The 17th Century English Literature

The17thCenturyEnglishLiterature ThePeriodofRevolutionandRestoration 1 TheEnglishRevolutionandtheRestoration ThecollapseofthecollaborationbetweenMonarchandtheBourgeoisie theroyalists cavaliers andthepuritansTheoutburstoftheEnglishRevolution ThesplitupoftheRevolutionaryCamp TheRestoration TheGloriousRevolution 2 Englishliteratureoftheperiod Englishliteratureofthisperiodwitnessedaperiodofdeclineanddegeneration MetaphysicalpoetsrepresentedbyJohnDonneandGeorgeHerbert whosepoemsarecharacterizedbymysticismincontentandfantasticalityinform CavalierpoetsrepresentedbyJohnSuckling RichardLovelaceandRobertHerrick whoareoftenknightsandsquireandsidedwiththeKing Con Bothtrendsofpoemsshowanawarenessofmortality themetaphysicalpoetsshowitintheirintensemelancholy andtheCavalierpoetsshowitintheirbitterconsciousnessofthetransitorinessofhumangloryandjoy Att Sweetday socool socalm sobright Thebridaloftheearthandsky Thedewshallweepthyfallto night Forthoumustdie G Herbert Att FairDaffodils weweeptoseeYouhasteawaysosoon Andyettheearly risingsunhasnotattainedhisnoon Stay stay UntilthehastingdayHasrunButtotheevensong Andhavingprayedtogether weWillgowithyoualong R Herrick Att ThegloriesofourbloodandstateAreshadows notsubstantialthings Thereisnoarmouragainstfate Deathlayshisicyhandonkings SceptreandcrownMusttumbledown AndinthedustbeequalmadeWiththepoorcrookedscytheandspade J Shirley Con Thebourgeoisrevolutionfounditsstrongreflectioninliteratureofthistime JohnMilton JohnBunyan homework JohnMilton sParadiseLost source s ofthestory thestory thecharacters theepicelements thestyle thethemeorthemes 3 JohnMiltonLifeandWork 1 Boyhood WhenIwasyetachild nochildishplayTomewaspleasing allmymindwassetSerioustolearnandknow andthencetodoWhatmightbepublicgood myselfIthoughtBorntothatend borntopromotealltruth Allrighteousthings Con 2 CambridgeDaysHewasfrequentlychosentodeliverspeechesbeforethestudents inwhichhestronglycondemnedthesubjectsandmethodsofstudyatthecollege theresultofallwhichwas tomakeyouamorefinishedfool Hedefinedthetrueaimofknowledgeasmakingthespiritofmanto reachoutfarandwide untilitfillsthewholeworldandthespacefarbeyondwiththeexpansionofitsdivinegreatness Con 3 AtHorton HowsoonhathTime thesubtlethiefofyouth Stolensoonhiswingmythree and twentiethyear Myhastingdaysflyonwithfullcareer Butmylatespringnobudorblossomshew th Con Truepoetsaretheobjectofmyreverenceandloveandtheconstantsourcesofmydelight con 4 histravelontheContinent WhenIwaspreparingtopassoverintoSicilyandGreece themelancholyintelligencewhichfIreceivedofthecivilcommotionsinEnglandmademealtermypurpose forIthoughtitbasetobetravelingforamusementabroad whilemyfellow citizenswerefightingfortheirlibertyathome Con 5 Hispamphlets OfReformationinEngland hisseriesofpamphletsonmarriage Areopagitica inwhichheappealedforthefreedomofpress TruthiscomparedinScripturetoastreamingfountain ifherwatersflownotinaperpetualprogression theysickenintoamuddypoolofconformity Con 6 ThespokesmanoftheRevolution 4 ParadiseLost ParadiseLostisMilton smasterpiece Beforeitspublication hehadhadthesubjectbeforehismindforaquarterofacentury andmadesomedraftsaboutthecharactersandplot Itisalongepicin12books Thepoemisinblankverse Thesource ThestoriesweretakenfromtheOldTestament thecreation therebellioninHeavenofSatanandhisfellow angels theirdefeatandexpulsion thecreationoftheearthandofAdamandEve thefallenangelsinhellplottingagainstGod Satan stemptationofEve andthedepartureofAdamandEvefromHeaven Thetheme TojustifythewaysofGodtoman thesubmissiontotheAlmighty OrarevoltagainstGod sauthority TheimageofSatan Afterreadingthefollowingquotations whatyouwouldsayaboutSatan Awake arise orbeforeverfall n TurningourtorturesintohorridarmsAgainsttheTorturer BettertoreinginHell thanserveinHeav n Con Knowledgeforbidden Suspicious reasonless WhyshouldtheirLordEnvythemthat Canitbesintoknow Byignorance isthattheirhappystate Theproofoftheirobedienceandtheirfaith HenceIwillexcitetheirmindsWithmoredesiretoknow andtorejectEnviouscommands inventedwithdesignTokeepthemlowwhoseknowledgemightexaltEqualwithgods DoesitsoundliketheproudandsombrepoliticalpassionsofthepersecutedRepublicans FeaturesofMilton spoetry Miltonwaspoliticalinbothhisartandhislife Miltonisagreatstylist Heisfamousforhisgrandstyle whichistheresultofhislife longclassicalandbiblicalstudy Hisstylealwaysshowstheartattainedbydefiniteandobviousrhetoricaldevices Miltonisamasterofblankverse Miltonhasalwaysbeenadmiredforhissublimityofthoughtandmajestyofexpression 5 JohnBunyan JohnBunyan thesonofapoortinker Hissensitiveimagination HisenlistingoftheParliamentaryarmy Helivedinatimewhenpoliticalstrugglesadoptedtheformofreligiousstruggles Thepulpitwasthencontrolledbythearistocraticandbourgeoisclassed whilethepoormassesalsoinsistedontheirownrighttothinkandpreachtheirownreligion Con BunyanjoinedaBaptistsocietyofBedfordandbegantopreachamongthevillagerswithpowerfuleffect Hepreachedthetruthashesawitanddirectedhisattacksagainstsocialabusesandtheoppressorsofthepoor thecourtandthebourgeoisie AftertheRestoration hewasputintoprison Lifeintheprison heneveryieldedtohispersecutors Con Ifyouletmeouttoday Iwillpreachagaintomorrow Oh thethoughtsofthehardshipIthoughtmypoorblindonemightgounderwouldbreakmyhearttopieces Poorchild thoughtI whatsorrowthouartliketohaveforthyportioninthisworld thoumustbebeaten mustbeg sufferhunger cold nakedness andathousandcalamities thoughIcannotnowendurethatthewindshouldblowuponthee 6 Pilgrim s