1 / 7

The Diverse Landscape of Seventeenth-Century English Literature: From Puritans to Cavaliers

The seventeenth-century English literary scene was marked by a lack of a singular perspective, categorizing writers into Puritan and Cavalier factions neglects the complexities at play. Cavalier poets celebrated transient joys of love and beauty, while Puritan writers focused on fervent hymns and political tracts. The Restoration theatre, catering to the elite, welcomed female performers like Nell Gwyn, signifying a cultural shift. Notable figures include John Donne, Robert Herrick, and John Milton, each influencing literature through their unique perspectives on spirituality and human experience.

tamma
Télécharger la présentation

The Diverse Landscape of Seventeenth-Century English Literature: From Puritans to Cavaliers

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Baroque English Poetry

  2. Literary developments • There was no typical seventeenth-century outlook • Strict division into Puritan writers and Cavalier writers ignores many differentiations and considerable crosspollination • As a rule, Cavalier writers are associated with gay, devil-may-care poetry extolling the transient pleasures of love, youth, happiness, and beauty. • Puritan writes would normally write fervent Puritan hymns and political tracts. • Restoration theatre was a theatre for the court, the nobility, the ladies and gentlemen of fashion. Women’s roles, formerly played by boys, were now played by actresses, such as the famous Nell Gwyn • French tradition continued to be influential but not to the same degree it was in visual arts

  3. Restoration theatre Restoration theatre was a theatre for the court, the nobility, the ladies and gentlemen of fashion. Women’s roles, formerly played by boys, were now played by actresses, such as the famous Nell Gwyn (1650 – 1687), mistress of King Charles II of England

  4. John Donne (1572-1631), a metaphysical poet • Born to a wealthy and famous family • Raised as Roman Catholic • Travelled, studied law, theology, medicine • Handsome and brilliant • Wrote wild, worldly, cynical “harsh” love lyrics; known for his apt use of paradox • Secretly married the 16-year-old Anne More, whose infuriated influential family did everything in their power to block Donne’s career • Years of obscurity and soul-searching • At 43, was ordained a priest • Dean of St. Pail’s Cathedral • Composed religious poetry and magnificent sermons

  5. Donne’s Woman’s Constancy (poetry reading) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-DrmjIApWg

  6. Robert Herrick (1591-1674), a lyric poet • The son of a goldsmith, who worked at his father’s craft • A degree at Cambridge • Ben Johnson’s greatest student and admirer • The Church of England chaplain • Obtained from Charles I a church living in Devon: at first hated this rough and rocky exile; later discovered in himself an understanding – even a love - for the brooks, blossoms, birds of the West Country. • Wrote pure songs of secular nature as well as religious verse

  7. John Milton (1608-1674) As a Puritan, Milton believed that: • the individual’s relation to God was the heart of Christianity • the individual’s chief aid was the Bible, the revealed voice of God • Kings, bishops, the intricate theological disputes of the Middle Ages, officials and institutions which tried to make rules for the believer had to be replaced • The son of a scrivener (lawyer, in today’s words) • At school, studies Latin and Greek, grammar and rhetoric • Degree at Cambridge university

More Related