Literary Works: A Collection of Literary Works

Aphra Behn: Oroonoko

2. Aphra BEHN, Oroonoko or, The Royal Slave. 1688

About slavery in an American colony called Surinam, in the West Indies. She talks about a young man who sees a maid girl. Then she talks as well about the way the slaves live.

3. Mary ASTELL, A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, for the Advancement of their True and Greatest Interest. By a Lover of her Sex. 1664

Critics about women and her beauty, because they have to focus on her intelligence, in a religious way.

4. Rochester, The Disabled Debauchee.

Poem, complicated, about an admiral, it describes his life. He’s seen some wars, the environment where he moved, there were people who were drinking, flirting, etc.

5. Jonathan SWIFT, A Modest Proposal.

Eating Irish children because there’s a lack of deer and children are expensive to maintain. He computes that in Dublin there are 20,000 children to eat and 80,000 in the rest of the country.

6. John GAY, The Turkey and the Ant. 1727

It’s a fable about a turkey who is complaining about humans eating turkeys; the turkey wants to eat the ant and this is an allegory.

The Man and the Flea.

It’s about vanity and dignity, in the end he recognizes that we need to be humble.

7. William HOGARTH, Marriage à la mode.

The Marriage Settlement; there’s a marriage arrangement. Everything is detailed

The Tête à Tête; a few months after the wedding this picture shows couple isn’t happy

The Inspection; the husband has a black mark on his neck, his girlfriend too, desease

The Toilette; it suggests that the older Earl has died. The child of the 2nd scene was born

The Bagnio; it suggests that the older Earl has died and his son has inherited. Child 2sc

The Lady’s Death; she poisons herself. Her child is crippled by syphilis. Countess’s fa.

John DRYDEN, Song From Marriage-À-La-Mode. 1673

It’s a tragicomedy about a love-honor conflict.

8. Addison, The Aims of the Spectator. 1711

It describes Addison’s life. People are not informed about news which are happening. Addison has a diary

9. Daniel DEFOE, Academy for Women.

He proposes to create an academy for women, for him women have to have a good education, such as learning how to speak a language. He thinks that is a sin denying education to women being his country a catholic country. Education has to be separated from religion. This is something sexist to his era. This way women are able to have more interesting talks. He compares them to horses as well.

10. Lady Mary WORTLEY MONTAGU, The lover: A Ballad. 1721

She describes how the perfect lover has to be to her (friend/boyfriend). She knows that