Restoration Period

When did the Renaissance Period end and the Restoration Period begin When did the Renaissance Period end and the Restoration Period begin? A number of dates could be used to hallmark the change.

The Restoration 1625-1798 Charles II (r. 1625-1649)

1625: James I, Elizabeth I’s successor, dies and Charles I, his son, inherits the throne  Self-righteous, arrogant, and unscrupulous; he had a penchant for making bad decisions. His troubles began the moment he ascended the throne in 1625 upon the death of his father James I. Charles simultaneously alienated both his subjects and his Parliament, prompting a series of events that ultimately lead to civil war, his own death and the abolition of the English monarchy. Charles' problems revolved around religion and a lack of money.

1642 Struggle between the king’s supporters, Cavliers, and the Parliament’s supporters, the Roundheads

The English Civil War Charles I’s clashes with Parliament led to revolt and his execution in 1649. England is left without a monarch for almost a decade The Puritan Oliver Cromwell and Parliament ruled until Cromwell’s death in 1658, but his policies had alienated much of the country.

The Restoration of the Monarchy 1660 Tired of the wars and contention of the past 20 years, Parliament invited Charles II back from exile in France Charles brought back with him a love of fashion, the arts, and reopened theaters. Allowed people to celebrate holidays. (All forbidden under Puritan rule)

Monarchy of England restored after years of harsh Parliamentary Dictatorship * French influence * Divine Right * Catholic

London Disasters: 1664: plague outbreak kills thousands

1666: The Great Fire     Although the loss of life was minimal (some sources say only sixteen perished), the magnitude of the property loss was staggering. Some 430 acres, as much as 80% of the city proper was destroyed, including 13,000 houses, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of citizens found themselves homeless and financially ruined. Burned for four days.

More Trouble James II succeeded Charles II in 1685. 1685: James II, Charles II’s brother, becomes king A devout Catholic, James clashed with Parliament over religion.

alienates virtually every politically and * alienates virtually every politically and militarily significant segment of English society * attempts to Catholicize the army and the government * packs parliament with supporters, BUT the final straw…

HE HAD A SON THAT WOULD BE RAISED CATHOLIC! Fear of Catholic tyrannyThe Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689 replaced the reigning king, James II, with the joint monarchy of his protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William of Orange. It was the keystone of the Whig (those opposed to a Catholic succession) history of Britain. need to understand the deep-seated fear of 'popery' in Stuart England.

The Glorious Revolution In 1688 Parliament invited Mary, the protestant daughter of the king and her husband, William of Orange, to rule jointly. James II fled to France. No blood was shed and there was much rejoicing.

Limiting Royal Power In 1689 Parliament passed a Bill of Rights, limiting the power of the monarchy In succeeding years, a cabinet of ministers led by the Prime Minister would gradually begin to rule England.

Social Trends As agricultural practices improved, towns and cities grew because less workers were needed on farms. Industrialization and inventions after 1750 led to growth of large factories in cities and increased wealth.

The Enlightenment--The Age of Reason “How” questions replaced “Why” questions about nature, the human body, and the universe. Most philosophers and scientists remained very religious. View of God changed, with Deism becoming widely accepted among intellectuals.

The Enlightenment--The Age of Reason Superstitions concerning natural phenomena were dispelled. Edmund Halley predicted the path of comets and when they would occur.

The Enlightenment--The Age of Reason By the end of this era progress, for many, was equated with misery. Some began to lose faith in man’s ability to solve every problem with reason.

This is also the period of the American Revolution (Go Yankees This is also the period of the American Revolution (Go Yankees!); the French Revolution (Cie la guerre!); the Agricultural Revolution (Drive those poor farmers off their land!); and….

the Industrial Revolution (Stomp the working classes into the mud and pollute everything!) Cough, Cough.

Hence, another name frequently given to this time period is the Age of…..

Writing of the Restoration The style was witty, sophisticated, and self-conscious. There was a fondness for satire. Aphorisms—short statements that express a viewpoint or truth—were popular. Samuel Johnson

METAPHYSICAL POETRY

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the natural world. It is the study of being and reality. It asks fundamental questions such as: “Is there a God?” and “What is man’s place in the universe?” This study also includes questions of space, time, causality, existence, and possibility.

Definition of “metaphysical”: concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth designating or pertaining to the poetry of an early group of 17th-century English poets, notably John Donne, whose characteristic style is highly intellectual and philosophical and features intensive use of ingenious conceits and turns of wit

Metaphysical poetry was written in the 17th century by British poets. These poets did not term themselves “metaphysical poets,” the name came much later as Samuel Johnson attempted to classify the type of poetry that came from this period.

What is a metaphysical poem? Metaphysical poetry is concerned with the whole experience of man, but the intelligence, learning and seriousness of the poets means that the poetry is about the profound areas of experience especially - about love, romantic and sensual; about man's relationship with God - the eternal perspective, and, to a less extent, about pleasure, learning and art.

concerned with the whole experience of man poetry is about the profound areas of experience especially - about love, romantic and sensual about man's relationship with God the eternal perspective to a less extent, about pleasure, learning and art.

Metaphysical poems are lyric poems. They are brief but intense meditations, characterized by striking use of wit, irony and wordplay. Beneath the formal structure (of rhyme, meter, and stanza) is the underlying (and often hardly less formal) structure of the poem's argument. Note: that there may be two (or more) kinds of arguments in a poem.

LOOKING AT THE POEMS’ ARGUMENTS Looking at the poets' technique should, perhaps, begin with a consideration of argument. In a way all of the poems have an argument, but it is interesting or striking in some more than others.

Conceit A conceit is an extended, elaborate metaphor. An extended metaphor is a metaphor that carries on through the entirety of the poem.

Metaphysical Conceit A metaphysical conceit is a conceit where the objects of comparison have no apparent connection. For example, in George Herbert’s poem Praise, he compares God’s generosity to a bottle full of endless tears. Another example is John Donne’s poem The Flea.

So what exactly is a “conceit”? An elaborate, exaggerated metaphor, usually strained or far-fetched in nature, comparing two incredibly dissimilar things. When the stanza of a poem contains a conceit, the stanza itself can be called a “conceit,” as with the octet in Donne’s Holy Sonnet #6.

IMAGERY You can also consider the imagery used by the poets. Do NOT become bogged down in discussion of single images Consider, rather, the whole range of sources of imagery each uses.