The_18th_Century英国18世纪文学.pptVIP

18th Century British Literature (1688-1785) The 18th Century Historical Background (events) Historical Background A. A constitutional monarchy（君主立宪制）---After the Glorious Revolution the ruling power in England passed from the king to the parliament. B. The continuous, large-scale enclosures of land resulted in rural bankruptcy. The poverty and misery of the exploited and unemployed laboring masses in the cities increased. C. The exerted an immense impact on human thinking Industrial Revolution, which started in the 1760s, D. The 13 former British colonies in North America Announced their independence in 1776. Historical Background (generalization) Politically, Abosulute monarchy constitutional monarchy Socially, rising of urban middle class or bourgeoisie Economically, a. industrial revolution b. expansion of its colonies abroad Ideologically, Age of Enlightenment a. scientific discoveries (Newton) and flourishing of philosophies, French enlightenment started. b. expression of struggle of the progressive class of bourgeoisie against feudalism. c. constitution of Renaissance in belief in the possibility of human education d. rationality, natural right and equality The Enlightenment Movement  The 18th-century England is known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. The Enlightenment Movement was a progressive intellectual movement which flourished in France swept through the whole Western Europe at the time. The movement was a furtherance of the Renaissance of the 15th 16th centuries. Its purpose was to enlighten the whole world with the light of modern philosophical artistic ideas. What is Enlightenment? The enlighteners considered the chief means for the betterment of the society was “enlightenment” or “education” for the people. The Enlightener celebrated reason or ration, equality, science and human beings’ ability to perfect themselves and their society. They called for a reference to or