“An Essay of Dramatic Poesy” is a work by John Dryden, published in 1668, in which he discusses various aspects of drama and poetry. Here are some of the main points of the essay:

1. Dryden begins by defending English drama against the criticisms of the French, who he believes are overly prescriptive in their rules for theater.
2. Dryden argues that the English playwrights of his time have made significant progress in the art of drama, and that they have surpassed the Greeks and Romans in some ways.
3. He discusses the different kinds of plays, including tragedy, comedy, and tragicomedy, and examines their strengths and weaknesses.
4. Dryden also considers the use of verse and prose in drama, and argues that verse is more suited to serious subjects, while prose is better for comedy.
5. The essay includes a discussion of the nature of poetry itself, and Dryden argues that poetry is a natural human impulse, arising from a desire to imitate and represent the world around us.
6. Dryden offers his own definition of a good play, which he describes as a work that is both instructive and entertaining, and that balances the demands of plot, character, and language.
7. Finally, the essay concludes with a discussion of the role of the critic in evaluating and judging works of literature, and argues that criticism should be constructive rather than purely negative.

Summary of An Essay of Dramatic Poesy