English Language · English Literature

Consider the following statements regarding the three distinct phases of 18th-century literature and choose the correct combination: I. The Early (Classical) phase was defined by Enlightenment ideals such as logic, decorum, and order, with satire being the dominant form used by writers like Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. II. The Middle phase witnessed the rise of the realistic novel, which reflected middle-class values and morality through authors such as Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, and Henry Fielding. III. The Late phase, known as the Age of Sensibility, was characterized by sentimentalism and a revival of poetry featuring writers like Thomas Gray, William Cowper, and Robert Burns. IV. The transition to the Middle phase was primarily triggered by the Licensing Act of 1737, which was designed to facilitate the growth of realistic prose by banning the production of satirical poetry. Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below: