Puritan age was begun from 1600 and it ends in 1660. The year 1660 is the beginning of the Restoration period. So before the Restoration period there is the thought of Puritanism among the peoples of England and also among other countries.
So the literature of the 17th century divided into two periods:-

The 17th century marked as the decline of the Renaissance spirit and the new writers starts imitating the great writer of Elizabethan era and followed the new paths. Now there is no writer remain who write on the basis of their imagination. The age was dominated by the logic and reasoning. The temperament of the writers was totally changed which was called essentially modern.
The 17th century from 1600 to 1660 was dominated by Puritanism and it is called the Puritan age. Because Milton was the nobler representative of the Puritan spirit, so the age was also called as Age of Milton (Neoenglish system, 2010).
This movement is also considered as the second and greater Renaissance in literature. With the rise of this period the moral or intellectual nature of the man was also rose. It was like the rebirth of the morality among the peoples of the society. The Renaissance which already had a marked quality of its high culture, now needed only the moral sobriety and profundity, which were given by the Puritan movement.
Unscrupulousness and fanaticism in politics and religion were on rampant during the Renaissance period. Therefore the Puritan movement came and it stood for its liberty and introduced the morality and high ideals in politics. Puritan movement had two objectives:-
But soon the Puritans began to look down as narrow-mindedness during the Restoration period. They were against all sort of recreations and amusements, in fact in reality they were not so. Puritans are very much religious in their concept, they didn’t form a separate religious sect.
Milton and Cromwell are the two real champions of liberty who stood for toleration against the tyrannical rule of Charles I. It would be wrong if we called them narrow-mined fanatics. Means in reality the high standard of morality leads to them to be trapped in their own world and was unable to think beyond it.
From very first the name Puritans was given to them who advocate the change in the church of the England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. But many opposed to this movement including the King Charles I, but soon he was defeated and beheaded in 1649 and the Puritan movement came out triumphantly. Therefore in this way the Puritan movement was more called the National movement of England.
In literature also there was the same confusion as we found in the field of politics and religion. The literary achievements of this period are not of high order and of greatness but still some of its works recognized as the great work of the writers. The Puritan poetry is further divided into three parts:-
1-The School of Spenser
Edmund Spenser was the leader of the school of Spenser. There were many followers of Spenser. Spenser and Sidney both made the Italian poetry more fashionable during the 16th century. All the writers of the age make Spenser as their master.
The two brothers Phineas Fletcher and Giles Fletcher are the most thorough disciples of Spenser during the reign of James I. They were both priests.
Phineas Fletcher wrote number of Spenserian pastorals and allegories. The Purple Island was his most ambitious poem which portrays the detailed allegory of the physical and mental constitution of men, the struggle between Temperance and his foes, the will of man and Satan.
Giles Fletcher’s Christ’s Victorie and Triumph in Heaven and Earth over and after Death, is the most famous allegorical narrative which was written in Lyrical strain. As Giles was more Lyrical and mystical than his brother Phineas. This work portrays the Temptation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Christ.
William Browne, George Wither and William Drummond are the other poets who wrote under the influence of Spenser.
2-The Poets of the Metaphysical School
John Donne, Herrick, Richard Crashaw, Henry Vaugham, Thomas Carew, George Herbet and Lord Herbert are the metaphysical poets. However the leader of this school was John Donne. The poetry of metaphysical poets is full of conceits, exaggerations, quibbling about the meaning of the words, far-fetched similes, metaphors. The metaphysical poets were honest and they were the original thinkers. They were all aware of the life and have concerned with the death.
John Donne wrote poetry of vey high order. The Progress of the soul; An Anatomy of the World, an elegy; and Epithalamion are his best known works. His poetry was divided under three categories:-
Robert Herrick wrote amorous as well as religious verse.
Thomas Carew was the finest lyric writer of his age. He is superior to Herrick in workmanship. ‘Persuasions of Love’ is a fine piece of work of Thomas Carew.
Richard Crashaw had different temperament than Herrick and Carew. He was very religious poet. ‘The Flaming Heart’ is the best work of Richard.
Henry Vaughan was a mystic like poet. He is more uniform and clear, tranquil and deep than Crashaw.
George Herbert is the most widely read poet of his age. He expressed his thoughts in a clear manner than others. There is also Transparency of his conceits.
Lord Herbert of Cherbury is inferior to his brother in writing verse. He is well known for his autobiographies. He was the first poet who use metre.
3-The Cavalier Poet
Ben Johnson was the leader of the Cavalier poets. Johnson followed the classical methods in his writing. He was influenced by the classical writer like Horace, and others. Ben Johnson’s work, lyrics and songs are different from that of Shakespeare.
