Explore the life and works of Sir Richard Steele, co-founder of The Tatler and The Spectator, pioneer of the periodical essay, and a major voice in 18th-century English literature.
Richard Steele
✍️ Introduction:
Sir Richard Steele (1672–1729) stands tall among the great minds of 18th-century English literature. Best known for co-founding The Tatler and The Spectator with his close friend Joseph Addison, Steele played a pivotal role in shaping modern journalism and essay writing. As a witty essayist, moralist, and dramatist, Steele used his pen not only to entertain but also to educate the rising middle class in London. Through his periodical essays, he brought attention to the importance of virtue, politeness, and emotional sensitivity in everyday life.
Steele’s creation of the pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff and his engaging prose style made The Tatler a household name. Later, in collaboration with Addison, he launched The Spectator, which further elevated the moral tone of public discourse while blending wit with wisdom. His essays explored the lives and manners of common people, and characters like Sir Roger de Coverley became iconic representations of English gentlemanliness.
In addition to his journalism, Steele was a talented dramatist. His play The Conscious Lovers is a hallmark of sentimental comedy, emphasizing honesty and virtue over the artificial wit of earlier Restoration dramas. Steele’s legacy lies not only in his sharp insights but also in how he pioneered a more human, relatable form of writing.
Whether you're preparing for UGC NET English, studying the Augustan Age, or exploring English essayists, Richard Steele’s contributions remain essential. In this post, we’ll dive into his life, works, literary style, collaborations with Addison, and his lasting impact on English literature.
📘 Sir Richard Steele (1672–1729)
🧠 Key Facts:
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Born: 1672, Dublin, Ireland
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Died: 1729, Carmarthen, Wales
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Profession: Essayist, playwright, politician, and journalist
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Famous For: Co-founding the famous periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator
📰 Major Works & Contributions:
1. The Tatler (1709)
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Co-founded by Richard Steele, later joined by Joseph Addison
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Focused on social commentary, manners, literature, and politics
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Written under the pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff
2. The Spectator (1711)
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Co-founded with Joseph Addison
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Introduced the character Mr. Spectator, a quiet observer of society
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Aimed to instruct and entertain, especially the rising middle class
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Famous line: "To enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality"
3. The Guardian (1713)
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Another periodical launched by Steele
🎭 Plays:
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The Conscious Lovers (1722)
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A sentimental comedy that replaced the old Restoration wit with virtue and emotion
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Marked the rise of sentimental drama in 18th-century theatre
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The Funeral (1701), The Lying Lover (1703), and The Tender Husband (1705)
📌 Themes in Steele’s Work:
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Morality blended with wit and humor
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Emphasis on virtue, good conduct, and politeness
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Sentimentalism in drama
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Interest in daily life, manners, and the rising middle class
🤝 Steele & Addison:
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Long-time friends and collaborators
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Steele was more emotional and lively; Addison more polished and restrained
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Their combined essays shaped modern English prose style
✅ MCQs on Sir Richard Steele
1. Who co-founded The Tatler in 1709?
A. Samuel Johnson
B. Joseph Addison
C. Richard Steele
D. Alexander Pope
Ans: C. Richard Steele
2. What was the pseudonym used by Steele in The Tatler?
A. Mr. Spectator
B. Censor Morum
C. Isaac Bickerstaff
D. Mr. Addison
Ans: C. Isaac Bickerstaff
3. Which periodical was co-founded by Steele and Addison in 1711?
A. The Rambler
B. The Spectator
C. The Examiner
D. The Observer
Ans: B. The Spectator
4. What genre is Steele’s play The Conscious Lovers?
A. Tragedy
B. Farce
C. Restoration comedy
D. Sentimental comedy
Ans: D. Sentimental comedy
5. Which of the following was NOT written by Steele?
A. The Funeral
B. The Lying Lover
C. The Tender Husband
D. Cato
Ans: D. Cato (written by Addison)
6. What was the main aim of The Spectator?
A. Promote party politics
B. Entertain the upper class only
C. Blend wit with morality
D. Criticize the monarchy
Ans: C. Blend wit with morality
7. Who was Steele’s closest literary collaborator?
A. Jonathan Swift
B. Daniel Defoe
C. Joseph Addison
D. Alexander Pope
Ans: C. Joseph Addison
8. In which year was The Tatler first published?
A. 1711
B. 1709
C. 1713
D. 1701
Ans: B. 1709
9. Which of these is a character in The Spectator essays?
A. Mr. Bickerstaff
B. Sir Roger de Coverley
C. Gulliver
D. Sir Fopling Flutter
Ans: B. Sir Roger de Coverley
10. Steele’s writing is best known for combining:
A. Tragedy and politics
B. Satire and fantasy
C. Morality and humor
D. Allegory and adventure
Ans: C. Morality and humor
11. What social class did Steele aim to influence through his essays?
A. Aristocracy
B. Clergy
C. Working class
D. Middle class
Ans: D. Middle class
12. What was the tone of Steele’s essays in The Spectator?
A. Serious and formal
B. Satirical and ironic
C. Light, moral, and conversational
D. Violent and aggressive
Ans: C. Light, moral, and conversational
13. What is considered Steele’s most successful play?
A. The Lying Lover
B. The Funeral
C. The Conscious Lovers
D. The Tender Husband
Ans: C. The Conscious Lovers
14. Steele served as a Member of:
A. The House of Commons
B. The Privy Council
C. The Royal Court
D. The Church of England
Ans: A. The House of Commons
15. Steele’s essays often focused on:
A. Politics and warfare
B. Colonial expansion
C. Domestic life and manners
D. Supernatural events
Ans: C. Domestic life and manners
16. Steele's The Lying Lover was innovative because:
A. It was written in blank verse
B. It combined comedy with morality
C. It attacked the monarchy
D. It was written in Latin
Ans: B. It combined comedy with morality
17. Steele and Addison’s collaboration helped shape:
A. The sonnet tradition
B. The picaresque novel
C. Modern English prose
D. Romantic poetry
Ans: C. Modern English prose
18. The term “coffeehouse culture” is associated with:
A. Romanticism
B. Restoration drama
C. Augustan age and periodical essays
D. Gothic fiction
Ans: C. Augustan age and periodical essays
19. Steele's periodical writing aimed to:
A. Instruct the elite
B. Challenge religion
C. Educate and entertain the public
D. Promote theatrical performances
Ans: C. Educate and entertain the public
20. Steele is credited with helping popularize:
A. The heroic couplet
B. The Gothic novel
C. The periodical essay
D. The tragicomedy
Ans: C. The periodical essay
🔚 Conclusion :
Sir Richard Steele was much more than a witty writer—he was a reformer who used literature as a tool for social improvement. By co-creating The Tatler and The Spectator, Steele gave rise to the periodical essay, a genre that reached beyond the elite and engaged the emerging middle class. His keen moral vision, combined with engaging storytelling, helped shape the English essay as both an art form and a medium of public influence.
Steele's collaboration with Addison showcased the power of friendship and intellectual partnership in literature. While Addison often brought polish and subtlety, Steele added warmth, humor, and heart. Together, they created essays that are still admired for their clarity and relevance.
His plays, especially The Conscious Lovers, introduced sentimental comedy, focusing on emotional truth rather than theatrical extravagance. His influence continues in modern journalism, where the personal essay and moral reflection are still valued forms.
In remembering Sir Richard Steele, we celebrate a writer who made literature more accessible, meaningful, and humane. His voice still resonates through the corridors of literary history and continues to inspire writers and thinkers alike.
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Richard Steele
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The Tatler
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Joseph Addison
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English Essayists
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Literature MCQs
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