LITERARY PERIODS AND MOVEMENTS
Literary periods are historical time periods where literature shared certain general themes,
whereas literary movements are deliberate literary styles created by authors.
The Renaissance period (1550–1660)
The Renaissance, which means "rebirth" in French, typically refers to a period in European
history from A.D. 1400 to A.D. 1600
It bridged the periods of the Middle Ages and modern history, and, depending on the country,
overlaps with the Early Modern, Elizabethan and Restoration periods. The Renaissance is most
closely associated with Italy, where it began in the 14th century, though countries such as
Germany, England and France went through many of the same cultural changes and
phenomena.
The word Renaissance is an Italian word that means re-birth or regeneration or reawakening. It
was a revolution reviving the spirit of Greek and Latin learning. This revival of classical
knowledge is called the Renaissance. It conveys the idea that for centuries. It shows a larger
change in point of view. The Renaissance was essentially a European movement that originated
in Italy and then spread gradually to other countries of western and northern Europe like
Germany, France, and England.
Renaissance Wonder and Love of Beauty Both writers and readers of the Renaissance marveled
at the world, which seemed to be designed by a master artist or craftsman. Writers strove to be
as creative as the creator of the world. People of the Renaissance loved design and valued
beauty and elaboration. Today’s common minimalist writing style, which strives for the quickest
and shortest way to say anything, would neither have impressed nor interested readers and
writers of the Renaissance.
Alternatively labeled “the early modern period,” this era also saw the voyages of Columbus, the
development of the printing press, the Protestant Reformation, and the rise of centralized
monarchies. English writers expressed the vitality and volatility of the Renaissance/early
modern period in an outburst of prose, poetry, and drama that spanned the end of the
sixteenth century and the beginning of the seventeenth century. This quarter, we will focus on
Thomas More’s Utopia (1516), written in the wake of the first Spanish-sponsored voyages to
the Americas; a wide range of writings by and about Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558–1603), who
known as a “female king” and a “virgin queen”; and a pair of plays that address the intersection
of class, race, gender, and religion.
The English Renaissance has many important features. Some of the important features
areIntellectual rebirth, thirst for knowledge, freedom of thought and action, humanism,
scientific outlook, love for beauty, love for adventure, love for the remote past, the spirit of
discovery, individualism, desire for unlimited wealth, earthly pomp and power and so on.
1) The most important feature of the Renaissance is intellectual rebirth or regeneration. It
conveys the idea that for centuries. Europe had been dead intellectually and then by some
means, had recovered life. The rebirth or regeneration came to Italy first and then to other
European countries.
2) Freedom of thought and action is another important feature of the Renaissance. An
awakening of the minds of men, freedom of thought, and action were the dominant passions of
the Renaissance.
3) Thirst for knowledge is another important feature of the Renaissance. It was an age of great
curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Man desire to know the unknown and to see the unseen.
4) Scientific Outlook: During the Renaissance period, European explorers and scientists
contributed significantly to the development of inquiry.
5) Humanism is another important feature of the Renaissance. During the Elizabethan age,
there was the revival of classical learning which passion became with the people. The
rediscovery of Greek and Roman antiquity gave birth to a new culture and that is called
Humanism.
6) Love for adventure: The age Renaissance was an age of great curiosity and love for
adventure. During this age, people show their love for adventure. In the 15th century,
Columbus reached America and Vasco da Gama reached India. This kind of love for adventure
influences the Renaissance greatly.
7) Love for beauty is another feature of the Renaissance. Here beauty signifies the beauty of
culture, the beauty of the civilized world the beauty of women, and so on. We notice this kind
of love for beauty in Renaissance literature.
8) The desire for unlimited power and wealth is another important feature of the Renaissance.
England’s trade and Commerce improved and the country grew rich and prosperous.
English Renaissance can be divided as:-
I. Early Tudor Period (1485-1558)
II. Elizabethan Period (1558-1603)
III. Jacobean Period (1603-1625)
IV. Caroline Age (1625-1649) V. Commonwealth Period/Puritan Interregnum (1649-1660)
The Revival of Learning enlightenment of the human mind after the darkness of the Middle
Ages. the term Revival of Learning to cover the whole movement, whose essence was,
according to Lamartine, that “man discovered himself and the universe,” and, according to
Taine, that man, so long blinded, “had suddenly opened his eyes and seen.”
The beginning of the Tudor dynasty coincided with the first dissemination of printed matter.
William Caxton's press was established in 1476. Humanism became the most important force in
English literary and intellectual life, both in its narrow sense—the study and imitation of the
Latin classics—and in its broad sense—the affirmation of the secular, in addition to the
otherworldly, concerns of people.
Roger Ascham (1515-1568), a famous classical scholar, who published a book called
Toxophilus (School of Shooting) in 1545
The two greatest books which appeared in England during this period are undoubtedly
Erasmus’s[108] Praise of Folly (Encomium Moriae) and More’s Utopia, the famous “Kingdom of
Nowhere.”
Tyndale’s New Testament (1525)
Tyndale made his translation from the original Greek, and later translated parts of the Old
Testament from the Hebrew.
Wyatt and Surrey
In 1557 appeared probably the first printed collection of miscellaneous English poems, known
as Tottel’s Miscellany.The chief literary work of these two men, therefore, is to introduce the
sonnet and the blank verse
Malory’s Morte d’Arthur
The Morte d’Arthur, a collection of the Arthurian romances told in simple and vivid prose.
Le Morte D’Arthur is the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, beginning
with Arthur’s conception and birth, and concluding with his death at the hands of his bastard
son, Mordred.
Elizabethan age
The Golden Age of England
• The Renaissance
• The Shakespearean Age
• The 1st great age of Drama & the 2nd great age of Poetry
Literary Features of the Elizabethan Age
1. Popularity of Poetry Lyrics, songs, & sonnets were produced in huge amount. England
became the nest of the singing birds. There were notable improvements in versification.
Era of Sonnet
Sonnet was popularized in this period. It was introduced by Thomas Wyatt early in the 16th
century. He introduced Petrarchan sonnet. Shakespeare made changes to the Italian model and
introduced his own style, now known as the English Sonnet or Shakespearean Sonnet.
Prose
For the first time in the history of English literature, prose was of first-rate importance. The
heavy burden of the Latin was disappearing while English prose gained a tradition & universal
application. Rapid development during this period was almost inevitable.
3. Emergence of Renaissance
In the Elizabethan age, there were two potent forces- the Renaissance and the Reformation.
Both the forces blended and co-operated each other. These two movements produced a great
uplifting of the spirit.
4. New Classicism
The new passion for classical learning was a rich and worthy enthusiasm
5. Development of Drama
Drama, during the Elizabethan age, made a rapid & glorious leap into maturity. The drama was
perfectly molded in the hands of Shakespeare & Ben Jonson perfectly developed drama
6. Abundance of Output
During the Elizabethan Age, the historical situation encouraged a rich & healthy production of
the literature of all kinds. A lot of interest was shown in literary subjects. Treaties and
pamphlets were written freely uplifting the quality of the literary output.
Translations in Elizabethan Age
The Elizabethan age observed several important foreign books translation in the English
language. By 1579, many of the great books of ancient & modern times had been translated
into English
translations also gained popularity:
Plutarch's Lives Translation by Sir Thomas North
Montaigne's Essais translation by John Florio
Spirit of Independence
Even though the writers borrowed literature from abroad, this age depicted an unbound spirit
of independence & creativeness. Shakespeare openly borrowed literature, but with his splendid
creative imaginations, he transformed everything into gold. ‘Spenserian Stanza’ was introduced
by Spenser.
“Such were some of the conditions which combined to create the spirit of Shakespeare’s age –
An age in which men lived intensely, thought intensely and wrote intensely.” -W.H Hudson-
ELIZABETHAN AGE (1558-1625)
The Elizabethan age is supposed to begin in 1558 and ended in 1625. Although Queen Elizabeth
sat on throne of England in 1558 and she died in 1603, the Romantic literary spirit continued till
1625. The period 1603-1625 is also known as the Jacobean Age in the history of English
literature as James-1 (Jacob) ruled over England during this period.
This period is generally regarded as the greatest in the history of our literature. It is also known
as the Golden age of English literature. Historically it is known as the age of Renaissance and
the Reformation. It was marked by a strong national spirit and patriotism. The defeat of Spanish
Aramada in 1589 filled the English with the sprit of nationalism. Shakespeare is the most
significant figure of the Elizabethan age. Though the age produced some excellent prose works,
it is essentially an age of poetry; and the poetry is remarkable for its variety, its freshness its
youthful and romantic feeling.
Both the poetry and the drama were permeated by Italian influence, which was dominant in
English literature from Chaucer to the Restoration. The literature of this age is often called the
literature of the Renaissance, though as we have seen, the Renaissance itself began much
earlier, and for a century and a half added very little to our literary possessions.
In our study of this great age we should note the nondramatic poets, that is, poets who did not
write for the stage. The center of this group is Edmund Spenser, the first national poet since
Chaucer's death in 1400. His most famous works are 'The Faery Queen' , "Shepherd's Calendar"
and "Amoretti". Associated with Spenser are the minor poets, Thomas Sackville, Michael
Drayton, George Chapmas and Sir Philip Sidney. Chapman is noted for his completion of
Marlowe's "Hero and Leander". Sidney, besides his poetry, wrote his prose romance "Arcadia"
We should also note The Rise of the drama in England; the Miracle plays, Morality Plays and
Interludes; our first play, "Ralph Royster Doyster"; the first true English comedy "Gammar
Gurton's Needle and the first tragedy "Godboruc". Shakespeare is the pioneer figure of this age.
He will be separately dealt with.
Shakespeare's predecessors John Lyly, Thomas Kyd, Thomas Nash, George Peele, Robert
Greene, Christopher Marlow and Thomas Lodge are known as seven university wits The drama
practiced by them is known as The Marlowesque Drama or tragedy of passion. The comedy of
this age is also known as the Romantic comedy. Ben Jonson is known for his Comedy of
humours. His chief comedies are "Every Man in his Homour" (His first play) and "The
Alchemist".
Marlowe is the greatest of Shakespeare's predecessors. His four influential plays are
"Tamburlaine', Dr. Faustus', 'The Jew of Malta", and "Edward II".
Among Shakespeare's successors are Beaumont, Fletcher, Webster, Middleton, Heywood, and
Dekker;
We should see the prose writers of whom Bacon is the most notable. His chief philosophical
work is the Instauratio Magna (incomplete), which includes the 'Advancement of Learning but
he is known to literary readers by his famous "Essays" OR "Councels Civil or Moral" published in
three editions 1597(10), 1612 (), 1625(58). John Lyly is the second most important figure in
prose writings. His "Euphues" or "The Anatomy of Wit" is a prose romance. His style is very
verbose and decorative giving us the literary term Euphuism.
Some important facts to be noted (Elizabethan Age)
1) Steel Glass (1576) of Gascoigne was the first verse Satire.
2) Sackville's "The Induction" was the first single poem of worth attention.
3) Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar (1579) was a pastoral poem.
4) Spenser's Amoretti is a collection of 88 sonnets. Here he seems to be inspired from Italian
poet Petrarch. His Love sonnets express his love for Elizabeth Boyle whom he married in 1594.
5) His Epithalamium is the noblest wedding Hymn.
6) His Faery Queen (1589-1596) was written in the Epic form. It was to be written in 12 books
but he could write only 6 of them. It expresses the adventures of King Arthur, the hero who is
also a link in all the books of the same. Spenser's The Feary Queen was modeled on Aristo's
"Orlando Furioso". Lady Una is a character in The Feary Queen. It is written in Spenserian
stanzas (9 lines stanza rhyme scheme ababbcbcc)
7) Spenser's Astrophel (1586) is an Elegy written to mourn the death of Philip Sidney.
8) Lamb praises Spenser by referring to him as poets' poet. Wordsworth says him "Brother,
Englishman and Friend."
9) Shakespeare's Sonnets (154) are a also a worth reading which were published in 1609
10) Sir Philip Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella" (1598) is a sonnet sequence addressed to his
beloved
11) Licentious poetry is a term applied to the poems of voluptuous descriptions of physical
beauty included women. Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonais" and Marlowe's "Hero and
Leander" are the poems of this category.
12) Tyndale's version forms the basis of the AUTHORISED VERSION of Bible published in 1616.
13) Sir Philip Sidney's "Aracadia" is an idyllic pastoral country. The story is about love Chivalry
and the adventures of the knights.
14) Sidney's An Apology for Poetry is a reply to Stephen Gosson's A School of Abuse 15) The
first play houses in England were built in 1576. They were the Theatre and the Curtain. They
were closed in 1642 and reopened in 1660.
1- Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)
• The Faerie Queene
• The Shepherd's Calendar
• Amoretti
• Epithalamion
• Prothalamion
• Mother Hubbard's Tale
• The Ruis of Time
• The Tears of the Muses
• Astrophel
2- Philip Sidney
• An Apologies for the poetry
• Arcadia
• Astrophel and Stella
• The Lady of May
3- Ben Jonson
• Everyman in His Humour
• Every Man out of His Humour
• Volpone or the Fox
• Cynthia's Revels G-HELP
• The Alchemist
• Bartholomew Fayre
• Epicene of the Silent Women
• Sejanus His Conspiracy
• The Poetaster
• The Devil as an Ass
• The Masque of Beauty
4- Thomas Sackville
• The Myrroure for Magistrates
• Gorboduc
5- George Gascoigne
• Steel Glass
• Supposes
• Jocasta
6- William Shakespeare
• The Two Gentlemen of Verona
• The Merry Wives of Windsor
• Measure for Measure
• The Comedy of Errors
• Lave's Labour Lost
• The Taming of the Shrew
• All's Well that Ends Well
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• The Merchant of Venice
• Much Ado About Nothing
• As You Like It
• Much Ado About Nothing
• As You Like It
• Romeo and Juliet
• Macbeth
• Hamlet
• King Lear
• Othello
• Antony and Cleopatra
• Julius CaesarTimon of Athens
• Coriolanus G-HE
• King John
• King Richard the Second
• King Henry the Fourth
• Cymbeline
• Pericles
• The Winter's Tale
• The Tempest
• Venus and Adonis
7- Christopher Marlowe
• Tamburlaine the Great
• Edward II
• Doctor Faustus
• The Jew of Malta
• The Tragedy of Dido
8- George Peele
• The Arraignment of Paris
• The Famous Chronicle of King Edward I
9- Robert Greene
• Frier Bacon and Frier Bungey
• Orlando Furioso
• Pandosto
10- Thomas Nash
• The Unfortunate Traveller
11-Thomas Lodge
• The Wounds of Civil War
• Rosalynde G
12- Thomas Kyd
• The Spanish Tragedy
13- John Lyly
• Euphues The Anatomy of Wit
• Euphues and His England
• Endymion
14- Francis Bacon
• Essays
• The Advancement of
• Learning
• The New Atlantis
• Novum Organum
15- Sir Thomas Moore
• Utopia
16- Sir Walter Raleigh
• History of the World
17- Raphael Holinshed
• Chronicles of ENGLAND
18- Richard Hooker
• Ecclesiastical Polity
Jacobean literature, body of works written during the reign of James I of England (1603–25).
The successor to Elizabethan literature, Jacobean literature was often dark in mood,
questioning the stability of the social order; some of William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies
may date from the beginning of the period, and other dramatists, including John Webster, were
often preoccupied with the problem of evil.
The era’s comedy included the acid satire of Ben Jonson and the varied works of Francis
Beaumont and John Fletcher. Jacobean poetry included the graceful verse of Jonson and the
Cavalier poets but also the intellectual complexity of the Metaphysical poetry of John Donne
and others. In prose, writers such as Francis Bacon and Robert Burton showed a new toughness
and flexibility of style. The era’s monumental prose achievement was the King James Version of
the Bible (1611).
The Jacobean Age (1603-1625)
This age is named after James I who reigned England from 1603 to 1625. Theword ‘’Jacobean’’
is derived from ‘’Jacobus’’, the Latin version of James. Somehistorians like to call the last five
years of this age as a part of another agewhich they call The Puritan Age (1620-1660). They call
it so because inbetween 1620 and 1660 Puritanism became the driving force in the life
andliterature of England.
The important elements of this age were:
1. Colonial territories were expanded.
2. Religious conflict that subsided in the Elizabethan age, revived in this period.
Protestants were divided into three sects:
1. Anglicans
2. Presbyterians
3. Renaissance’s influence continued.
4. Scotland was brought under the rule of the king of England.
Major Writers and Their Major Works:
1. Shakespeare, who had started in the Elizabethan Period, wrote twelve serious
plays in this period. Those plays are:
1. Measure for Measure (1604),
2. Othello (1604),
3. Macbeth (1605),
4. King Lear (1605),
5. Antony and Cleopatra (1606),
6. Coriolanus (1606),
7. Timon of Athens (unfinished-1608),
8. Pericles(in part-1608),
9. Cymbeline (1609),
10. The Winter’s Tale (1610),
11. The Tempest (1611),
12. Henry VIII (in part-1613).
Though Shakespeare had written his serious plays in the Jacobean Age, he is called an
Elizabethan dramatist and never the Jacobean. The period (1590-1616) in which he wrote is
also called Shakespearean Age.
