Religio Laici (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: John Dryden
- First Published: 1682
- Type of Work: Verse essay
- Genres: Poetry, Apology
- Subjects: Tradition, Religion, Seventeenth century, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Catholics or Catholic Church, Church or churches, Protestantism or Protestant churches, Atonement, Reformation, Deism
The Poem
Religio Laici (a layman’s religion) represents John Dryden’s tentative and candid examination of major religious issues of his day. From the title, one might expect a personal confession of faith. Instead, Dryden examines the principal contemporary religious currents in England and, although he reveals only general points about his own beliefs, he clearly expresses his adherence to the Church of England. The poem, consisting of 456 lines of heroic couplets, divides into several logical sections.
In the beginning, Dryden eloquently points to...
[The entire page is 2016 words long]
