The restoration of king charles ii to the english throne in 1660 brought a new change in english literature. Restoration comedy an english dramatic comedy usually in the form of manners which dominated the restoration period 16601700. Jacobean literature begins with the drama, including some of shakespeares greatest, and darkest, plays. As compared to the tragedy of the restoration age, this. The term restoration is also used to describe the period of several years after, in which a new political settlement was established. Restoration drama characteristics restoration tragedy and restoration comedy theatres were. Dec 16, 2010 after the restoration in 1660, when charles ii came to the throne, there was a complete repudiation of the puritan ideals and way of living. A video depicting the important historical moments of the 17th an 18th century and its impact on british literature. Popular in their own time, the 27 plays included here. The restoration writers werent interested in silly things like nature ew, dirt, or grand philosophical questions ugh, boring. This genre refers to english comedies written and performed in the restoration period from 1660 a. They had no writing except runes, used as charms until they learned the latin.
After the restoration in 1660, when charles ii came to the throne, there was a complete repudiation of the puritan ideals and way of living. In 1660, in what is known as the english restoration, general george monck met with charles and arranged to restore him in exchange for a promise of amnesty and religious toleration for. She now works as a freelance editor specialising in seventeenth and eighteenth century drama. This is the most abridged notes on history of english literature. Owen teaches in the department of english literature at the university of sheffield. Restoration literature english literary period britannica.
Romantic comedy lighthearted comedies involving young lovers foolish mix ups. Literary features of the age, prose, poetry and drama of the period. The middle ages is like no other period in the norton anthology of english literature in terms of the time span it covers. Restoration drama characteristics restoration tragedy and restoration comedy theatres were closed during the puritan age. With the political and moral transformation which began in 1688, the very keynote of english literature, as of english life, was greatly changed.
In the hands of dryden satire became for the first time a polished and highly effective weapon of offence, correction, and even selfexpression. The major writers will be introduced with their major works of literature. A norton anthology surveys the astonishing, and astonishingly varied, dramatic works written and performed in elizabethan and jacobean england. Some literary historians speak of the period as bounded by the reign of charles ii 166085, while others prefer to include within its scope the writings. This lesson explores what is known as the restoration era of english literature, which lasted from 1660 to about 1688. I am not sure if you mean english literature specifically. It is a brief but wellmarked transition separating the restoration from the age of classicism. The middle ages, renaissance, and 18th century english 3020 british literature i.
Pre1800 english literature course 3hrs 45 intro to medieval lit 4533 early british novel. The restoration of the stuart monarchy in the kingdoms of england, scotland and ireland took place in 1660 when king charles ii returned from exile in europe. Candidacy exam reading list effective for students entering fall 20 i. Appealing to a fairly narrow audience of aristocrats in the recently reopened theatres, restoration comedy relied upon sophisticated. Restoration drama characteristics tragedy and comedy english. The most extensive new collection in this field published in more than three decades, english renaissance drama. Check your understanding of the restoration period in literature with an interactive quiz and printable worksheet. Which genre of literature emerged during the restoration period with dominant traits of. It was now that plays came to be divided into five acts and a number of scenes. Saxon beowulf have given a clear and interesting picture of the life of our barbarous ancestors of the sixth or seventh century a. The course in the form of lectures aims at giving a survey of literary trends in the period beginning with the restoration and ending with 18thcentury new sensibility. Jul 18, 2018 a brief history of english literature. They were interested in all the drama that went on in the society in which they lived.
The drama of the period was marked by brilliance of wit and by licentiousness, which may have been a reflection of the freeness of court. Yet any survey of english literature would be substantially poorer if it didnt mention aphra behn, william wycherley, or william congreve. The restoration period opens with a work very much exhibitive of its spmthudibras of samuel butler which appeared in three parts in 1663, 1664 and 1678, each part consisting of three cantos. The preceding period of the protectorate and the civil wars, came to be known as the interregnum 16491660. David wallace, the cambridge history of medieval english literature cambridge. Technically and historically, while the restoration began on charles iis return to the english throne in 1660, the characteristics of restoration drama began to appear in the carolinian. Bevis from the most effective writer and also publisher is currently readily available right here. The theatres which were indoor were much smaller than the elizabethan theatres. Politically, the era followed nearly two decades of civil unrest and war. Feb 05, 2010 a video depicting the important historical moments of the 17th an 18th century and its impact on british literature. The restoration is a period in literary history full of humor and hankypanky.
A manner is a method in which everyday duties are performed. Following the tables, in chronological order, is a brief description of each period and major writers. Survey of english literature from the anglosaxon period through chaucer, shakespeare, the 17th and 18th centuries. Comedy of manners in english literature english summary. History of english literature pdf included periods of. By contrast, in the development of english drama in the late seventeenth. She is the author of restoration theatre and crisis 1996 and perspectives on restoration drama forthcoming, as well as numerous articles and essays on restoration drama, a piece on andrew marvell and a theoretical article, chaos theory, marxism and literature. Heroic tragedy is a name given to the form of tragedy which had some vogue in the beginning of the restoration period 16601700. The restoration and the augustan age the restoration 1660 1714 charles ii 1660 1685 two political parties are founded. The restoration and the 18th century english literature i. A kind of english comedy, usually in the form of the comedy of manners, that flourished during the restoration period in england i. Comedy of manners is used as a synonym of restoration comedy. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of study material available on that topicsubtopic.
