THE RESTORATIONTHE RESTORATION

AN AGE OF REASONAN AGE OF REASON

Augustan and NeoclassicalAugustan and Neoclassical

There are many similarities between There are many similarities between this period in England and ancient this period in England and ancient Rome and its literature.Rome and its literature.

The RomansThe Romans

• In ancient Rome, the emperor In ancient Rome, the emperor Octavius 63BC – 14ADOctavius 63BC – 14AD

– Changed his name to Augustus Changed his name to Augustus which means “the magnificent, which means “the magnificent, grand, and exalted one”.grand, and exalted one”.

– He restored peace and order after He restored peace and order after Julius Caesar’s death.Julius Caesar’s death.

• The Romans hailed Augustus as The Romans hailed Augustus as the second founder of Rome.the second founder of Rome.

The StuartsThe Stuarts• The Stuart monarchs also restored The Stuart monarchs also restored

peace and order after the civil wars peace and order after the civil wars that led up to and followed the that led up to and followed the execution of King Charles I in 1649.execution of King Charles I in 1649.

• The English eventually brought The English eventually brought back the son of Charles I and back the son of Charles I and crowned him Charles II.crowned him Charles II.

• As a warning to future As a warning to future revolutionaries, they dug up the revolutionaries, they dug up the body of Oliver Cromwell, retried him body of Oliver Cromwell, retried him for treason, and cut off his head.for treason, and cut off his head.

Literary SimilaritiesLiterary Similarities

• There was a new focus on Latin There was a new focus on Latin classics.classics.

• The classics represented what was The classics represented what was permanent and universal in the permanent and universal in the “human experience”.“human experience”.

• A new term was coined: Neoclassical A new term was coined: Neoclassical which means “new classical”.which means “new classical”.

Reason and EnlightenmentReason and Enlightenment

• This age was characterized by rationalism This age was characterized by rationalism – the act of accepting reason as the – the act of accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct.belief, or conduct.

In the past, people asked: In the past, people asked:

Why did this happen? Why did this happen?

What did we do? What did we do?

How can we prevent it from How can we prevent it from happening again?happening again?

They looked for signs or omens to They looked for signs or omens to predict the future.predict the future.

With these new ideas of rationalism and reasoning With these new ideas of rationalism and reasoning and the application of logic, people began asking:and the application of logic, people began asking:

How did this happen?How did this happen?Can we duplicate this reaction?Can we duplicate this reaction?Can we create this reaction?Can we create this reaction?

And most importantly,And most importantly,

Can we control this reaction?Can we control this reaction?

Men began computing celestial Men began computing celestial eventsevents

• EclipsesEclipses– Edmund Haley 1656-1742Edmund Haley 1656-1742– Predicted an eclipse for May 2, 1721Predicted an eclipse for May 2, 1721

• CometsComets– Haley computed the appearance of a Haley computed the appearance of a

comet comet • 1758, 1834, 1910, 1986, _______ .1758, 1834, 1910, 1986, _______ .• The comet appears in 76 year intervals.The comet appears in 76 year intervals.

In 1662, King Charles II commissioned the In 1662, King Charles II commissioned the Royal Society of London for the Royal Society of London for the Improving of Natural Knowledge.Improving of Natural Knowledge.– They advocated the use of precise writing.They advocated the use of precise writing.– They required the use of Scientific Method.They required the use of Scientific Method.

Disasters of LondonDisasters of London

• 1665 Bubonic 1665 Bubonic Plague kills 70,000.Plague kills 70,000.

• 1666 London fires 1666 London fires leave 2/3 of the leave 2/3 of the population population homeless.homeless.

Changes in ReligionChanges in Religion

With the new scientific explanations, With the new scientific explanations, religious perspectives began to change.religious perspectives began to change.– A new theory appearedA new theory appeared

• God created the Earth, but then stood back and let it God created the Earth, but then stood back and let it run.run.

• Deism: God does not interfere in day to day affairs.Deism: God does not interfere in day to day affairs.

• ““Whatever is right, is right’Whatever is right, is right’

• ““All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”

Religion and PoliticsReligion and Politics

• Religion greatly impacted the politics Religion greatly impacted the politics of the day.of the day.

• Charles II restored the Church of Charles II restored the Church of EnglandEngland– He outlawed all of the various and He outlawed all of the various and

independent sects, which resulted in the independent sects, which resulted in the widespread persecution of some widespread persecution of some religious groups (Quakers, Puritans).religious groups (Quakers, Puritans).

The Bloodless RevolutionThe Bloodless Revolution

• Charles II had no legitimate heir at Charles II had no legitimate heir at the time of his death in 1685.the time of his death in 1685.

• He is succeeded by his brother James He is succeeded by his brother James IIII

James II James II – Roman CatholicRoman Catholic– Opposed by the English peopleOpposed by the English people

•They believed that the Catholics were They believed that the Catholics were responsible for the London firesresponsible for the London fires

•Catholics were thought to be plotting to Catholics were thought to be plotting to hand the country over to the Pope.hand the country over to the Pope.

• James II fled to France in 1688.James II fled to France in 1688.

• This was know as the “Bloodless” or This was know as the “Bloodless” or “Glorious” Revolution.“Glorious” Revolution.

• James II is succeeded by his James II is succeeded by his protestant daughter.protestant daughter.

• Mary ruled England, with her Mary ruled England, with her husband William of Orange.husband William of Orange.– ChildlessChildless– Signed the Bill of Rights which limited Signed the Bill of Rights which limited

the power of the crown and reaffirmed the power of the crown and reaffirmed the supremacy of Parliament.the supremacy of Parliament.

