Matching Literary Ages and Authors

This question requires matching literary periods with prominent authors associated with them. Let's break down each literary age and identify the correct author from the given list.

Understanding the Literary Periods

• Elizabethan Age: This period spans the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and is known for the flourishing of English drama, poetry, and prose.
• Restoration Age: Following the monarchy's restoration in 1660, this era (roughly 1660–1700) saw a revival of theatre and satire.
• Augustan Age: Also known as the Neoclassical Age, this period (roughly 1700–1750) emphasized reason, order, and classical ideals, often associated with writers like Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift.
• Romantic Age: This movement (late 18th to mid-19th century) emphasized emotion, individualism, and the glorification of the past and nature.

Matching Authors to Their Respective Ages

We need to match the authors William Hazlitt, Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn, and John Gay to the correct literary ages.

• Christopher Marlowe is a major playwright and poet of the Elizabethan Age.
• Aphra Behn was a significant playwright and novelist during the Restoration Age.
• John Gay, known for "The Beggar's Opera," is associated with the Augustan Age.
• William Hazlitt was a prominent essayist and critic during the Romantic Age.

Final Answer Formulation

Based on the matching:

• (A) Elizabethan matches with (II) Christopher Marlowe.
• (B) Restoration matches with (III) Aphra Behn.
• (C) Augustan matches with (IV) John Gay.
• (D) Romantic matches with (I) William Hazlitt.

This corresponds to the option (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I).