From Puritanism to Enlightenment: Key Dates and Ideas in 17th-18th Century Britain

From Puritanism to the Enlightenment

Important Dates • 17th-18th Century in Britain • 1667- John Milton publishes Paradise Lost • 1685- James II becomes king • 1687- Newton publishes theory of gravitation • 1688- Glorious Revolution occurs

Important Dates • 1714- Ruling House of Hanover begins • 1757- Victory at Plassey begins British rule of India • 1768- Encyclopaedia Britannica begins publication • 1775- American Revolution begins

“Big Ideas” • Puritanism and the Civil War • The Restoration • The English Enlightenment and Neoclassicism

Puritanism and the Civil War • Puritans strictly held to Protestant beliefs: • The word of God is pure and holy • Very strict • Purification of the Church of England • John Milton was a prominent Puritan writer • Aeropagitica- spoke for “the true warfaring Christian” • Paradise Lost

What kind of shift was there from 1667 (Milton’s Paradise Lost) to 1768 (EncyclopaediaBrittanica)?

Religious Conflict • Puritans and other Protestants were at odds with the monarchy • Divine Right of Kings • James I and Charles I held to this and Catholicism • The English civil war broke out over authority: who should have it and how it should be divided

Civil War • Oliver Cromwell was leader of the Parliamentary Army • Under his leadership, the Parliamentary Army defeated the Royalist Forces • Cromwell’s Puritanical rule led to a lack of pleasure and entertainment • Shortly after Cromwell died, Charles II regained control of the throne lost by his father

Back to John Milton • Raised as a Puritan • Brilliant young artist praised by many • Became active in writing pamphlets in defense of religious and civil freedoms • Believed a king’s power rested with the people, and the people had the right to overthrow a king who abused that power

Still on Milton • Lost his first and second wives, and all but three daughters • At age 44, he lost his eyesight • Arrested as a traitor and forced to pay heavy fines

Read “How Soon Hath Time” Let’s write an essay!

Thesis Statement • What is a thesis statement? • States the intent or purpose of a piece of prose • Includes: author’s name, work (i.e., poem, novel, short story, etc.) and a STRICT guideline for the rest of the paper. • Develops topic sentences for the rest of the paper.

So, What is a Topic Sentence? • A mini thesis for each paragraph • States what the paragraph is going to be and offers structure of paragraph

Develop a Thesis and two topic sentences on the following prompt: How does John Milton’s poem “How Soon Hath Time” exemplify his values about life, and how was the main idea shown in his own life?

Unacceptable Thesis: In my essay I am going to talk about how John Milton reveals his life in his poem. Topic Sentence (TS): John talks about life in the first part. TS: John shows us his life in the second part.

Approaching Target Thesis: In “How Soon Hath Time,” John Milton shows his ideas on life and his true life. TS: Milton’s ideas on life are shown in his comments on “Time.” TS: Milton’s own life is reflected by his discussion of God within in the poem.

Target Thesis: In “How Soon Hath Time,” John Milton illustrates his philosophy of life; indeed, his portrayal of time and God reflect his own life. TS: Milton’s depiction of time reveals his philosophy of life. TS: The poem exemplifies Milton’s attitude towards God in his personal life.

Your Turn! Read “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” and develop a thesis and two topic sentences that support your answer to the following prompt: How does John Milton’s poem “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” illustrate his values about life, and how was the main idea shown in his own life?

What is your philosophy on life?

From Puritanism to Enlightenment: Key Dates and Ideas in 17th-18th Century Britain