The Restoration Period/Era (1660 - 1700)

Restoration literature is the English literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the English Restoration(1660–1689), which corresponds to the last years of the direct Stuart reign in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. In general, the term is used to denote roughly homogeneous styles of literature that center on a celebration of or reaction to the restored court of Charles II. It is a literature that includes extremes, for it encompasses both Paradise Lost and the Earl of Rochester’s Sodom, the high-spirited sexual comedy of The Country Wife and the moral wisdom of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It saw Locke’s Treatises of Government, the founding of the Royal Society, the experiments and holy meditations of Robert Boyle, the hysterical attacks on theaters from Jeremy Collier, and the pioneering of literary criticism from John Dryden and John Dennis. The period witnessed news become a commodity, the essay developed into a periodical art form, and the beginnings of textual criticism.

1. The Restoration Period (1660-1700)….. Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

2. Chapter 5…. Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

3. Karakoram International University Gilgit Prepared by Hajat Hussain Reg No. 2016-kiu-2242 Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

4. Introduction Characteristics Restoration Poetry Restoration Poets Restoration Drama Famous Dramatist Restoration Prose Famous Prose writers List of Topics Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

5. When Charles II came to the throne, there was a complete repudiation (rejection) of Puritan ideas. From 1660-1700 is called Restoration Period, because monarchy was restored in England. This period is also Age of Dryden, because Dryden was dominating literary figure. Introduction Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

6. The poets and dramatists began to imitate French writers. In poetry, drama and prose nothing was produced in this period. Cont….. Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

7. The two important characteristics were realism and tendency to preciseness . Realism In beginning realism took an ugly shape, because the writers the real pictures of corrupt society and court. The result was a coarse and type of literature. Later writers tried to portray realistically human life as they found it. Characteristics Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

8. This was chief characteristic of Restoration period. It emphasized directness and simplicity of expression and counteracted the tendency of exaggeration. Instead of using grandiloquent phrases, they used sentences full of Latin quotations and classical allusions. Writers emphasis to reasoning. Tendency to Preciseness Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

9. The Royal Society, was established enjoined on all its members to use a close, naked, natural way of speaking and writing as near the mathematical plainness as they can. Dryden accepted this rule and under his guidance English writers evolved a style--- precise, formal and elegant which is called the classical style. Cont…… Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

10. The Restoration poetry was mostly satirical, realistic and written in heroic couplet. Dryden was the supreme master and dominating figure. He wrote in clear and forceful style. They focus on reasoning and laid Classical school of poetry . Restoration Poetry Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

11. John Dryden (1631-1700) He was chief literary figure. He made mark in fields of poetry, drama and prose. His early poetry has characteristics of metaphysical school like exaggeration and artificial style. He wrote in clear and forceful style. They focus on reasoning and laid Classical school of poetry. Famous Poet Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

12. His poetry can be divided into three parts. Political Satires Doctrinal Poems The Fables Cont….. Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

13. Of his political satires , Absalom and Achitophel and The Medal are famous. Absalom and Achitophel , was greatest political satires, He defended the King against the Earl of Shaftesbury, who was represented as Achitophel. The Medal , a satirical poem full of invective against Shaftesbury and MecFlecknoe and a scathing personal attack on Thomas Shadwell, who was once a friend of Dryden. Political Satires Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

14. The two poems are Religio Laici and The Hind and the Panther . These poems are neither religious nor devotional but theological and controversial. The first was written when Dryden was a protestant and he defended Anglican Church. The second was written when he was a Catholic and defends Catholicism. This shows his defending skill. Doctrinal Poems Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

15. These were written during last years of his life, show no decrease in his poetic power. Written in the form of a narrative and entitled him a best story teller in verse. The Palamon and Arcite which is based on Chaucer’s Knight Tale. Annus Marabilis is a fine example of his narrative power. Alexander’s feast is one of the best odes in English Language. The Fables Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

16. In 1642 the theatres were closed by Puritans and re-opened in 1660. The drama after 1660 is Restoration drama. Dramatist was deficient in poetic feeling, imagination and emotional approach to but laid emphasis on intellectuality, realistic and critical approach to life. Common people still under the influence of Puritanism had no love for dramas, the dramatist had to cater to the taste of aristocratic class. Restoration Drama Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

17. The most popular form of drama was the Comedy of Manners , which portrayed the sophisticated life of dominant class of society---- its gaiety, foppery, insolence and intrigue. The basis of the Restoration drama was very narrow. The plays of this period do-not give us a picture of whole nation. Cont….. Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

18. John Dryden (1631-1700) He wrote Wild Gallant, Etheredge’s, The Comical Revenge and The Plain Dealer . William Congreve (1670-1720) He wrote all his best plays before he was thirty. His well known comedies are Love for Love and The Way of the World. Famous Comedy writers Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

19. This period was specialised in Heroic Tragedy, which dealt with the themes of epic magnitudes. In which heroes and heroines possessed superhuman qualities. It was written in heroic couplet. It was not based on the observations of life, there was no realistic characterisation and ended happily. Heroic Tragedy Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

20. The chief writer of heroic tragedy was Dryden . His first play in heroic couplet was Tyrannic Love and The Conquest of Granada. His play Aurangzeb admitted the superiority of Shakespeare’s method. Heroic Couplet writers Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

21. This period holds higher position in prose as compared to poetry and drama. It could not reach height because fall of poetic power, lack of inspiration and preference of practical and reasoning. In this period prose was developed as a medium for expressing clearly and precisely ideas and feelings. For first time a prose style was evolved which could be used for narrative, argumentative and handling of practical business. Restoration Prose Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

22. John Dryden (1631-1700) He was practitioner of new prose. His greatest critical work was Essay of Dramatic Poesy, in which he presented a new model of prose. He wrote in a plain, simple and exact style, free from all exaggerations. His Fables and Preface to them are fine examples of the new prose style. Prose Writers Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

23. John Bunyan (1628-1688) he was the greatest prose writer of this period. He was imbued with the spirit of Puritanism. His greatest work is The Pilgrim’s Progress, in which he described the pilgrimage of the Christian to the Heavenly City. It is an allegory. The style is simple and vivid. His other’s work are Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, The Holy War and The Life and Death of Mr. Badman . Cont…… Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

24. References …. A Critical History of English Literature by B.R Mullik History of English Literature By David Daiches Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

25. References…. A Critical History of English Literature by B.R Mullik History of English Literature By David Daiches Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

26. The End……… Next Chapter: Age of Pope Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242