In english literature the period from 1660 to 1700 is called the period of restoration, because monarchy was restored in england, and charles ii, the son of charles i who. Restoration drama and prose the restoration of king charles ii to the english throne in 1660 brought a new change in english literature. The english monarchy was restored when charles ii of england above became king in 1660. For others, it excited the desire to celebrate kingship and even to turn the events of the new reign into signs of a divinely ordained. It can be said that the last years of the seventeenth century form a distinct period. We thought dudes that looked like this would be superuptight. Sep 03, 2016 the restoration and the augustan age the restoration 1660 1714 charles ii 1660 1685 two political parties are founded.
Dec 27, 2010 the restoration age is known for the great efflorescence of the spirit of satire which was to reign supreme for decades thereafter. Restoration and eighteenth century dramathe drury lane theatre, london. Much of the elizabethan play writers blended tragedy and comedy, whereas the restoration dramatists chose to separate the two nettleton. Doc restoration and the 18th century english literature. Restoration and eighteenthcentury drama british literature. Cambridge university press, 1999, chapters 21 geoffrey chaucer. It is an entertainment form which satirizes the manners and affections of social class or of multiple classes. Syllabus and courses of studies of english literature for. English literature english literature the restoration. To download the content in pdf click on the following link a brief history of english literature pdf chapter 1 old english literature the old english language or anglosaxon. The restoration and the eighteenth century the period from 1660when the english crown was restored as charles ii became king to 1800 saw the vast transformation of english society and english politics as well as significant developments within english literature. The best restoration comedies and tragedies restoration comedies and tragedies often get overlooked in our rush to celebrate the elizabethan and jacobean drama of marlowe, shakespeare, and jonson. But nopethe most popular writers of the age wrote bawdy comedies packed with sexual innuendo. Restoration and eighteenth century 16601789 longman literature in english series, by richard w.
Satire a way of writing that ridicules institutions, individuals or societies to criticise their errors. Social behavior and social manners, then, are big themes in restoration literature. The restoration refers to the restoration of the monarchy when charles ii was restored to the throne of england following an elevenyear commonwealth period during which the country was governed by parliament under the direction of the puritan general oliver cromwell. Restoration literature is the english literature written during the historical period commonly referred to as the english restoration 16601689, which corresponds to the last years of stuart reign in england, scotland, wales, and ireland. A companion to restoration drama wiley online books. Candidacy exam reading list effective for students. List of books and articles about restoration comedy online. The cambridge history of english and american literature. Literary periods of british literature for ease of study, literary scholars divide british into segments referred to as periods.
Browse the study material below by topics and subtopics. List of books and articles about restoration comedy. English major literature, film, and pop culture studies concentration department of english the ohio state university. The literature not only represents authors or writers from almost every part of the world but also it had untapped almost every major genre of writings that one could possibly imagine. The age of dryden a website with detailed analyses of the literary, cultural, and political aspects of the restoration period. While the exact number, dates, and names of these periods vary, the following lists conform to widespread acceptance. The elizabethan age is the golden age of english drama. It was a powerful but low satire on the puritans who had been subdued with the restoration of charles ii to the throne of england in 1660. Restoration and the 18th century english literature. Restoration literature, english literature written after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 following the period of the commonwealth. It is very often used to cover the whole reign of charles ii 16601685 and often the brief reign of his younger brother james ii 16851688. The development of english literature summary old english. During the restoration age, they reopened with new types of plays and performances which were different than the before. The morality play, everyman, is dated after 1485 and probably belongs to the.
The drama of this period can be broken into two categories, comedies and tragedies. Technically and historically, while the restoration began on charles iis return to the english throne in 1660, the characteristics of restoration drama began to appear in the carolinian dramas before the interregnumthe comedy of manners and heroic tragedies pointed toward a changing public sensibility. The socalled heroic tragedy which had a brief run concurrently with the comedy of manners had also a little of popularity, but was too unnatural and artificial and merely a type of french soil. Caedmons hymn, the earliest english poem to survive as a text nael 8, 1.
The development of english literature summary old english, middle english and chaucer old english english, as we know it, descends from the language spoken by the north germanic tribes who settled in england from the 5th century a. An introduction to restoration comedy the british library. The restoration and the 18th century british literature wiki. Restoration comedy is english comedy written and performed in the restoration period from 1660 to 1710. After public stage performances had been banned for 18 years by the puritan regime, the reopening of the theatres in 1660 signalled a renaissance of english drama. Restoration and eighteenthcentury drama british literature wiki. Introduction to british literature 9 700 beowulf epic poetry 1066 norman conquest france conquers britain medieval britain 1066 1486 reformation and restoration 1486 1689 1606 shakespeares macbeth 17th century poetry of the english renaissance the age of empire 1689 1901. Restoration through 18thcentury english literature dr. It was drama in the epic mode grand, rhetorical and. We have a total of 107 study material available on ntanet based on ntaugc english literature paperii. Thus, the restoration in drama may last until 1700, while in poetry it may last only until 1666.
Oct 08, 2012 with the political and moral transformation which began in 1688, the very keynote of english literature, as of english life, was greatly changed. In english literature the period from 1660 to 1700 is called the period of restoration, because monarchy was. For some, the restoration of king charles ii in 1660 led many to a painful revaluation of the political hopes and millenarian expectations bred during two decades of civil war and republican government. Restoration drama and prose literary theory and criticism. Syllabus and courses of studies of english literature for b. Restoration literature is the english literature written during the historical period commonly.