2. Ben Jonson, who had started in the Elizabethan period, wrote his famous plays in this period:
Volpone (1605), The Silent Woman (1609), The Alchemis t(1610).
3. Francis Bacon also continued to write in this period: Advancement of Learning, Novum
Orgum. Some new essays were added to the new edition ofhis Essays (1625).
4. King James I, known as the Wisest Fool, instituted the translation of the Bibleinto English in
1611. Its language became the standard of English prose.
5. John Webster (1580-1625): The White Devil (1612), The Duchess of Malfi(1614).
6. Cyril Tourneur (1575-1626): The Revenger’s Tragedy (1600), The Atheist’sTragedy (1611).
7. John Donne (1572-1632) and George Herbert (1593-1633), the metaphysical poets, started
writing in this period. Literary Features of the Period: Drama still remained the main mode of
expression. The dramatists practiced classical rules of drama. Elizabethan idealization of love
and romance almost died out. Poetry took a new and startling turn.
The word “Caroline” comes from the name “Charles,” king of England from 1625 to 1649.
This age is also a part of the Puritan Age (1620-1660). The important events of this period were:
(1) There was a long civil war between "Cavaliers" and "Roundheads". Those who supported the
king were called "Cavaliers" Most of them were lords and their dependants. "Roundheads"
were those who supported parliament. Most of them were puritans. A group of lyric poets
associated with the " Cavaliers" are called "Cavalier poets". Richard Lovelace, Sir John Suckling,
Robert Herrick and Thomas Carew were the members of this group. These poets are also called
Sons of Ben as they were the admirers and followers of Ben Jonson. Their lyrics are trivial, gay,
witty and often licentious.
(2) In 1642 English theatre was officially closed. On 14 June 1643 Licensing Order for printing
was passed.
(3) The Cavaliers were defeated; the king was caught and publicly beheaded on 30thJanuary,
1649. His death marked the dissolution of monarchy for the time being.
(4) English colonies were further expanded.
(5) Oliver Cromwell emerged as a puritan leader and came to power in 1649.
Caroline Era
The Age of Caroline is an age in British history that is named for Charles I. It lasted from 1625 to
1649. It is made up of three poetic schools— Metaphysical, Cavalier and Puritan.
Puritan Poetry
Puritanism began in England in the 17th century. The poets who were part of this movement
did not agree with the use of a great deal of figurative language, like metaphors, and refrained
from using overly poetic language. Some of the best-known puritan poets are John Milton,
Anne Bradstreet, and John Dryden.
Cavalier Poetry
The Cavalier Poets were a group of writers from the 17th century in England. They are generally
defined by their class and the fact that they originated from that which supported Charles I
during the English Civil War. Sometimes, the cavalier poets were looked down on because they
created the art that King Charles was interested in and often worked in his service. Poets of this
movement include Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew, and Richard Lovelace.
Metaphysical Poetry
Metaphysical poetry is marked by the use of elaborate figurative languages, original conceits,
paradoxes, and philosophical topics. Important writers of this movement included George
Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and Henry Vaughan. John Donne is the best-known metaphysical
poet. His poetry is often cited as the best example of the movement.
One of the most prominent characteristics of this movement is the spoken quality of the
poetry, something that many other writers of that time did not approve of. Other common
features include the use of colloquial diction, philosophical exploration, new and original
conceits, irony, and the relaxed use of the meter.
Literary Features: This age is not an age of drama. Drama collapsed because of the civil war and
puritanical attack. Sermons, pamphlets, history and philosophy were written in prose.
Metaphysical poetry was the main literary product of the age.
The best-known of the Cavalier Poets were: Robert Herrick: a lyric poet who is best-
known for this work Hesperides. It includes some of the best examples of carpe diem, or seize
the day, poems. Such as ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.’ He wrote over 2,500 poems
during his lifetime and most of these appear in Hesperides. Often, they reference love,
lovemaking, and the female body. As his writing progressed, he moved on to more spiritual
themes.
Richard Lovelace: another important cavalier poet. He fought for Charles I during the English
Civil War. His bestknown poems are ‘To Althea, from Prison’ and ‘To Lucasta, Going to the
Warres.’
