This study material covers the key historical contexts, literary characteristics, major figures, and notable works from four of the most influential periods in English literature: The Renaissance, The Elizabethan Age, The Puritan Age, and The Restoration Age.
I. The Renaissance Period (Late 13th Century – Early 17th Century)
Historical Context:
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Renaissance Definition: The term Renaissance comes from the French word for “rebirth,” referring to the revival of classical learning and culture.
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Origin: Began in Italy in the late 13th century and spread to England by the 16th century.
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Key Influences:
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The Fall of Constantinople (1453) brought classical Greek and Roman texts to Western Europe.
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The Printing Press (1440) by Johannes Gutenberg enabled the wide dissemination of knowledge.
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The rise of Humanism focused on human potential, achievements, and individualism.
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Literary Characteristics:
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Humanism: A renewed interest in the classics of Greece and Rome, promoting secularism and individualism.
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Poetry: Development of sonnets, especially Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms.
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Drama: The emergence of English theatre, including Shakespearean plays and Marlowe’s tragic works.
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Philosophy and Prose: A rise in philosophical works and essays, exploring both classical and contemporary themes.
Notable Figures and Works:
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Dante Alighieri: The Divine Comedy
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Petrarch: Canzoniere (Songbook)
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Giovanni Boccaccio: The Decameron
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Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales
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Francis Bacon: Essays, Novum Organum
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Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Queene, Amoretti
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William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew
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Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine the Great
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Sir Philip Sidney: Arcadia, Astrophel and Stella
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Thomas More: Utopia
II. The Elizabethan Age (1558–1603)
Historical Context:
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Monarch: Queen Elizabeth I's reign marked political stability, which encouraged artistic flourishing.
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Exploration and Colonization: The period saw the expansion of English influence overseas, particularly to the New World.
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Religious Settlement: The establishment of the Church of England reduced religious conflicts, influencing both literature and society.
Literary Characteristics:
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Golden Age of Drama: This era saw the birth of English drama, with the construction of theatres like The Globe.
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Poetry: Sonnet writing flourished, with poets such as Shakespeare and Sidney exploring themes of love, beauty, and mortality.
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Prose: A growing interest in essays, pamphlets, and translations of classical works.
Notable Figures and Works:
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William Shakespeare: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus, Edward II, Tamburlaine
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Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Queene, The Shepheardes Calendar
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Sir Philip Sidney: The Defence of Poesy, Astrophel and Stella, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
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Ben Jonson: Volpone, The Alchemist
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Thomas Nashe: The Unfortunate Traveller, Pierce Penniless
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Robert Greene: Pandosto, A Looking Glass for London and England
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John Lyly: Euphues, Euphues and His England
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Michael Drayton: Poly-Olbion, Idea
III. The Puritan Age (1625–1660)
Historical Context:
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Political and Religious Turmoil: The reign of Charles I led to the English Civil War and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.
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Puritan Influence: Puritanism, with its focus on strict religious observance, dominated the literature of this period.
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Censorship: The Puritans’ ascension led to the closure of theatres in 1642, and the Licensing Act of 1643 restricted literature.
Literary Characteristics:
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Religious and Political Themes: Puritan values, including a focus on morality and piety, were central in much of the literature.
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Plain Style: Writers favored straightforward, unadorned language, moving away from the elaborate styles of the Renaissance.
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Suppression of Drama: Theatre was banned, but poetry and prose flourished, particularly in religious and political treatises.
Notable Figures and Works:
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John Milton: Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Areopagitica, Lycidas, Comus
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Andrew Marvell: To His Coy Mistress, The Garden, The Mower Against Gardens
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Robert Herrick: Hesperides, The Noble Numbers
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Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan
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John Bunyan: The Pilgrim’s Progress
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John Dryden: Absalom and Achitophel, The Hind and the Panther
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Thomas Dekker: The Shoemaker’s Holiday, The Witch of Edmonton
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John Ford: The Broken Heart, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
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William Davenant: The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru, Gondibert
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George Herbert: The Temple
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Richard Lovelace: To Althea, from Prison
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Thomas Traherne: Centuries of Meditations
IV. The Restoration Age (1660–1700)
Historical Context:
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Restoration of the Monarchy: Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, marking the end of the Commonwealth period and the return of the monarchy.
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Scientific Advancements: The foundation of the Royal Society in 1662 signified the growing importance of scientific thought and inquiry.
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Cultural Revival: The reopening of theatres, and the rise of comedy and satire, marked the cultural and literary revival of this age.
Literary Characteristics:
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Neoclassicism: Writers emphasized order, reason, and the classical ideals of ancient Greek and Roman literature.
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Satire: There was an increased use of wit and satire, often used to critique politics, society, and human nature.
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Comedy of Manners: A new genre of drama emerged, characterized by the depiction of the manners and morals of the upper class.
Notable Figures and Works:
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John Dryden: Absalom and Achitophel, Mac Flecknoe, The Hind and the Panther, An Essay of Dramatic Poesy
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Aphra Behn: Oroonoko, The Rover
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William Congreve: The Way of the World, Love for Love
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George Etherege: The Man of Mode, She Would if She Could
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Thomas Otway: Venice Preserved, The Orphan
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Richard Steele: The Tender Husband, The Conscious Lovers
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Joseph Addison: Cato, The Spectator (with Steele)
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Alexander Pope: The Rape of the Lock, The Dunciad
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Samuel Pepys: The Diary of Samuel Pepys
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Thomas Shadwell: The Squire of Alsatia, The Virtuoso
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George Villiers: The Rehearsal
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Richard Brinsley Sheridan: The School for Scandal
Conclusion:
This study material offers a comprehensive look at the major English literary periods from the Renaissance through to the Restoration. It provides insights into the historical contexts, the development of literary forms, and the key authors and works that shaped English literature. These four periods laid the foundation for the evolution of English literary tradition, each influencing the other in terms of themes, styles, and forms.