes:

• Detailed introductions to the historical, social, and cultural background of the 17th and 18th centuries

• Comprehensive analysis of representative poems and plays from writers like John Milton, John Dryden, Alexander Pope, William Congreve, and others

• Thematic summaries, literary terms, and stylistic discussions to support deeper understanding

• Review questions and references for classroom discussion and examination preparation

This volume is an ideal textbook for students of English Honours across Indian universities, offering a perfect balance of literary analysis, critical appreciation, and historical context. It serves as both a study companion and a reference for understanding the evolution of British poetry and drama from the Renaissance influence to the Age of Reason. 

Contents

INTRODUCTION

• Religious and Secular Thought in the 17th Century

• The Stage, the State and the Market

• The Mock-epic and Satire

• Women in the 17th Century

• The Comedy of Manners

UNIT I: PURITAN EPIC

Text:

• John Milton — Paradise Lost, Book I

UNIT II: JACOBEAN DRAMA

Text:

• John Webster — The Duchess of Malfi

UNIT III: RESTORATION COMEDY

Text:

• Aphra Behn — The Rover

UNIT IV: NEOCLASSICAL / AUGUSTAN MOCK EPIC

Texts:

• John Dryden — Mac Flecknoe

• Alexander Pope — The Rape of the Lock