"Annus Mirabilis"

famous poem first published in 1667 by John Dryden. Its full title is “Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. An Historical Poem: Containing the Progress and various Successes of our Naval War with Holland, under the Conduct of His Highness Prince Rupert, and his Grace the Duke of Albemarl. And describing the Fire of London.” The poem generally praises the city of London and celebrates the year 1666 as a “wonderful year” in London's history.

The Poem

Dryden's poem, also known as an ode to London, deals with the major catastrophes London had to face in the year 1666: The military defeat by the Dutch in the Second Anglo-Dutch war, a very high death rate by the bubonic plague and the Fire of London. In “Annus Mirabilis” Dryden turns all these catastrophes into triumphs and conjures a prosperous future for London. The people in London believed that the disasters were religious signs of God's anger about their decadent lifestyles. Dryden nevertheless optimistically believed in London's rise to a wealthy and productive city. “The poem conveys a sense of new beginnings of a nation starting from scratch but with confidence in its unlimited potential” (London Reborn).

Structure

The panegyric poem consists of 1246 lines, divided into 304 quatrains. The composition of quatrains adds to a conversational tone of the poem. The quatrains are praised [by whom??] for their plainness as for every quatrain can be read independently. The rhyme scheme is abab.

Criticism

“Annus Mirabilis” achieved enormous success in public, still Dryden's poem was implicitly criticised because it glorifies the loss and desolation the Great Fire of London might have struck on people living in London.

Interesting facts

Several issues were changed and replaced over the various versions. These changes are bundled in the “cancellanda”. Quatrain 67, for instance, was transformed because Vice-Admiral Sir William Berkeley (1639-1666) flinched away from the Battle of Lowestoft after his brother died. [sources??]

“Berkeley alone, not making equal way”

“Berkeley alone who neerest Danger lay”

Quatrain 105 has also been changed because its content has been found too blasphemous.

“For now brave Rupert's Navy did appear Whose waving streamers from afar he knows: As in fate something divine there were, Who dead and buried the third day arose”

“For now brave Rupert from afar appears, Whose waving Streamers the glad General knows: With full spread sails his eager Navy steers, And every Ship in Swift proportion grows”

Bibliography:

Alvarez, Pablo. "Collection Highlight: Dryden, Annus Mirabilis." River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 June 2013.

"London Reborn: Dryden's Annus Mirabilis." N.p., n.d. Web. 21 June 2013.

Powell, John. "John Dryden, 'Annus Mirabilis'" John Powell's British Lit. N.p., 01 Nov. 2006. Web. 21 June 2013.