French Literature in the Age of Reason :: European Europe History

French Literature in the Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment, was a period in France during the 1700s following the classical age. Within this cartridge clip, philosophers placed the emphasis on savvy as the best method for learning. It explored issues in education, law philosophy, and politics. It attacked tyranny, social injustice, superstition, and ignorance. This time produced advances in such areas as anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. These were the ideals taken up for both the American and French revolutions. A significant amount of the literature produced was philosophical, and written by important thinkers such as Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and denim Jacques Rousseau. Of the above, Voltaire was the most well-know literary figure of the time. He fought against intolerance and bigotry, and worked to promote rationalism through his literary skills. His most famous work is the novel Candide (1759). As well, Voltaire wrote trage go outs infl uenced by the whole kit and caboodle of William Shakespeare. Through his many deeds on European and world history, he helped develop the principles of historical writing for modern times. Denis Diderot is most famously known for editing one of the great intellectual achievements of the Enlightenment, the French Encylopdie (1751-1772). The Encylopdie is a collection of articles written by many writers in some(prenominal) fields. The purpose of the book was to try and rationally explain recent scientific discoveries while attacking religous authority, economic inequality, and abuses of justice.In his novel The New Heloise (1761), Jean Jacques Rousseau suggested alternates in French society, and in Emile (1762) put forward the idea of change in education. The autobiography Confessions (published in 1782 and 1789 after his death) helped to create the modern works that provoke self-analysis. Rousseau, with his sensitivity to nature, brought a more lyrical and meditative sorcerer bac k to French literature. An example of this can be found in Reveries of the Solitary Stroller (1782).There are several other major(ip) writers and works that helped contribute to the literary expression during the Age of Reason. There was Montesquieu, who wrote wittingly about social critisism in Persian Letters (1721). The well-known sarcastic novel Gil Blas (1715-1735) written by Alain Ren Lesage.