MAC FLECKNOE by John Dryden | KEY POINTS | SUMMARY

Mac Flecknoe is a satirical poem written by John Dryden, published in 1682. It often includes the subtitle "A Satire upon the True Blue Protestant Poet, T.S." The subtitle clearly targets Thomas Shadwell, the object of Dryden's satire. The poem illustrates Shadwell as the heir to a kingdom of poetic dullness, represented by his association with Richard Flecknoe, an earlier poet already satirized by Andrew Marvell and disliked by Dryden. The poem mocks Thomas Shadwell, a contemporary playwright and poet, by portraying him as the heir to a fictional kingdom of dullness. The aging king, Flecknoe, decides to pass on his throne to Shadwell, who is portrayed as incompetent and lacking literary talent. Dryden uses humor, wit, and satire to criticize Shadwell's work and to express his disdain for the decline in literary standards during that period. The poem is a notable example of Dryden's mastery of satire and his contributions to the Restoration literary scene.