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British Literature

British Literature. Unit IV The Age of Reason 1650- 1780. Before the Age of Reason. Difference is most clearly seen in views about nature Natural occurrences had been seen as direct interference of God with nature

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British Literature

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  1. British Literature Unit IV The Age of Reason 1650- 1780

  2. Before the Age of Reason • Difference is most clearly seen in views about nature • Natural occurrences had been seen as direct interference of God with nature • Comets were warnings; plagues showed God’s wrath; witches ruined crops; fairies caused infant deaths

  3. The Scientific Method • 1687 Isaac Newton published Principia Mathematica • Began with analysis of facts • Developed explanation • Formulated mathematical explanation • Tested by experiment • Underlying assumption- nature is a system governed by laws, capable of being expressed mathematically

  4. Effects of the New View • Resolved old fears and anxieties • Yet created problems • Raised questions about religious assumptions • Other disciplines tried to achieve similar results, yet difficult to find scientific explanation for human nature or society

  5. The Restoration • Age of Reason began with rejection of the Puritans and religious extremism • May 29, 1660, Charles Stuart (an exile in France) took the throne as Charles II • English people exhausted by 20 years of religious and political conflict • Restored the monarchy and the old church

  6. Restoration Ended • After 25 years, Charles II died. • James II was the next king, a Roman Catholic • English expelled James II in 1688 • Parliament invited his daughter, and her Protestant husband, William of Orange, to rule • William and Mary ruled from 1689 to 1702

  7. Queen Anne • Mary’s sister, Queen Anne, ruled from 1702-1714 • She died without an heir

  8. King George • Parliament invited George I from Germany to rule • Since George I could not speak English, Parliament ruled

  9. A Writer’s Life • Difficult during this time period • Could not yet make money through sale of books • Aristocratic patron supplied extra income • Literary fashion changed too • Prose and poetry became plain spoken, and more scientific

  10. The Augustan Age • Writers of this time saw a parallel between the stability of their time, and the time of Rome under Caesar Augustus • Wrote epics, satires, elegies, and tragedies, just like the Romans had • Much is written from middle class point of view and directed against aristocrats

  11. Growing Middle Class • Middle class, shop keepers, traders, merchants gained in numbers, power, and self confidence • New wealth allowed them to buy books • Writers turned from relying on aristocratic patrons to the open market • Middle class readers liked reading about people like themselves in novels

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