This document provides an overview of 17th century English literature during the Puritan and Restoration periods. It summarizes the major genres of the time, including Puritan poetry divided into the School of Spenser, Metaphysical school, and Cavalier poets. The major dramatists of Jacobean and Caroline drama are also discussed, along with famous prose writers like Bacon, Burton, Milton and Taylor. The document analyzes the work and styles of influential poets, dramatists and prose writers like Donne, Jonson, Milton and others during this period of English literature.

3. Karakoram International University
Gilgit
 Prepared by Hajat Hussain
 Reg No. 2016-kiu-2242
Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242

4. List of Topics
 Introduction
 Three types of Puritan Poetry
 Famous Poets
 Jacobean and Caroline Drama
 Famous Dramatist
 Jacobean and Caroline Prose
 Famous Prose Writers

5. Introduction….
 The literature of 17th century divided into two
periods– The Puritans Age or Age of Milton and
Restoration Period or Age of Dryden.
 17th century was marked by the decline of
Renaissance spirit.
 One important of this period was writing of
biography and autobiography.

6. Cont…..
 The 17th century upto 1660 was dominated by
Puritanism and it is called Puritan Age or Age
of Milton, who was noblest representatives of
Puritan spirit.
 Puritan movement had two objects– personal
righteousness and religious liberty.

7. Puritan Poetry
 The Puritan poetry is also called the
Jacobean and Caroline Poetry during the
reigns of James I and Charles I.
 Poetry can be divided into three parts
1) Poetry of School of Spenser
2) Poetry of Metaphysical School
3) Poetry of Cavalier Poets

8. Poetry of School of Spenser
 The Spenserians were the followers of
Spenser. In spite of changing conditions and
literary tastes, they preferred to follow
Spenser and considered him as their master.
 The most famous figures were Phineas
Fletcher and Giles Fletcher, both were
brothers, priests and fellows of Cambridge
University.

9. Cont…
 Phineas Fletcher wrote a number of
Spenserian pastorals and allegories, famous
poetry was The Purple Island, a detailed
allegory.
 Giles Fletcher was more lyrical and
mystical than his brother. His Christ’s
Victorie and Triumph in Heaven and Earth
over and after Death, an allegory about a
Christ.

10. Cont….
 William Browne important poetical work is
Britannia’s Pastorals which is shows all the
characteristics of Elizabethan Poetry and
inspired by Spenser Faerie Queene.

11. Metaphysical School
 The leader of this school was John Donne,
others were Herrick, Carew, Vaughan etc. They
are called metaphysical poets.
 Their poetry was highly philosophical, full of
conceits, exaggerations, display of learning and
metaphors.
 Dr. Johnson in his Lives of the Poets used term
metaphysical.

12. Characteristics of Metaphysical
Poets
 The metaphysical poets were men of learning.
 The metaphysical poets were honest, original
thinkers.
 They discussed far and fetched ideas. Full of
logic and reasoning.
 They tried to analyse their feelings and
experience.
 They were aware of life and concerned with
death.

13. Famous poets
 John Donne (1537-1631)
The leader of the Metaphysical school. His main
work was to deliver religious sermons, he wrote
poetry of a very high order.
 His best work was The Progress of the Soul, An
Anatomy of the World, an elegy and Epithalamium.
 His poetry divided into 3 parts 1)
Amorous 2) Metaphysical 3) Satirical

14. Cont…
 Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
He wrote Amorous as well as religious verse.
He has much in common with Elizabethan song
writers.
 Richard Crashaw (1613-1649)
He was religious poet and his best work is The
Flaming Heart.

15. Poetry of Cavalier Poets
 The leader was Ben Jonson. Jonson followed
the classical method in his poetry and drama.
He imitated Horace and differ from
Shakespeare.
 Some Cavalier poets were also followers of
Donne. Even some typical Poems of Donne and
Jonson are very much alike.
 The Cavalier poets wrote about trivial subjects.

16. Cont….
 The important Cavalier poets were Herrick,
Lovelace, Suckling and Carew.
 Richard Lovelace (1618-1658) Follower of
King Charles I. His volume of lyrics– Lucasta.

