Chapter 4 The 17th Century Literature

1、The Seventeenth Century(1616 1688)I. Historical Background 1603 James I 1625 Charles I 1642 Civil War 1649 Charles I - death; England - Commonwealth; Oliver Cromwell - the leader of the country Charles I - royalists or “Cavaliers” Parliament - republicans or “Roundheads” 1653 Cromwells military dict

2、atorship 1660 Charles II “Restoration” 1685 James II - expelled 1688 William of Orange and Mary “Glorious Revolution” Constitutional MonarchyII. Literature of the 17th Century1. The Revolution Period - Age of Milton(1) general characteristics divided in spirit filled with gloom and pessimism without

3、 romantic ardor(2) genres:v poetryv political pamphlets - John Bunyan: The Pilgrims Progress(3)three groups of poets: Metaphysical Poets - John Donne - the founder of the Metaphysical School - George Herbert - the saint of Metaphysical SchoolThe Metaphysical poems are characterized by mysticism in c

4、ontent and fantasticality in form.Cavalier Poets - Sir John Suckling - Richard Lovelace - Thomas Carew - Robert HerrickRevolutionary Poets - John Milton (2epics: Paradise Lost; Paradise Regained; Samson Agonistes)2. The Restoration Period(1) general characteristics the tendency of vulgar realism in the drama a general formalism the development of a simpler and more direct prose style the prevalence of the heroic couplet in poetry(2) genre:vdrama, esp. worldly, witty comedies(3) Writers William Congreve - playwrights John Dryden - the f