The17thCentury第四周講稿TheEnglishRevolutionandtheRestoration.docVIP

The 17th Century The English Revolution and the Restoration（I） Historical Background The 17th century was one of the most tempestuous periods in England history. It was a period when absolute monarchy impeded the further development of capitalism in England and the bourgeoisie could no longer bear the sway of landed nobility. The contradictions between the feudal system and the bourgeoisie had reached its peak and resulted in a revolutionary outburst. The weakening of the tie between monarchy and bourgeoisie; The clashes between the king and parliament; The outburst of the English Revolution; The split within the revolutionary camp; The bourgeois dictatorship and the Restoration; The religious cloak of the English Revolution. 1603 Elizabeth died and James I came to the throne 1625 Charles I succeeded. There were religious division and confusion and a struggle between the people’s Parliament and the Thorne. 1649 Charles I was beheaded. England became a commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. 1658 with the death of Cromwell, the country fell once more into anarchy. 1660 Charles I’s son was welcomed back as Charles II. Restoration 1668 The new king William of Orange and his wife Mary became the joint ruler of the country. This was known as “the Glorious Revolution”. Literature of the Revolution Period: The literature of this revolution and restoration period was very much concerned with the tremendous social upheavals of the time. The old value system was on its way out, new values were taking shape, and the conflict generated an acute sense of loss. It led to the attempt to seek certainty and intellectual harmony on the one hand and to address the question of values through violence and sexuality. The French influence is most marked in the drama. The representatives include John Donne, John Milton, John Dryden, and John Bunyan. 1. Literature of the Revolution Period A. general characteristics 1) The Revolution Period was one of confusion in literature