THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY | BBMKU FYUGP ENGLISH MJ 6 | BRITISH LITERATURE : 18TH CENTURY

Kiran Tiwari October 31, 2025

 

The Country and the City in 18th Century English Literature




Introduction

In 18th-century English literature, writers often compared the countryside with the city. This contrast helps us understand how society was changing during this period. The countryside was seen as peaceful and simple, while the city was seen as busy and full of opportunities, but also corrupt and artificial. This theme became important when cities like London grew during early industrial and commercial expansion.

The Countryside

The countryside was described as:

  • A place of natural beauty
  • Simple and peaceful life
  • People were seen as honest and close to nature
  • Life moved slowly and was based on traditional values such as:
    • Respect for elders
    • Living in harmony with nature
    • Helping neighbors
    • Simple living and moral behavior

Example:
Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” praises the silent and humble life of rural people.

 

The City

The city, especially London, was shown as:

  • Crowded and noisy
  • A place of trade, business, and politics
  • People were often ambitious and competitive
  • It could also be corrupt, polluted, and morally declining

Example:
Samuel Johnson’s poem “London” criticizes the greed, crime, and social corruption of city life.

 

Raymond Williams’ Contribution (1973)

The theme of The Country and the City was later studied in detail by Raymond Williams in his famous book The Country and the City (1973).
He showed how literature idealized the country as pure and natural, and portrayed the city as modern but morally troubled.
This modern study helps us understand the 18th-century contrast more clearly.

 

Conclusion

The contrast between country and city in 18th-century literature reflects the social and economic changes of the time. The countryside symbolized peace and simplicity, while the city stood for progress but also corruption. Later, Raymond Williams (1973) explained how these images became powerful cultural symbols. Understanding this contrast helps us see how literature responds to historical change.

 

MCQs

1.  The theme “The Country and the City” mainly deals with:
a) Historical wars
b) Comparison between rural and urban life
c) Religious beliefs
d) Mythology

2.  The countryside in 18th-century literature is mostly shown as:
a) Crowded and polluted
b) Peaceful and morally pure
c) Full of factories
d) A place of political corruption

3.  Who wrote “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, a poem praising rural life?
a) Samuel Johnson
b) Thomas Gray
c) John Dryden
d) Oliver Goldsmith

4.  In his poem “London”, Samuel Johnson criticizes:
a) Rural innocence
b) Country farmers
c) The corruption of city life
d) Natural landscapes

5.  What major change caused people to move from the countryside to cities in the late 18th century?
a) French Revolution
b) Industrial Revolution
c) American Revolution
d) Romantic Movement

6.  The city in 18th-century literature is usually associated with:
a) Honesty and purity
b) Luxury, ambition, and moral decline
c) Farming and agriculture
d) Friendly neighbors

7.  Traditional values in the countryside refer to:
a) Artificial manners and wealth
b) Fast life and competition
c) Simple living and community life
d) Political power struggles

8.  The theme “The Country and the City” was later studied in detail by Raymond Williams in:
a) 1660
b) 1705
c) 1973
d) 1880

9.  The book The Country and the City (1973) was written by:
a) William Wordsworth
b) Matthew Arnold
c) Raymond Williams
d) T.S. Eliot

10.                In literary symbolism, the city often represents:
a) Nature and innocence
b) Simplicity and honesty
c) Greed, ambition, and competition
d) Spiritual purity

Post a Comment

0 Comments