Joseph Addison: Essays - Block 3 - Friendship, Good Nature, Six Papers on Wit

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Liam

Learning block material focused on Joseph Addison and key essays that shaped his reputation in English literature. It introduces Addison’s life, education, career, and historical context, highlighting his partnership with Richard Steele and his contributions to The Tatler and The Spectator. The block also explains the conversational style and moral orientation of the prescribed essays, with units covering an introduction, “Six Papers on Wit,” “Friendship,” and “Good Nature,” aligned to course objectives and learning outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages62

Reading Time1 h 35 min

AccessFree to download

UNIT 1 : AN INTRODUCTION TO JOSEPH ADDISON

1.0 OBJECTIVES

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This course material is designed and developed by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. OSOU has been permitted to use the material. BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONOURS) IN ENGLISH (BAEG) BEG-3 18th Century Prose BLOCK-3 JOSEPH ADDISON: ESSAYS | UNIT 1 | AN INTRODUCTION TO JOSEPH ADDISON | | --- | --- | | UNIT 2 | SIX PAPERS ON WIT | | UNIT 3 | FRIENDSHIP | | UNIT 4 | GOOD NATURE | BLOCK 3: JOSEPH ADDISON: ESSAYS “FRIENDSHIP”,“GOOD NATURE”,“SIX PAPERS ON WIT” BLOCK OBJECTIVE The following units are made to acquaint you with Joseph Addison and few of his famous works that eventually became famous in the Literary world. It is as an essayist that Addison is remembered today. He began writing essays quite casually. In April 1709, his childhood friend Richard Steele started the Tatler. Addison contributed 42 essays to the Tatler, while Steele wrote 188. Regarding Addison's help, Steele remarked, "when I had once called him in, I could not subsist without dependence on him. Hence the basic idea of these units are to put forth the conversational style in which Addison has written the essays and has portrayed the ideas on ‘Friendship’, ‘Good Nature’ and ‘Six Papers on wit’. Nowas you go deeper into these units, you will be familiar with Addison’s simple yet effective style of essay writing. BLOCK INTRODUCTION This block is going to tell you about the history of Joseph Addison, his life, his career, his education and his work. The three essays that he has written are a perfect example of his conversational style hence; these essays are prescribed in the CBCS syllabus so that you all can get a good amount of exposure to conversational essays. To start with, Joseph Addison was born at Milston rectory, Wiltshire, the son of a clergyman, Lancelot Addison (1632-1703) . He attended Lichfield Grammar School and entered The Queen's College, Oxford, in 1687, transferring to Magdalene College in 1689. Addison began writing poetry (mostly in Latin) while still a student and attracted Whig patronage, which enabled him to go on the Grand Tour from 1699 to 1702. With the help of his influential Whig patrons, Addison embarked on a successful political career which was aided by the success of his poem The Campaign, celebrating Marlborough's victory at Blenheim. When the Whigs lost power in 1710, Addison devoted himself to his literary ambitions. He became a publisher (with his school friend Richard Steele), wrote plays, established himself as an accomplished essayist, and became a patron for younger poets, including Thomas Tickell. Addison briefly revived his political career after 1714, on the accession of George I. He became Secretary of State for the Southern Department, and appointed Tickell his Under-Secretary. He married Charlotte Rich, Countess of Warwick, in 1716. Addison retired from politics due to ill health in 1718. He died on 17 June 1719 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Tickell edited Addison's Works, in four volumes, in 1721. | UNIT 1 : AN INTRODUCTION TO JOSEPH ADDISON | | --- | | Structure
1.0 Objective
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Historical Background
1.3 The Lives and Works of Addison and Steele
1.4 Language, Style and Tone
1.5 Let Us Sum up | | 1.0 OBJECTIVES | | After reading this unit, you will be able to:
􀁸 Know Joseph Addison and his works
􀁸 Know about his personal life, educational and historical background
􀁸 Learn about few of his famous essays that are mostly based on moral values
􀁸 Learn about a comparatively new genre of English narration called ‘Essays’ | | 1.1 INTRODUCTION | Joseph Addison (1 May 1672- 17 June 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. Addison was born in Millstone, Wiltshire, but soon after his birth his father, Lancelot Addison,

FAQs

What is the purpose of Block 3 in this course material?

Block 3 acquaints learners with Joseph Addison and several famous essays, emphasizing the conversational style and moral values reflected in “Friendship,” “Good Nature,” and “Six Papers on Wit.”

Which early publications are mentioned in connection with Joseph Addison’s career?

The material notes Addison’s contributions to Richard Steele’s The Tatler and later to The Spectator, as well as his assistance with The Guardian starting in 1713.

What aspects of Addison’s life are covered in the block introduction?

The block introduction covers Addison’s history, life, career, education, and work, including details such as his schooling, political involvement, and later literary ambitions.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Liam