Neoclassical literature is a style and genre of literature based on a time period as well as an outlook; the time period referenced for neoclassical literature is from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. This type of literary style is seen as a response to the earlier Renaissance style.

Some scholars have described the neoclassical genre as displaying a certain restraint characteristic of the age. The era of neoclassical literature has been called the “age of reason,” and was marked by some ideas on religious freedom and other concepts. In general, those who study this kind of literature characterize it as having some prominent themes. One of these is the role of the human individual in society. By understanding this element of the neoclassical arts, readers can see that the neoclassical genre indeed brought about some changes in the societies where it was prominent.

Experts on the various ages of literature have also characterized the neoclassical as experiencing a resurgence in the personal narrative. Certain books on neoclassical reading lists display this trend through writing in the first person. Scholars also find that the neoclassical period was marked by an interest in diaries and similar narratives.

In general, the neoclassical period is named for a reference back to ancient styles of writing. Those who practiced this kind of literature referenced much of Greek and Roman styles, and pointed back to these classical societies. In poetry, some contend that the neoclassical era corresponded to the increased use of the classic heroic couplet, an iambic pentameter construction that referenced older writing styles.

In addition to different poetic trends, the neoclassical era also saw trends in non-fiction. Some associate the period with the prominence of journalism as a literary form. Experts also note that parts of the era of neoclassical literature have been called the “age of wit,” and that satire and comedy in general were very much prized by writers of the time. According to historians, modern societies enjoy much of what is considered political satire as the product of trends in neoclassical literature.

Neoclassical literature is one of a number of categories by which modern readers analyze past texts. Along with other style designations, this idea of a neoclassical genre helps today’s audience to understand more about changes to the arts in past centuries. This genre or category of literature is often included in the curriculum of an English survey in a school or university English department.