Ancient faith and modern freedom in John Dryden's The hind and the panther / Anne Barbeau Gardiner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gardiner, Anne Barbeau.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Dryden, John, 1631-1700. Hind and the panther.

Dryden, John.

Dryden, John, 1631-1700.

James II, King of England, 1633-1701.

Christianity and literature--England--History--17th century.

Christianity and literature.

Religion.

Freedom of religion.

History.

England.

Freedom of religion--England--History--17th century.

Christian poetry, English--History and criticism.

Christian poetry, English.

James II, King of England, 1633-1701--Religion.

James.

England--Church history--17th century.

Church history.

Dryden, John, 1631-1700--Religion.

Church of England--In literature.

Church of England.

Catholic Church--In literature.

Catholic Church.

Allegory.

Physical Description:

xiii, 266 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Catholic University of America Press, [1998]

Summary:

John Dryden (1631-1700) is one of the handful of writers who form the first rank of England's literary pantheon. His works are characterized by intellectual daring and vigor, as well as by imaginative splendor and stylish polish. In addition to his celebrated works, Dryden wrote what is arguably the greatest poem of all times about the Catholic Church -- The Hind and the Panther (1687). The result of his conversion to Catholicism, Dryden's poem honors his newfound church as the immortal Bride of the heavenly Bridegroom. Though his longest original poem, it remains the least understood of all his major works.

Ridiculed because of its unprecedented representation of the different churches in England as animals -- in particular, for its portrayal of the Catholic and the Anglican Churches as the Hind and the Panther, respectively -- the poem was dismissed as a failure. The exact political context also eluded scholars. In this volume, Anne Barbeau Gardiner offers a compelling analysis of Dryden's masterpiece and, for the first time, convincingly argues that his poem was a unified defense of ancient faith and a plea for modern religious freedom.

In Part I of the book, Gardiner reveals the ancient source of Dryden's design: the biblical book that celebrates teh love of Yahweh for his Bride Israel, Solomon's Canticle of Canticles. In Part II, she explains how Dryden's poem participated in the campaign to repeal the Test Act against Catholics and Dissenters in England. Gardiner illustrates how the issues of the political-religious debate drive Dryden's poem, and reveals Dryden's call for modern civil rights and freedom of worship.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-257) and index.

ISBN:

081320898X

OCLC:

37024783