The term ‘Cavalier’ means royalist but in real all the Cavaliers are not royalist. There is not much difference between the Cavalier and Metaphysical poets, because some Cavaliers like Carew, Suckling and Lovelace were also the disciples of Donne. Even some poems also have same quality of both Donne and Ben Johnson. But the Cavalier poets wrote on trivial subjects, whereas the metaphysical poets wrote only on serious subjects.
Sir John Suckling is the courtier of Charles I and most of his poems are trivial; written in doggerel verse.
Sir Richard Lovelace was another follower of king Charles I. ‘Lucasta’ is his volume of love lyrics. His poems like “To Lucasta” and “To Althea, from Prison” was very famous in English poetry.
John Milton
Milton was the greatest port of the Puritan age. He was identified as Puritanism. Milton was different from all the poets of his age. Milton was a deeply religious man and was endowed with the artistic merit of high degree. Milton was a great scholar. He was not only the scholar of classics but of Hebrew literature also. He was a great humanist.
The most significant early works of Milton are- The Hymn on the Nativity, Lycidas, Comus.
Lycidas is an elegy written in the country’s churchyard on the death of Milton’s friend.
Conclusion :-
Therefore we can say that during this period English literature developing into a grand iloquent and rich instrument. And it is also capable of expressing the great ideas, scientific, philosophical, religious, poetic and personal.
• The Era of Puritanism (1564-1660): Literary Works
January 05, 2015
The reign of the Puritans also produce a large amount of literature (poetry, prose), but drama could not thrive because it is prohibited by the authorities. Drama regarded as a nest of immorality by the Puritan authorities. It is just so different with Elizabeth period where drama produces a lot of outstanding works. So we can see that the literary works of Puritan period are just different from Elizabeth period. In period of Puritan literature, there are three groups of poems; metaphysical, cavalier and Puritan. Here are the complete version of the era of Puritanism (1564-1660): Literary Works.
Poetry
We can find poems in this period are way too different from the previous one. We may even call the literary in this period as the depression kind of expression. If in Elizabethan period we know some greatest poets like Edmund Spenser, Philip Sidney, George Chapman and Thomas Sackville who each of them expressing their emotions through their works. The emotions here are like the real emotion which a human possessed. Unlike this period, we can find three new kinds of poems which are different with any poem in previous periods. The characteristic of a poem in this period includes a thing, like geometrical, not human being, as the comparison material. This kind of poem can be classified into metaphysical poetry.
Metaphysical Poetry
The term was first used by Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1786), a famous writer of the 18th century. Metaphysical poetry prefers intellect rather than emotions, so there are a lot of scientific terms in the poem. There are plenty of prominent metaphysical poets in this period, like John Donne (1572-1631), George Herbert (1539-1633), Edmund Waller (1606-1678), Sir John Suckling (1609-1642), Andrew Marvell (1621-1678), and Henry Vaughan (1621-1695).
Metaphysical poetry has the following characteristics:
1. The poems are always in short version, have solid meanings and very economical in the use of words (concentration).
2. The use of unusual imagination (imaginary or unusual conceit).
3. The use of harsh language and rude (often very strong and rough language).
4. The use of science terms (science and learning).
5. The theme revolves around human nature ambiguous (man's dual nature): physical and spiritual.
John Donne (1572-1631)
He is the first poet of metaphysical poetry who was born and raised in a strong Catholic tradition. He studied in Trinity College, Cambridge and then became a Lincoln’s Inn’s member. He was popular for his lifestyle: read a lot but living lavishly. As a metaphysical poet, he used unusual imaginary and he doesn’t use conventional comparisons, rather uses fantastic metaphors and excessive hyperboles. The Sun Rising, The Good Morrow, Love’s Alchemy, and A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning are some his phenomenal works. As for the latter poem, Donne said that his idea was still telling about a couple, even when one of them is separated. He is so popular in making a lot of poems about love. Here is the uniqueness comparison which he used in one of his metaphysical poems:
Our two souls therefore, which are one
Through I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion
Like gold to airy thinness beat
If they be two, they two so
As stiff twin compasses are two,
Thy soul the fix foot, makes no show
To move, but death, if th’ other do.
And thought it in the centre sit,
Yet when the other far death ream,
It leans, and hearkens after it,
And grows erect as that comes home.
Such wilt how to be me, who must
Like th’ other foot, obliquely run;
Thy firmness makes my circles just,
And makes me end, where I begun.
We can see that the first stanza states that two souls have become one, then even if one had to go, it will not lead to a split, rather becomes widespread as gold which hammered into as thin as air.For the second stanza, it states that if they become two souls, those souls are like a pair of rigid compasses. The compass’ soul that became permanent leg shows no sign of move, but the legs would move, if the other leg moves.
Fun Facts:
There are also some poets who made religious poems, such as George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, and Abraham Cowley. Here is one of George’s religious poems.
The Pulley (or Rest, or The Gifts of God)
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessing standing by,
“Let us,” said He, “pour on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span”,
So strength first made way;
Then Beauty flowed; then Wisdom; Honour, Pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.