• Mary is succeeded by her sister AnneMary is succeeded by her sister Anne

• Anne rules successfullyAnne rules successfully– ChildlessChildless– Establishes the two political party system.Establishes the two political party system.

•Tories: favored Royal power and opposed Tories: favored Royal power and opposed change. They also supported the Church of change. They also supported the Church of EnglandEngland

•Whigs: favored reforms, progress, and Whigs: favored reforms, progress, and Parliament. They supported religious freedom.Parliament. They supported religious freedom.

• Anne is succeeded by her cousin, a Anne is succeeded by her cousin, a German, George I.German, George I.

• Following the reign of George I, his son Following the reign of George I, his son George II became king.George II became king.

• George II was the king at the time of the George II was the king at the time of the American Revolution.American Revolution.

Writers of the AgeWriters of the Age

Jonathan Swift and Samuel JohnsonJonathan Swift and Samuel Johnson

• Members of the upper classMembers of the upper class

• Did not support the class systemDid not support the class system

John Dryden and Alexander PopeJohn Dryden and Alexander Pope

• Members of the upper classMembers of the upper class

• Supported the class systemSupported the class system

John Bunyan and Daniel DefoeJohn Bunyan and Daniel Defoe

• Members of the lower classMembers of the lower class

• Dissenters Dissenters

Entertainment of the DayEntertainment of the Day

• Theater was revived and for the first time, Theater was revived and for the first time, women were allowed to become actresses women were allowed to become actresses (although most were ostracized for doing (although most were ostracized for doing so)so)– With woman in roles as actresses, a new focus With woman in roles as actresses, a new focus

on sexual relationships was explored.on sexual relationships was explored.

• Comedies reflected the lives of the rich Comedies reflected the lives of the rich and leisuredand leisured

• There was a vast number of prose There was a vast number of prose and verse writersand verse writers– The Dissenters wrote for these The Dissenters wrote for these

“ordinary” or working class people.“ordinary” or working class people.

• Augustan qualities were held in Augustan qualities were held in esteemesteem– ClevernessCleverness– UrbanityUrbanity– worldlinessworldliness

Alexander Pope and Jonathan Alexander Pope and Jonathan SwiftSwiftAlthough they were on opposite sides of the class Although they were on opposite sides of the class

issue, they both wrote for the educated and issue, they both wrote for the educated and leisure classes.leisure classes.

• They attacked these classes for their immorality They attacked these classes for their immorality and bad taste.and bad taste.

• They loved: order, discipline, and craftsmanship.They loved: order, discipline, and craftsmanship.• They were appalled by: squalor and shoddiness in They were appalled by: squalor and shoddiness in

art, manners, and morals.art, manners, and morals.• They discussed corruption, commercialism, and They discussed corruption, commercialism, and

materialism.materialism.• They held to aristocratic valuesThey held to aristocratic values

Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe

• Stood for middle class values such as:Stood for middle class values such as:– Thrift, prudence, industry, and Thrift, prudence, industry, and

respectability.respectability.

• Defoe had no interest in polished Defoe had no interest in polished manners and social poise.manners and social poise.

• He followed a new profession: journalismHe followed a new profession: journalism

• Followers of Defoe saw themselves as Followers of Defoe saw themselves as reporters and reformers.reporters and reformers.

Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson

• Showed a great command of the Showed a great command of the languagelanguage

• Strong relationshipsStrong relationships

• Conservative/traditional valuesConservative/traditional values

• CombatedCombated– Belief in progressBelief in progress– People are naturally goodPeople are naturally good

• Created the first English dictionaryCreated the first English dictionary

NovelsNovels

The novel form began with either The novel form began with either Daniel Defoe or Henry FieldingDaniel Defoe or Henry Fielding

• Daniel Defoe was best known for his Daniel Defoe was best known for his novel: novel: Robinson Crusoe – Robinson Crusoe – an an adventure story which started an adventure story which started an entire genre’.entire genre’.

Henry FieldingHenry Fielding

• Joseph AndrewsJoseph Andrews – an adventure story – an adventure story of life among the lower classesof life among the lower classes

• Tom JonesTom Jones – a story of a man who – a story of a man who manages to rise up the class system manages to rise up the class system and then falls, only to rise again. and then falls, only to rise again. The main character is a con man and The main character is a con man and a master manipulator.a master manipulator.

Samuel RichardsonSamuel Richardson

• PamelaPamela – a bawdy, racy story of a – a bawdy, racy story of a servant girl who has great servant girl who has great adventures. Rated R Considered by adventures. Rated R Considered by many to be the first romance novel.many to be the first romance novel.

• ClarissaClarissa – very similar to Pamela. – very similar to Pamela.

Laurence SternLaurence Stern

• Tristram ShandyTristram Shandy – considered the – considered the first “stream of consciousness” first “stream of consciousness” novel. A comedic work.novel. A comedic work.

• Sentimental JourneySentimental Journey – a story of one – a story of one man’s adventures as he travels man’s adventures as he travels through France and Italy.through France and Italy.

Augustan PoetryAugustan Poetry

• Composed in the mind, not in the heart.Composed in the mind, not in the heart.• Wrote elegies (positive poem about dead Wrote elegies (positive poem about dead

person)person)• Satire – says the worst things about a Satire – says the worst things about a

person (held to public ridicule)person (held to public ridicule)• Epic – extended story in poetic formEpic – extended story in poetic form• Ode – ambitious/pompous; expressing a Ode – ambitious/pompous; expressing a

public opinionpublic opinion• Nothing “natural”.Nothing “natural”.

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