Select the most appropriate option

Which periodical was started by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele after the closing of The Spectator in 1712?

Correct option is B

After the closure of The Spectator in 1712, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele launched The Guardian in 1713. This periodical ran for a brief period and was primarily focused on improving public morality, intellectual discussions, and social commentary, similar to their previous work in The Spectator. The Guardian is often seen as a continuation of the ideals and objectives set forth by The Spectator, though it was shorter-lived.
Information Booster:
1. Joseph Addison and Richard Steele were prominent figures in early 18th-century periodical literature, known for their collaboration on influential publications such as The Tatler and The Spectator.
2. The Guardian, like The Spectator, aimed to educate the middle class on matters of morality, taste, and manners. It combined essays on various subjects, including philosophy, literature, and politics.
3. Addison and Steele pioneered the essay form in English literature, and their periodicals contributed significantly to the development of modern journalism and the literary essay.
4. The Spectator itself was hugely influential, often credited with shaping 18th-century English thought and taste, with a strong focus on public virtue and social refinement.
5. These periodicals were primarily designed for daily or weekly consumption by the middle and upper classes in England, offering a mix of entertainment and moral instruction.
6. The periodicals started by Addison and Steele laid the groundwork for the rise of social commentary and satirical writing in journalism.
Additional Information:
· A. The Tatler: This periodical was launched earlier, in 1709, by Richard Steele, with contributions from Joseph Addison. It was closed in 1711 and followed by The Spectator. It was not started after The Spectator ended.
· C. Gentleman's Magazine: This was an important periodical, started by Edward Cave in 1731, and it is regarded as the first general-interest magazine. However, it was not connected to Addison or Steele.
· D. Athenian Mercury: Published by John Dunton between 1691 and 1697, The Athenian Mercury was a question-and-answer publication that predated Addison and Steele's ventures.