Neoclassicism was an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-18th century, inspired by the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It emphasized harmony, proportion, and simplicity, often reflecting themes of reason and morality. Artists and architects sought to revive classical styles, using clean lines and balanced compositions. In literature, neoclassicism valued clarity and restraint, with writers like Alexander Pope and John Dryden focusing on formal structure and classical references. This movement was a reaction against the emotional excesses of Baroque art and the Rococo style, promoting a return to the ideals of antiquity and rational thought.