The Literature of Enlightenment

The Enlightenment Epoch is one of the greatest pages in the All-European history. It lasted for two centuries (the 17th-18th centuries). This period was the epoch of considerable social and political changes that took place due to the revolutions that happened one after another starting with Netherlands, then in England and in France finally. The main cultural trend of this period was "classicism".

Judging by nature, it's easy to guess that the main ideological function was "education" of all layers of the society. The two most symbolic figures were Goethe and Voltaire. It is the age of the most powerful and subtlest regale power (in France especially) and the time of the Great Changes.

Other great names of the time period are Daniel Defoe, Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, etc.

In Germany, there was a strong humanistic movement whose main theoretician was I. Gerder. Its supporters were J.W. Goethe, F. Schiller, M.R. Lenz and F.M. Klinger.

One of the most philosophers and scientists who influenced on the development of the World Literature was Jean Jack Rousseau. His main literary works are "Confession", Public treaty", etc.

The Epoch of Enlightenment was logically finished with the Great French Revolution (1789). The next literary trend is romanticism.