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Unit 4: The Puritan Age 1625-1660. Unit 4: The Puritan Age. History: Political Turmoil
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Unit 4: The Puritan Age • History: Political Turmoil • In 1625 Charles I, following in his father’s footsteps, strongly espoused the divine right of kings. In his arrogance, he found many problems with Parliament, thus, dismissing Parliament from 1629 till 1640, called the “Eleven Years’ Tyranny.” He was forced to sign Petition of Right which limited his power. • The English Civil War (1642-1646) erupted over England, Scotland, and Ireland with the loyal Cavaliers pitted against the Roundheads led by Oliver Cromwell. • Victoriously, Cromwell established the Interregnum, which lasted eleven years, and had King Charles I beheaded. After dissolving Parliament, he then became no more than a military dictator as he established himself as the Lord Protectorate. • Much weaker than his father, Richard Cromwell was overthrown, and Charles II, brought from exile in France, was restored to the throne in 1660.
Unit 4: The Puritan Age • History: Scientific Advances • The Royal Society was the first English scientific academy founded by Puritans. • Sir Isaac Newton wrote Principia. • William Gilbert wrote the first English science book. • Several other scientists were making breakthrough discoveries including William Harvey discovered the circulation of blood, Robert Boyle who was the “Father of Modern Chemistry,” Edmund Halley who predicted Halley’s comet, and Robert Hooke who first saw a living cell.
Unit 4: The Puritan Age • Literature: The Puritans • The masterpieces of the age were written by Puritans. • The greatest poet of all time and the second greatest writer in English literature was John Milton who wrote Paradise Lost, England’s greatest epic • The greatest prose writer of the age John Bunyan produced Pilgrims Progress, England’s greatest allegory • In their strong conviction and influence, they had the theaters closed for eighteen years because of the vulgar content rife within drama after Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.
Unit 4: The Puritan Age • Literature: The Cavaliers • As opposed to the Puritans, both the Cavalier poets and the metaphysical poets were Royalists who remained loyal to the king and the Anglican Church. • They were lyricists of a lighter vein who emphasized the pleasures of this world and wrote love songs to or about women. • Their style was graceful, polished, and light-hearted. • Most Cavaliers were soldiers and courtiers such as Richard Lovelace, Sir John Suckling, Robert Herrick, George Wither, and Edmund Waller.
Unit 4: The Puritan Age • Literature: The Metaphysical Poets • In contrast to the Cavalier poets, the Metaphysical poets were interested in the things of the mind, soul, and eternity. • The leader of the Metaphysical poets was John Donne with George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Henry Vaughan, and Thomas Traherne closely following his example. • They were especially known for fusing passionate feeling and logical argument using rich imagery and metaphysical conceits [unusual comparisons] to express spiritual truths.