The Restoration (1600-1785)

The Civil War, the Protectorate, & the Restoration When James I’s son Charles was crowned, England was on its way to civil war. The Puritan movement had developed into a powerful enemy of the Anglicans. When Charles I attempted to crack down on organized religious protest, he met with violent opposition.

The Civil War, the Protectorate, & the Restoration Charles tried to rule without the support of Parliament; and the government became one of royal absolutism. Parliament had grown too strong, and Charles left London The king’s supporters or “Cavaliers” were no match for Parliament.

The Civil War, the Protectorate, & the Restoration Oliver Cromwell was the commander of the Parliamentary forces. The royalist forces were defeated and King Charles was held prisoner. Charles I was tried as an enemy of the English people by Parliament and beheaded.

The Civil War, the Protectorate, & the Restoration Cromwell established a military dictatorship known as the Protectorate, but it did not last long. Those who opposed it contacted Charles’ son who was exiled in Paris. In 1660 Charles II returned in what we call the “Restoration” of the monarchy.

The Civil War, the Protectorate, & the Restoration James II succeeded Charles, but he eventually abdicated, as the people were not happy with a Catholic ruler. Protestants William and Mary ruled next and for the first time allowed Parliament to levy taxes. Mary’s sister, Anne, ruled next and created the nation of Great Britain.

Literature of the Period Poetry of the seventeenth century was an expression of three main styles. The first were the “Metaphysical poets.” They had an extreme preoccupation with love and analyzed the feeling rather than just expressing it. Examples include John Donne, Richard Lovelace, and Andrew Marvell.

Literature of the Period The second were the Puritan writers. Mainly wrote political and religious works focused on piety and censorship. Examples include John Milton and John Bunyan.

Literature of the Period The third were the neoclassic writers. Promoted ideals of harmony, tradition, and reason. The first novels were written by these writers.

Science, Philosophy, and Reason Writers, scientists, and philosophers defined new ways of looking at the world in what we call the Enlightenment. Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of motion, as well as gravity. John Locke popularized the idea of natural rights. Our world would be quite different without these intellectual pilgrims!

The Romantic Era (1785-1832)

During the Romantic Era… Artists, philosophers, and writers rebelled against the rational. They created works that favored emotion over reason, nature over human architecture, ordinary people over aristocracy, and spontaneity over control. This era of dramatic change influenced the early years of America and the French Revolution.

Political Developments in the Romantic Era King George III was king from 1760-1820. His antagonistic policies toward the American colonies were directly responsible for the American Revolution, which ended in 1783. The French Revolution began in 1789 with an attack on the Bastille prison by citizen revolutionaries.

Political Developments in the Romantic Era There had never before been such political and social anxiety. “These were the best of times,” because they saw the birth of freedom and equality. “These were the worst of times,” because the cost was bloodshed.

Political Developments in the Romantic Era When George died in 1820, George IV took the throne and held it until his death in 1830. William IV, brother of George IV, ruled from 1830-1837. The weaknesses of these three kings led to strong prime ministers.

Political Developments in the Romantic Era This led to civil reforms including laws allowing labor unions and restoring economic and religious freedom to Roman Catholics. The right to vote was also given to men of the middle class, depriving aristocrats of overwhelming majorities in Parliament

Poetry in the Romantic Era The true beginning of the Romantic Era came with the publication of Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Wordsworth stated that poetry should be about common people and events

Poetry in the Romantic Era This idea of the nobility of ordinary people was echoed in the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He believed that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed

Poetry in the Romantic Era Following in the footsteps of Wordsworth and Coleridge were the second generation of Romantic poets. Included poets such as Lord Byron, John Keats, and Percy Shelley. These poets celebrated emotion over reason and nature over science.

Prose in the Romantic Era Although poetry was the major literary form of the period, the essay and novel also developed. Three major types of Romantic Era novels are the Gothic novel, novel of manners, and historical novel.

Prose in the Romantic Era Gothic novels, or Gothic romances, are long stories containing elements of suspense, mystery, magic, with exotic settings such as haunted castles and untamed wildernesses.

Prose in the Romantic Era Although the word Gothic originally implied medieval, by the time of the Romantic Era the word assumed the connotations of the supernatural and the macabre. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is probably the best example of a Gothic novel.

Prose in the Romantic Era The novel of manners presented a satirical look at society. Jane Austen was the most well-known writer of this genre Wrote Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility

Prose in the Romantic Era Historical romances depict historical events and contain both fictional and nonfictional characters. They were often set in medieval days with knights and damsels as main characters. Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe epitomizes the genre.