Prose and verse of the Puritan Age with examples.

1. Prepared by Dipti Vaghela

2. The Spenserian Poets
 Of the Spenserian poets Giles, Fletcher and Wither are
best worth studying. Giles’s best known work, ‘Christ’s
Victory and Triumph’ (1610), was the greatest religious
poem. Wither is a lyric poet. His book ‘Hymns and
Songs of Church’ (1623), the first hymn book that ever
appeared in the English language.

3. The Metaphysical Poets
 This name – which was given by Dr. Johnson. It is very
unique poetry. We come to see the far fetched images
in these poems, like Donne’s ‘The Flea’, ‘Death be not
proud’ etc.


4. The Cavalier Poets
 In this age, side by side with the serious and rational
Puritan, lives the gallant and trivial Cavalier.
 The Cavalier in a small group of poets, Herrick,
Lovelace, Suckling, and Carew.

5. Prose Writers
 John Bunyan- His famous work ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’.
 Other works of Bunyan, The Holy War, Grace
Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, The Lifee and
Death of Mr. Badman, etc.

6. Minor Prose Writers
 There are also some minor prose writers like Robert
Burton’s ‘Anatomy of Melancholy’, Thomas Browne’s
‘Religio Medici’, Thomas Fuller’s ‘The Holy War’, ‘The
Holy State and the Profane State, Church History of
Britain and The History of the Worthies of England.
 There are some other writers like Jeremy Taylor,
Richard Baxter and Izaak Walton.