17. John Milton(1608-1674
 Milton was the greatest poet of the
Puritan age.
 Wordsworth was paying tribute to
Milton. “Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt
apart.
 In all his poetry, he sings about himself and his
own lofty soul.
 He was deeply religious man.
 He was a great scholar of classical as well as
Hebrew language.

18. Cont……
 His early poetry is lyrical. Important poems are
The Hymn on the Nativity, L’Allegro, II
Penseroso, Lycidas and Comus.
 The Hymn written in 21 year, shows his lyrical
genius. L’Allegro and II Penseroso are full of
pleasing descriptions of rural life.
 Lycidas is pastoral elegy written on death of
Milton’s friend.

19. Cont….
 He also wrote sonnets such as When the Assault
was intended to the City.
 When the civil war broke out in 1642-1649 he
became a Latin secretary to Cromwell.
 After death of Cromwell he became friendless.
Even his wife & daughter turned against him.
 Milton girded his lions & wrote his greatest
poetical works Paradise lost, Paradise
Regained and Samson Agonistes.

20. Cont…..
 Subject matter of Paradise Lost is consist of the
casting out from Heaven of fallen angles. Their
planning of revenge in Hell. Satan’s flight,
Man’s temptation and fall from grace
 Purpose of human existence is” to Justify the
ways of God to men”
 Paradise Lost is called the last great
Elizabethan poem.
 It is written in blank verse.

21. Jacobean and Caroline Drama
 After Shakespeare drama in England suffered a
decline. The real spirit of Elizabethan drama
disappeared. Shakespeare took delight in action
and the emotions while Jacobean and Caroline
Drama gave expression to passive suffering and
lack of mental and physical vigour.
 In Puritan age drama suffered a terrible decline
because Puritans closed the theatres in 1642.

22. Famous Dramatist
 The greatest dramatist was Ben Jonson, Others
were John Marston, Thomas Dekker, Thomas
Heywood, John Fletcher etc.
 John Marston (1575-1634)
He wrote in a violent and extravagant style. His
melodrama Antonia and Mellida and Antonia’s Revenge
are full of forceful passages. The Malcontent, The
Dutch Courtezan and Fawne, he criticised the society in
an ironic manner. His best play is Eastward Hoe, a
comedy which portrays realistically life of tradesman.

23. Cont…..
 Thomas Dekker (1570-1632)
He was gentle and free from coarseness. Some
of his plays possess grace and freshness. He is
at best when portraying scenes from life and
describing living people.
 His famous comedy was The Shoemaker’s
Holiday, in which a shoemaker and his wife are
vividly described. In Old Fortunates his
poetical powers are seen at their best.

24. Cont…..
 John Ford (1586-1639)
He was true poet, but a melancholy and gloomy
person.
 His plays were Perkin Warbeck, The Lover’s
Melancholy, The Broken Heart and Love
Sacrifice, all show a skilful handling of
emotions and grace of style. His plays depicted
sufferings.

25. Jacobean and Caroline Prose
 This period was rich in prose. The great prose
writers were Bacon, Burton, Milton, Sir
Thomas Browne etc.
 English prose formed into pliable instrument by
the Elizabethans, began to be used in various
ways, as narrative as well as a vehicle for
philosophical and scientific knowledge. For
first time great scholars begin to write in
English.

26. Cont…….
 The greatest single influence which enriched
English prose was the Authorised Version of
the Bible (English translation of Bible).
 The Bible became the supreme example of
earlier English prose-style which was simple,
plain and natural.

27. Famous Prose Writers
 Francis Bacon (1561-1628)
He belongs to both Elizabethan and Jacobean
Periods. He was a lawyer. As a prose writer he is
the master of the aphoristic style. His style is clear.
 He is best known for his Essays, in which he shares
his ideas about successful life. He wrote Henry VII
the first piece of scientific history in English
language, The Advancement of Learning is a
popular exposition of scientific exposition.

28. Cont….
 Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
He was a bishop made himself famous by
his literary sermons. He is considered as one of
the masters of English eloquence.
 His best prose works is Holy Living and Holy
Dying.

29. References….
 A Critical History of English Literature by
B.R Mullik
 History of English Literature By David
Daiches
Hajat Hussain 2016-Kiu-2242