This document summarizes John Dryden's views on the differences between French and English drama. According to Dryden, the French are superior in several ways: they observe the classical unities of time, place and action more strictly in their plays; their plots are more focused on a single action without subplots; and they are able to devote more attention to diction and verse as their plays adhere more strictly to one action. In contrast, English plays tend to have multiple actions occurring simultaneously, confusing the audience and reducing the impact of each action. Dryden believes the French model of drama is better structured.

1. M. K. BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY
NAME BALDANIYA VANITA
ROLL NO:30
CLASS: M. A. SEMESTER :1
PAPER:3
(LITERARY THEORY& CRITICISM)
TOPIC : DRAMATIC POESY :
DRYDEN
(FRENCH V/S ENGLISH)
GUIDANCE: D .P. BARAD.
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

2. John Dryden

3. The French are superior to the English for various reason:
French
 narration of the two kind
1)dull and boring and is often not listened to by the
audience.
2) beautiful and artistic.
English
tragic comedy two play
1)instead of remaining one play
2)two action are carried on together, to the great confusion and
bewilderment of the spectator.

4. F: observance of the unity of place, they are equally scrupulous.
E:Attention is constantly diverted from one action or the other, so
either action produces its good effect.
F: In none of them the action mover out of the limit of the same
town.
E: double action give rise to another fault, many of characters remain
unknown to each other till the end.

5. F: unity of action is eve more conspicuous.
Their plays are never over – burdened with
sub-plots as is the case with the English plays.
E:Concludes lisideius, no drama in the world is so absurd
as the English tragic comedy.
F: Modifies their stories by mixing truth with fiction,
vets take from history.
E: Dramatists, even the great Shakespeare do modify and
transform their stories for dramatic purpose.

6. F: Shakespeare’s history plays are chronicle plays, and not
dramas proper.
E: Own invention, show vice punished and virtue rewarded,
which might not have been the case with the original story.
F:Business of forty years is represented within the short
space of two and a half hours.
E:Delight and instruct, at one and the same time.

7. F: Do not burden the English plays with too much plot.
E: Is not an imitation of nature but drawing of it in
miniature.
F:Represent only that part of a story which will constitute one
complete action and everything is carefully excluded.
E:Dramatist is a distortion of nature, and not a just and true
representation of her.
F:Better written than the English ones.
E:The French plays have it, but not the English.

8. F: Devote considerable attention to one single character,
other are merely.
Lisideius dose not agree with this view.
E: One character is more important, other are quite
naturally.
F: play- ‘The Scornful Lady’
E: play- ‘Entrances and Exits’
F: The selves strictly to one action ,
Free to devote more attention to their diction and
verse.
F: No logical and natural connection with the main action,
not remain one play but many play in one.