Thomas Carew: a notable cavalier poet whose work was not adequately studied and
appreciated until the 20th century. His best-known work, ‘A Rapture,’ is a great representative
of his broader oeuvre. His poems were generally short and dealt with themes of love, female
beauty,
Sir John Suckling: rose to prominence during the 17th century for his witty poems. He is best
known for ‘Ballade upon a Wedding’ and his joyful attitude toward life. His collection,
Fragmenta Aurea first appeared in 1646. He’s also noted for his dramatic works, like “Aglaura.”
Metaphysical poetry was at its peak during the seventeenth century in England and continental
Europe. The movement explored everything from irony to philosophy and conceits.
The word metaphysical is a combination of the prefix of "meta" meaning "after" with the word
"physical." The phrase “after physical” refers to something that cannot be explained by science.
The term "metaphysical poets" was first coined by the writer Samuel Johnson in a chapter from
his "Lives of the Poets" (1779)
Metaphysical Poetry - The term 'Metaphysical' is loosely applied to a group of 17th century
poets who did not belong to a school of poetry, but were united by "common characteristics of
wit, inventiveness, and a love of elaborate stylistic manoeuvres" (lan Ousby). Their poetry was
rich in intellectual complexity. William Drummond of Hawthornden coined the term
metaphysical however, John Dryden was the first to use this term in his criticism of Donne in
Discourse of Satire (1693). Dryden had stated that Donne in his poetry "affects the
Metaphysics...in his amorous verses, where nature only should reign; and perplexes the minds
of the fair sex with nice speculations of philosophy, when he should engage their hearts." While
Dryden had used the term in reference to Donne, Samuel Johnson extended it to a group of
poets. In The Lives of the Poets (1779).
Johnson stated that about the beginning of the 17th century appeared a race of writers that
may be termed the metaphysical poets". Both Dryden and Johnson had used the term
'metaphysical' in a negative sense to criticise the excesses of this group of poets. Johnson
believed the metaphysical poets only wanted to show their learning. In their poetry "The most
heterogenous ideas were yoked by violence together".
Major Metaphysical Poets:
•John Donne
•Andrew Marvell
•Henry Vaughan.
•George Herbert
•Richard Crashaw
Common Features of Metaphysical Poetry:
•Metaphysical poetry is characterized by a subtle complex and concentrated thought.
•It is intellectually rigorous.
•It employs bold and ingenious conceits, also called metaphysical conceits. Johnson
•called it "A combination of dissimilar images" eg. in his poem A Valediction:
•forbidding Mourning, Donne compares the two lovers to a compass.
•It employs unusual images taken from different fields of knowledge history.
•geography, astronomy, alchemy, mathematics etc.
•It has a dramatic quality to it and often has an abrupt aggressive opening.
•It frequently makes use of paradox
Examples of Metaphysical Poems by famous poets
Example #1: The Collar by George Herbert George Herbert, 'The Pulley'.
Example #2: The retreat by Henry Vaughan
Example #3: To his Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell Andrew Marvell, ‘The Definition of Love’.
Example #4: A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne John Donne, 'The Flea‘ John
Donne, 'The Sun Rising'
The Age of Miltion (1625-1660)
The age of Milton can be divided in to two phases. The first phase is the Caroline Period i.e.
1625- 1649. The term Caroline is derived from the word "Carolus"; the Latin version of
"Charles". It was the time of the reign of Charles I. The second is the Commonwealth period
i.e.1649-1660. This was the time of English Civil war. The supporters of the king were known as
the Cavaliers and the supporters of the parliament were known as the Roundheads.
The Age is also known as the Puritan age. The Puritanism may be defined as the renaissance of
the moral sense of man. It was the greatest movement of the moral and political reform. The
basic demand of this movement was the freedom of religion as well as the freedom of
expression. The famous poet Milton was the stern Puritan
Milton is the chief figure of this period. Then there are the poets better known as the
CAVALIERS like Richard Lovelace, Sir John Suckling Thomas Carew, Robert Herrick (Noble
Numbers) George Herbert (The Tample), Edmund Waller (Poems, 1645) and John Denham. As
most of them followed Ben Jonson they are called the "sons of Ben" or "the tribe of Ben."
In the field of prose Robert Burton (Anatomy of Melancholy, 1621) Sir Thomas Browne (Religio
Medici, 1642) Jeremy Taylor (Holy Living and Holy Dying) are some of the famous authors.
