Here's why:
* Emphasis on reason and order: Neoclassical literature valued reason, logic, and order, mirroring the scientific advancements of the Enlightenment. They saw the natural world as a harmonious system governed by rational laws.
* Influence of classical literature: Neoclassical writers drew inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman authors like Homer, Virgil, and Horace, who often emphasized themes of balance, harmony, and the "golden mean."
* Use of formal structure and language: Neoclassical works often employed formal structures like heroic couplets, strict rhyme schemes, and elevated language to reflect the perceived order and balance of the natural world.
Other movements that touch on these themes, though not exclusively:
* Romanticism: While Romanticism celebrated nature's wild and untamed beauty, some Romantic writers also explored the sublime, a sense of awe and wonder at nature's immense power and order.
* Transcendentalism: This movement emphasized the inherent goodness and spirituality of nature, seeing it as a reflection of a higher, unifying force.
Examples:
* Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man" is a Neoclassical poem that explores the harmony and order of the universe, arguing that "Whatever is, is right."
* John Milton's "Paradise Lost" is an epic poem that uses classical forms to depict the fall of man and the consequences of disrupting the order of creation.
* William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" is a Romantic poem that celebrates nature's beauty and power but also acknowledges its underlying order and interconnectedness.
While these movements may have differing perspectives on the nature of order and balance, Neoclassicism stands out as the movement most explicitly devoted to exploring these concepts in the natural world.