The RestorationThe Restoration

1660-18001660-1800

From Tumult to CalmFrom Tumult to Calm

20 years of civil war20 years of civil war

Devastating plagueDevastating plague

Fire that left more Fire that left more than 2/3 of than 2/3 of Londoners Londoners homelesshomeless

The middle class The middle class grewgrew

Augustan and NeoclassicalAugustan and Neoclassical

Stuarts restored peace and Stuarts restored peace and order order People were weary of war People were weary of war and suspicious of and suspicious of revolutionaries and radicals.revolutionaries and radicals.Neoclassical – “new Neoclassical – “new classical”; English writers classical”; English writers modeled their works on the modeled their works on the old Latin classics since they old Latin classics since they represented what was represented what was permanent and universal in permanent and universal in human experiencehuman experience

Reason and EnlightenmentReason and Enlightenment

Prior to now, people Prior to now, people believed disasters to be believed disasters to be warnings or warnings or punishments.punishments.In the Enlightenment, In the Enlightenment, people gradually people gradually stopped asking “why” stopped asking “why” and started asking and started asking “how” – figuring out the “how” – figuring out the workings behind it.workings behind it.

Changes in ReligionChanges in ReligionNew scientific and New scientific and rational explanations rational explanations gradually began to gradually began to affect some people’s affect some people’s religious views.religious views.Deism – a Creator sets Deism – a Creator sets the universe into the universe into motion, then withdraws motion, then withdraws and lets it run itselfand lets it run itselfChristianity still remains Christianity still remains extremely influential extremely influential over almost all over almost all EuropeansEuropeans

Religion and PoliticsReligion and Politics

Religion determined Religion determined people’s politics.people’s politics.

Charles II Charles II reestablished the reestablished the Anglican Church Anglican Church (called Episcopal in (called Episcopal in the US) as the the US) as the official church of official church of England.England.

The Bloodless RevolutionThe Bloodless Revolution

It was widely believed that Catholics had It was widely believed that Catholics had set fire to London, caused other disasters, set fire to London, caused other disasters, and were plotting to hand the country over and were plotting to hand the country over to the pope.to the pope.

James II, a practicing Catholic, succeeded James II, a practicing Catholic, succeeded Charles II. When his wife produced a Charles II. When his wife produced a Catholic heir, leaders transferred power to Catholic heir, leaders transferred power to his daughter and her Protestant husband. his daughter and her Protestant husband. James II and family fled the country.James II and family fled the country.

Addicted to the TheaterAddicted to the Theater

When Puritans were in When Puritans were in power, theaters were power, theaters were closed, so Charles II closed, so Charles II repealed the ban on repealed the ban on play performances.play performances.Boys and men no Boys and men no longer acted the longer acted the female roles – female roles – actresses were actresses were available.available.

The Age of SatireThe Age of Satire

Satire – writing that Satire – writing that does not make a fair does not make a fair and balanced judgment and balanced judgment of people and their of people and their behavior but rather behavior but rather says the worst things says the worst things about them that the about them that the poet can think of saying poet can think of saying (public ridicule).(public ridicule).

Journalism & PoetryJournalism & Poetry

Journalists saw Journalists saw themselves as themselves as reformers of public reformers of public manners and morals.manners and morals.

Poets had no desire Poets had no desire to expose their souls; to expose their souls; they thought of poetry they thought of poetry as having a public as having a public rather than a private rather than a private function.function.

The First English NovelsThe First English Novels

Novel – “something Novel – “something new”; long fictional new”; long fictional narrativesnarratives

A development of A development of the middle classthe middle class

Often broad and Often broad and comicalcomical

Searching for a Simpler LifeSearching for a Simpler Life

Writers began turning Writers began turning to external nature and to external nature and writing about the writing about the effect of the natural effect of the natural landscape on the landscape on the human soul.human soul.

Looking back at the Looking back at the past, searching for past, searching for simple poems and simple poems and songs.songs.