The Puritan Age
1. The half century between 1625 and 1675 is called the Puritan period for two reasons: first, because Puritan standards prevailed for a time in England; and second, because the greatest literary figure during all these years was the Puritan, John Milton. Historically the age was one of tremendous conflict. The Puritan struggled for righteousness and liberty, and because he prevailed, the age is one of moral and political revolution. In his struggle for liberty the Puritan overthrew the monarchy, beheaded Charles I, and established the Commonwealth under Cromwell. The Commonwealth lasted but a few years, and the restoration of Charles II in 1660 is often put as the end of the Puritan period. The age has no distinct limits, but overlaps with the Elizabethan period on one side, and the Restoration period on the other.
The age produced many writers, a few immortal books, and one of the world’s great literary leaders. The literature of the age is extremely diverse in character, and the diversity is due to the breaking up of the ideals of political and religious unity. This literature differs from that of t
he preceding age in three marked ways: 1. it has no unity of spirit, as in the days of Elizabeth, resulting from the patriotic enthusiasm of all classes. 2. In contrast with the hopefulness and vigor of Elizabethan writings, much of the literature of this period is somber in character; it saddens rather than inspires. 3. It has lost romantic impulse of youth, and become critical and intellectual; it makes us think, rather than feel deeply.
2. Puritanism, in the 16th and 17th cent., a movement for reform in the Church of England that had a profound influence on the social, political, ethical and theological ideas in England and America. Originating in the reign of Elizabeth I, the movement opposed the ecclesiastical establishment and aimed at purifying the church---hence the name Puritan. Many Puritans sided with the parliamentary party in the English Civil War and held great power between 1640 and 1660. They were cast out of the Church of England after the Restoration. In America the early New England settlements were Puritan in origin and theocratic in nature. The spirit of Puritanism long persisted there, and the idea of congregational democratic government was carried into the political life of the state as a source of modern democracy. It had two chief objects: the first was personal righteousness;
the second was civil and religious liberty. In other words, it aimed to make men honest and free.
monarchy3. Literature of the Puritan period
a. The transition poets=Jacobean poets.
They are called so, because they show clearly the changing standards of the age. Of whom Samuel Daniel 1562-1619 is chief. He is interesting for two reasons,---for his use of the artificial sonnet, and for his literary desertion of Spenser as a model. Delia, “Complaint of Rosamond”, “Civil Wars”.
b. The song writers
Thomas Campion 1567?--- 1619    Nicholas Breton 1545?---1626? Lyric poets of a mixture of the Elizabethan and Puritan standards. They sing of sacred and profane love with the same zest. Development of music and French influence.
c. The Spenserian poets
Giles Fletcher 1588?---1623  a follower of Spenser in the noble simplicity and majesty of his lines, suggestive of Milton. “Christ’s Victory and Triumph”   
George Wither 1588---1667 covers two periods. Hymns and Songs of the Church, varied life, dull poetry, epitome of the age.
d. The Cavalier poets
gallant, opposite to Puritan who is serious and rational. Write songs generally in lighter vein, gay, trivial, often licentious, but can’t altogether escape the tremendous seriousness of Puritanism.
Herrick, Lovelace, Suckling
e. The metaphysical poets
The name given by Dr. Johnson in derision, because of the fantastic form of Donne’s poetr
y, is often applied to all minor poets of the Puritan age. Of all these poets, we can consider here only Donne and Herbert, who in different ways are the types of revolt against earlier forms and standards of poetry. In feeling and imagery both are poets of a high order, but in style and expression they are the leaders of the fantastic school whose influence largely dominated poetry during the half century of the Puritan period.
John Donne 1573—1631
Life:
Son of a rich iron merchant. On his father’s side he came from an old Welsh family, and on his mother’s side from the Heywood and Sir Thomas More’s family. Both families were catholic, and in his early life persecution was brought near; for his brother died in prison for harboring a proscribed priest, and his own education could not be continued in Oxford and Cambridge because of religion. He studied law and was investigating the philosophic grounds of all faith. Gradually he left the church in which he was born, renounced all denominations, and called himself simply Christian. He joined the expedition of Essex. Ret
urning home, he became secretary to Lord Egerton, fell in love with latter’s niece, Anne More, and married her; for which cause he was cast into prison. Later Sir George More forgave the lovers and made an allowance to his daughter. When his wife died her allowance ceased, and Donne was left with seven children in extreme poverty. Then he became a preacher, rose rapidly by sheer intellectual force and genius, and in four years was the greatest of English preachers and Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

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