John Dryden
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John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate.
Portrait by Godfrey Kneller, c. 1693
Dryden, by John Michael Wright, 1668
Dryden, by James Maubert, c. 1695
Frontispiece and title page, vol. II, 1716 edition, Works of Virgil translated by Dryden
Literary criticism
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A genre of arts criticism, literary criticism or literary studies is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical analysis of literature's goals and methods. Although the two activities are closely related, literary critics are not always, and have not always been, theorists.
Samuel Johnson, one of the most influential writers and critics of the 18th century. See: Samuel Johnson's literary criticism.