“For if I should,” said He,
“Bestow this jewel also in my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should loser be.
“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness let him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast”.
First stanza: When God created the first man, he provided a glass of blessing. God says: I will pour all my power and wealth of the world that had been scattered, so that becomes one (in humans).
Second stanza: And came in the strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, pleasure. When everything is running out, God stopped him because he realizes the language of all his wealth, is safely kept at the bottom (bottom).
Cavalier Poetry
The poets of this kind of poetry are the most loyal followers of King Charles I. They have high-spirited souls which are different with those metaphysical poets. They really love secularism things and not really a fan of religious thing. They imitate a popular motto from Italy, Carpe Diem which means “Catch the Day” or in our current motto, it is like You Only Live Once, so be happy and do whatever you want to do. Make pleasure while you are still alive, because tomorrow you may be dead. Some prominent poets are like Robert Herrick (1591-1674) with some of his works; To the Virgins to Make Much of Time, To Enjoy the Time, and To Daffodils, Thomas Carew (1595-1639) with some of his works; To His Mistress in Absence, and Richard Levelace (1618-1658) with his poems To Althea from Prison. This is one of Cavalier poems, To the Virgins to Make Much of Time from Herrick.
Gather ye rosebuds while you may
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun
The higher he is a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he is to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not cuy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For, having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.
First stanza: Gather flowers while you can, because time flies. Flowers that glow today will wither tomorrow morning.
Second stanza: The sun shines like bright lights of heaven. The higher the sun, the closer it will be drowned.
• Restoration period
The Restoration in England began in 1660 just after the age of Puritans and last long till 1700 (wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2017). It took place during the Stuart period, when all the monarchies of English, Scottish and Irish were restored under the Stuart king Charles II. The term Restoration used to describe the restoration of the monarchy and also the period, when new political settlement was established. In the reign of Charles II, the entire age of Restoration is covered and also half in the reign of his younger brother James II.
Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell was unable to proceeds his father’s policies, so English Restoration was not continued. He was the son of Oliver Cromwell. The main weakness of Richard was that he did not have the confidence of the army. The Wallington House party removed him from their group and reinstalled the Rump Parliament. And the commandment was given to Charles Fleetwood.
Charles II hoped that with Spanish support he can wins the battlefield but he was defeated by General Lambert. Lambert was become the major General of all the forces in England and Scotland and Fleetwood being general.
Lambert went with large force to meet George Monck, who was the commander of English forces in Scotland. Into this atmosphere Monk was marched south with his army from Scotland under the Cromwell, but soon Lambert’s army desert him and he returned to London almost alone.
Lambert was sent to the Tower of London, on 3 March 1660, but he escaped from there in month. He was recaptured by Colonel Richard Ingoldsby. Lambert was incarcerated and died in custody on Guernsey in 1694.
Charles II
Charles II made several promises in the Declaration of Breda in relation to the reclamation of the crown of England, on 4 April 1660. It was proclaimed that king Charles II was the lawful monarch since the execution of Charles I. Charles leaves the Hague and returned from exile on 23 May and entered London on 29 May 1660. So therefore to celebrate the return of his majesty, 29 May was made a public Holiday. This day was popularly known as Oak Apple Day. Charles II was crowned at Westminster Abbey at 23 April 1661.
Because of the sudden and unexpected change, some contemporaries called Restoration as a “divinely ordained miracle” or the Restoration of the divinely order. The Cavalier Parliament was established on 25 April and it was also known as Pensionary Parliament because it provides pensions to the adherents for many years. Like its predecessor, it was very much royalist. Edward Hyde was the leading political figure at the beginning of the Restoration. He was the first Earl of Clarendon.
Conclusion
The Glorious Revolution ended the Restoration. The Glorious Revolution which overthrew King James ll of England was propelled by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder.
William III was also known as Prince of orange. He organize a meeting to handle the current situation of England in a Convention Parliament. The Parliament members decide that to fill the vacancy of throne James’s daughter Mary has to rule jointly with her husband William. The Bill of rights was passed by English Parliament in 1689 that denounced James for abusing his power. There is also srict order was passed against the Roman Catholics. No Roman Catholics has rights to ascend the English throne and nor any English monarch permitted to marry a Roman Catholic.
Hence it was an end of the Restoration period with the Glorious victory of William III.
• Restoration period literary works :-
Poetry
The Restoration was an age of poetry. Not only was poetry the most popular form of literature, but it was also the most significant form of literature, as poems affected political events and immediately reflected the times. It was, to its own people, an age dominated only by the king, and not by any single genius. Throughout the period, the lyric, ariel, historical, and epic poem were being developed.
