Step 1: About the work.
“Mac Flecknoe” is a famous satirical poem written by John Dryden in 1678. It is one of the finest examples of Restoration satire and mocks the playwright Thomas Shadwell, portraying him as the heir to dullness.
Step 2: Understanding the theme.
Dryden uses humor and irony to criticize poor poetic talent and mediocrity. The poem’s title itself translates roughly to “Son of Flecknoe,” where Flecknoe symbolizes stupidity.
Step 3: Analyzing the options.
- (a) John Dryden: Correct — the author of “Mac Flecknoe.”
- (b) John Keats: Romantic poet, not a satirist.
- (c) Charles Dickens: Victorian novelist, wrote prose, not verse satire.
- (d) Jane Austen: Known for novels like “Pride and Prejudice,” not poetry.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, “Mac Flecknoe” is a satirical masterpiece by John Dryden, written to ridicule literary incompetence.