The age of Milton is also remarkable for the Character Writers The 17th century Character was
a new prose form. A Character is a very short sketch of an Individual who is much more a type
than an individual. The intention of the character writer is reformative, and his instruments are
irony and satire. To understand it better, we can say these characters are not different from the
humours of the Ben Jonson. Like most English genres this term is also imported from the Greek
psychologist Theophrastus (372 -287 BC). The Character writers like Joseph Hall (Characters of
Virtues and Vices), Sir Thomas Overbury, Butler and John Earle form the basis of our study of
this age in respect to the character writers.Overbury's "Characters" has 83 essays
Do You Know?
1) Hesperides (1648) by Robert Herrick is a famous collection of lyrics.
2) The Licensing Act (1647) checked the freedom of speech..
3) Legouis said Suckling's "poems are charming verses on nothing.
4) John Donne did not feel proud of calling himself "Son of Ben"
4) The famous author Middleton's "Women Beware Women" which is about an Italian
prostitute is later reflected in TS Eliot's "The Waste Land“
5) Theaters were closed in the year 1642 and reopened in the year 1660.
6) "To His Coy Mistress" is a poem by Marvell whereas "The Mistress" is a poem by Cowley.
7) Donne is known as the "saint of the Metaphysical school".
8) Marvell was the only Puritan among the metaphysical poets
The Life and Carrier of John Milton:
Milton is the second most important author of the study of English Literature next only to
William Shakespeare. He was born in Bred Street, Cheapside London on 9th of December in
1608. He was educated at St. Paul's school and also at Christ's college .He remained at
Cambridge University for seven years taking his B.A and M.A. He fought against the Royalists as
he was the supporter of the Parliament. On the establishment of the Commonwealth he was
made the Latin Secretary to the committee of foreign affairs.
In 1643 he married Mary Powel, the young daughter of a Royalist but the union proved to be
the unhappy one. When he was 44 years old ( in 1653) he became blind. He married Catherine
Woodcock second time but she passed away with in 15 months. His third wife Elizabeth
Minshull was an object of comfort when he was tortured during the Restoration. of the
Monarchy. He died on 8th November 1674. Milton is chiefly remembered for his Sublimity, high
seriousness and his tremendous use of blank Verse.
Wordsworth rightly said, "His soul was like a star, and dwelt apart" Dr. Samuel Johnson in his
"Life of Milton" considers his blank verse to be "harsh and unequal". William Hazlitt is not of the
view. He says that "Milton's blank verse is the only verse in the language the deserves the name
of verse"
His Works:
1 On the Morning of Christ's nativity (Written on the biblical subject) (1629)
2 Horton Period (1631-1637)
1 L' Allegro Il Penseroso (1633)
2 Comus (1634) It is a masque. It tells the story of a lustful magician Comus Twobrothers and
their sister Alice get lost in a forest from their way to castle. The sister isseparated from her
brothers and falls in the hands of Comus. Alice with her chastity foils Comus's attempts to
entice her. Alice is saved by her two brothers with the help of Sabrina; the goddess of the River
There is much of poetry than the story in the work.
3 Lycidus (1637) It is a pastoral elegy written on the death of his friend Edward King Besides all
the pastoral conventions the poem is built on the idea of Puritanism
4 His famous sonnets are "On His Blindness". "On His Twenty Third Birthday" and "When The
Assault was Intended" (all Petrarchan sonnets)
3 Areopagitica (1644). It is written in the form of the prose. The complete title is"Areopagitica,a
speech of John Milton For The Liberty of Unlicensed printing To TheParliament of England",
Milton here reacted to the restrictions on the press by theparliament.
4 Paradise Lost (1667) ( finished in 1665, 12 books) It is the greatest among the works of Milton
It is written in the form of the Epic Here Milton tries to assert "eternal providence" as to "justify
the ways of God to man“
5 Paradise Regained (1671) This Work is also in the Epic form The spirit of Puritanism is also to
be found here mentioning the conflict between good and evil.
Samson Agonistes (1671): It is written in the form of the classical tragedy. The plot of the
tragedy is from Bible. Samson is presented as a blind prisoner of the Philistines He is visited first
by a friend of his tribe, then by his father then by his false wife Delia and then by: Harapha (a
wrestler who taunts him) He is then taken to the governor's building to show his strength and
to amuse the crowd. The blind Samson in his rage kills himself and his captors by pulling down
the massive pillars and collapsing the palace.