Prose
Prose in the Restoration period is dominated by Christian religious writing, but the Restoration also saw the beginnings of two genres that would dominate later periods: fiction and journalism. Religious writing often strayed into political and economic writing, just as political and economic writing implied or directly addressed religion.
Theatre
The return of the stage-struck Charles II to power in 1660 was a major event in English theatre history. As soon as the previous Puritan regime’s ban on public stage representations was lifted, the drama recreated itself quickly and abundantly. Two theatre companies, the King’s and the Duke’s Company, were established in London, with two luxurious playhouses built to designs by Christopher Wren and fitted with moveable scenery and thunder and lightning machines.
Traditionally, Restoration plays have been studied by genre rather than chronology, more or less as if they were all contemporary, but scholars today insist on the rapid evolvement of drama in the period and on the importance of social and political factors affecting it. (Unless otherwise indicated, the account below is based on Hume’s influential Development of English Drama in the Late Seventeenth Century, 1976.) The influence of theatre company competition and playhouse economics is also acknowledged, as is the significance of the appearance of the first professional actresses.
Literary characteristics of puritan Age
Genres
2. Reatoration age
Restoration Literature Characteristics
Comedy of Manners
The Comedy of Manners is a theatrical genre that was uber-popular during the Restoration period. These comedies were bawdy and dirty, with lots of hilarious (and scandalous) dialogue focusing on sex. Their plot lines revolved around unfaithful wives, cuckolded husbands, and tricky lovers.
These comedies made fun of people… and sometimes entire social classes. Everyone is made to look ridiculous in these plays. People are stupid and gullible, or else they're amoral and exploitative. But it was all done in the name of fun. Audiences went to these plays during the Restoration period to laugh their heads off
Satire
The Restoration writers couldn't get enough satire. What's the deal with satire? Satire is when we joke or exaggerate in order to point up someone else's flaws. Think John Oliver's Last Week Tonight. Think The Onion. Think generally snarky hilarity.
The Restoration writers developed satire as a genre and a style of writing. These authors loved picking on people—literary rivals, religious figures, even entire social classes—and showing just how ridiculous they all were. Restoration writers mastered the art of poking fun at people.
Heroic Couplet
A heroic couplet is two lines of verse (in ten syllables each), which rhyme. It does not, however, contrary to popular belief, rescue puppies from burning buildings, help old ladies across streets, or untie damsels in distress from railroad tracks.
History time: The Heroic Couplet in English literature was pioneered by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Middle Ages, but it wasn't until the Restoration came along that the use of this structure in English poetry became widespread. And that was thanks to one man: John Dryden. Dryden was so good at coming up with Heroic Couplets, he singlehandedly helped make them an essential part of English poetry. He's the hero of the Heroic Couplet.
Social Life
The Restoration writers weren't interested in silly things like nature (ew, dirt), or grand philosophical questions (ugh, boring). They were interested in all the drama that went on in the society in which they lived. Social behavior and social manners, then, are big themes in Restoration literature.
The writers of this period were obsessed with social life: who people fall in love with, who they want to marry, who they sleep with, who they betray, and how much money they have or don't have. It's a literature that focuses on the intrigue that takes place in drawing rooms, in salons, and in—bow chicka bow bow—bedrooms.
Politics
The "Restoration" in Restoration literature comes from a political event (the restoration of monarchy in Britain in 1660) so it's no huge surprise that politics, and political themes, are kind of a big deal in this literary movement.
Restoration literature raises big ol' political questions like: What type of government is best for society? What role does government, or monarchy, play in people's lives? What kind of allegiance do we owe to our government? How does politics shape culture? The Restoration period was a time when Britain was seriously re-thinking its political identity. And we'll find that the Restoration writers were also thinking pretty hard about politics in their writing.
Pepys's Diary
Pepys began life in a small way as a clerk in a government office, but soon rose by his diligence and industry to be Secretary of the Admiralty. Here he was brought into contact with every grade of society, from the king's ministers to the poor sailors of the fleet. Being inquisitive as a blue jay, he investigated the rumors and gossip of the court, as well as the small affairs of his neighbors, and wrote them all down in his diary with evident interest. But because he chattered most freely, and told his little book a great many secrets which it were not well for the world to know, he concealed everything in shorthand,--and here again he was like the blue jay, which carries off and hides every bright trinket it discovers. The Diary covers the years from 1660 to 1669, and gossips about everything, from his own position and duties at the office, his dress and kitchen and cook and children, to the great political intrigues of office and the scandals of high society. No other such minute-picture of the daily life of an age has been written. Yet for a century and a half it remained entirely unknown, and not until 1825 was Pepys's shorthand deciphered and published. Since then it has been widely read, and is still one of the most interesting examples of diary writing that we possess. Following are a few extracts,[181] covering only a few days in April, 1663, from which one may infer the minute and interesting character of the work that this clerk, politician, president of the Royal Society, and general busybody wrote to please himself
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