英国文学史及作品选读.pptVIP

Lecture Five The 17th Century (The Period of Revolution and Restoration) Historical context Literary characteristics Metaphysical Poetry John Donne John Milton John Bunyan Historical Context a. The cooperation between the monarchy and the bourgeoisie was over in the early 17th century. (Elizabethan I died, James I came to power, and Charles I then dissolved the parliament and ruled the country with absolute government in 1629). b. The English Revolution (led by Oliver Cromwell), Charles I was captured and was executed in 1649. Thus, the monarchy was abolished and came the period of the Republican or commonwealth. c. The split within the revolutionary camp ( the middle bourgeoisie—the big bourgeoisie ; the bourgeoisie—the common people; ) d. The bourgeoisie dictatorship and the Restoration. After the death of Cromwell, the monarchy was restored. It was called the period of restoration. In 1688, James II was forced to flee to France. His Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William, Duke of Orange, were welcomed to England as the joint rulers of the country. This is known as the Glorious Revolution (bloodless). It marked the end of feudalism and the triumph of the bourgeois revolution. After a century of disputes and battles, the state structure of England was settled, within which capitalism could develop freely. Literary Characteristics Puritan influence (to suppress literary art, stern and hard style) Metaphysical poets (John Donne, George Herbert , Andrew Marvell) John Donne: “The Flea”, “Song”, “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” John Milton ( a great revolutionary poet) Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes, On his Blindness, On His Deceased Wife John Bunyan The Pilgrim’s Progress Puritanism Puritanism was the religious doctrine of the revolutionary bourgeoisie during the English Revolution. It preached thrift, sobriety, hard work and unceasing labor in whatever calling one happened to be, but with no extravagant enjoyment of the f