Unit IV The Age of Reason 1650- 1780 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 Comets were warnings; plagues showed God’s wrath; witches ruined crops; fairies caused infant deaths

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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