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THE RESTORATION

THE RESTORATION. AN AGE OF REASON. Augustan and Neoclassical. There are many similarities between this period in England and ancient Rome and its literature. The Romans. In ancient Rome, the emperor Octavius 63BC – 14AD

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THE RESTORATION

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  1. THE RESTORATION AN AGE OF REASON

  2. Augustan and Neoclassical There are many similarities between this period in England and ancient Rome and its literature.

  3. The Romans • In ancient Rome, the emperor Octavius 63BC – 14AD • Changed his name to Augustus which means “the magnificent, grand, and exalted one”. • He restored peace and order after Julius Caesar’s death. • The Romans hailed Augustus as the second founder of Rome.

  4. The Stuarts • The Stuart monarchs also restored peace and order after the civil wars that led up to and followed the execution of King Charles I in 1649. • The English eventually brought back the son of Charles I and crowned him Charles II. • As a warning to future revolutionaries, they dug up the body of Oliver Cromwell, retried him for treason, and cut off his head.

  5. Literary Similarities • There was a new focus on Latin classics. • The classics represented what was permanent and universal in the “human experience”. • A new term was coined: Neoclassical which means “new classical”.

  6. Reason and Enlightenment • This age was characterized by rationalism – the act of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.

  7. In the past, people asked: Why did this happen? What did we do? How can we prevent it from happening again?

  8. They looked for signs or omens to predict the future.

  9. With these new ideas of rationalism and reasoning and the application of logic, people began asking: How did this happen? Can we duplicate this reaction? Can we create this reaction? And most importantly, Can we control this reaction?

  10. Men began computing celestial events • Eclipses • Edmund Haley 1656-1742 • Predicted an eclipse for May 2, 1721 • Comets • Haley computed the appearance of a comet • 1758, 1834, 1910, 1986, _______ . • The comet appears in 76 year intervals.

  11. In 1662, King Charles II commissioned the Royal Society of London for the Improving of Natural Knowledge. • They advocated the use of precise writing. • They required the use of Scientific Method.

  12. Disasters of London • 1665 Bubonic Plague kills 70,000. • 1666 London fires leave 2/3 of the population homeless.

  13. Changes in Religion With the new scientific explanations, religious perspectives began to change. • A new theory appeared • God created the Earth, but then stood back and let it run. • Deism: God does not interfere in day to day affairs. • “Whatever is right, is right’ • “All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”

  14. Religion and Politics • Religion greatly impacted the politics of the day. • Charles II restored the Church of England • He outlawed all of the various and independent sects, which resulted in the widespread persecution of some religious groups (Quakers, Puritans).

  15. The Bloodless Revolution • Charles II had no legitimate heir at the time of his death in 1685. • He is succeeded by his brother James II

  16. James II • Roman Catholic • Opposed by the English people • They believed that the Catholics were responsible for the London fires • Catholics were thought to be plotting to hand the country over to the Pope. • James II fled to France in 1688. • This was know as the “Bloodless” or “Glorious” Revolution.

  17. James II is succeeded by his protestant daughter. • Mary ruled England, with her husband William of Orange. • Childless • Signed the Bill of Rights which limited the power of the crown and reaffirmed the supremacy of Parliament.

  18. Mary is succeeded by her sister Anne • Anne rules successfully • Childless • Establishes the two political party system. • Tories: favored Royal power and opposed change. They also supported the Church of England • Whigs: favored reforms, progress, and Parliament. They supported religious freedom.

  19. Anne is succeeded by her cousin, a German, George I. • Following the reign of George I, his son George II became king. • George II was the king at the time of the American Revolution.

  20. Writers of the Age Jonathan Swift and Samuel Johnson • Members of the upper class • Did not support the class system

  21. John Dryden and Alexander Pope • Members of the upper class • Supported the class system

  22. John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe • Members of the lower class • Dissenters

  23. Entertainment of the Day • Theater was revived and for the first time, women were allowed to become actresses (although most were ostracized for doing so) • With woman in roles as actresses, a new focus on sexual relationships was explored. • Comedies reflected the lives of the rich and leisured

  24. There was a vast number of prose and verse writers • The Dissenters wrote for these “ordinary” or working class people. • Augustan qualities were held in esteem • Cleverness • Urbanity • worldliness

  25. Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift Although they were on opposite sides of the class issue, they both wrote for the educated and leisure classes. • They attacked these classes for their immorality and bad taste. • They loved: order, discipline, and craftsmanship. • They were appalled by: squalor and shoddiness in art, manners, and morals. • They discussed corruption, commercialism, and materialism. • They held to aristocratic values

  26. Daniel Defoe • Stood for middle class values such as: • Thrift, prudence, industry, and respectability. • Defoe had no interest in polished manners and social poise. • He followed a new profession: journalism • Followers of Defoe saw themselves as reporters and reformers.

  27. Samuel Johnson • Showed a great command of the language • Strong relationships • Conservative/traditional values • Combated • Belief in progress • People are naturally good • Created the first English dictionary

  28. Novels The novel form began with either Daniel Defoe or Henry Fielding • Daniel Defoe was best known for his novel: Robinson Crusoe – an adventure story which started an entire genre’.

  29. Henry Fielding • Joseph Andrews – an adventure story of life among the lower classes • Tom Jones – a story of a man who manages to rise up the class system and then falls, only to rise again. The main character is a con man and a master manipulator.

  30. Samuel Richardson • Pamela – a bawdy, racy story of a servant girl who has great adventures. Rated R Considered by many to be the first romance novel. • Clarissa – very similar to Pamela.

  31. Laurence Stern • Tristram Shandy – considered the first “stream of consciousness” novel. A comedic work. • Sentimental Journey – a story of one man’s adventures as he travels through France and Italy.

  32. Augustan Poetry • Composed in the mind, not in the heart. • Wrote elegies (positive poem about dead person) • Satire – says the worst things about a person (held to public ridicule) • Epic – extended story in poetic form • Ode – ambitious/pompous; expressing a public opinion • Nothing “natural”.

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