What makes John Dryden’s work "Neo-Classical"?

There are several elements that make John Dryden's work
"Neo-Classical."

The first thing that comes to mind is the
structure of his poetry and the use of vocabulary. Neo-classical poetry aims to salute
the style and meter of classical poetry.This is the reason why Dryden's works often seem
to be a reformation of the works of classical poets including Shakespeare himself. His
writing style is uniquely balanced and clear and this is a key element of neo-classical
art. Additionally, Dryden is a strong proponent of a Universally-appropriate use of the
English language that celebrates the art of speaking,
itself.

Another reason is because of the time of the
publication of most of his works does coincide with the neoclassical school, from the
17th to 18th centuries. These were times of tremendous political changes in England,
which prompted the population to embrace a new order of government through Cromwell, or
return to the classical monarchy that came after the Restoration with Charles II.
Artists of this generation embraced a return to the classics along with the
ever-changing times.

Most importantly, neo-classical poetry
is about complete thoughts, correct language, balance in usage of description,
appropriate expressions of emotions, and the celebration of man as an intelligent
creation. All of these elements make Dryden the quintessential neo-classical poet in
literature and the arts.