17th Century Literature Notes

Monarchy

  • Death of Elizabeth I (1603) → James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England.
  • Charles I (1625): Royal absolutism leads to tensions.
  • Civil War (1642-1649): Parliament vs. King; Charles I beheaded in 1649.
  • Commonwealth (1649-1660): Oliver Cromwell as ‘Lord Protector’.
  • Restoration (1660): Charles II becomes King.

Religion

  • Protestant Reformation continues.
  • James I seeks stability, makes peace with Spain (1604).
  • Middle ground in Bible interpretations: Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer (1549).
  • Guy Fawkes & Gunpowder Plot (1605): Anti-Catholic sentiments increase.
  • Charles II's Catholic sympathies cause anxiety.
  • William Laud (Archbishop).

The King James Version (1611)

  • New translation of the Bible.
  • Standard English scripture with literary qualities.

Science

  • Importance of analogy and order; parallels between microcosm & macrocosm.
  • New discoveries challenge existing categories.
  • New scientific theories change worldviews: Galileo/Kepler's heliocentrism vs. Ptolemy's Earth-centered model.
  • Francis Bacon, Novum Organum (1620).
  • William Harvey, blood circulation.
  • Scientific method: observation, experiment, logic.
  • Royal Society of London (1660).

Literature

  • Patronage system.
  • Censorship: Stationer’s Company collapses during Civil War.
  • Treatises, pamphlets, and newsbooks emerge.
  • Public theaters suspended.
  • Dominant literary genres: poetry, epic, familiar essay, short prose.

Poetry

  • Changes in poetic style: sonnet → shorter, witty poetry.
  • Direct, conversational, dramatic monologue.
  • ‘carpe diem’ motif.
  • ‘Metaphysical Poets’ (Andrew Marvell, John Donne, George Herbert): science & religion for ideas & images.

Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)

  • Trinity College, Cambridge.
  • Secretary, tutor to Cromwell.
  • ‘To His Coy Mistress’ (p. 835): rhyme, iambic tetrameter, dramatic monologue, couplets, syllogism, ‘carpe diem’ poem, hyperbole.

John Donne (1572-1631)

  • Converted Roman Catholic → Church of England preacher.
  • Images or ‘conceits’.
  • ‘The Sun Rising’ (p. 752): aubade, irregular metre & rhyme, colloquial, learned, <> Petrarchan love poetry.

George Herbert (1593-1633)

  • Trinity College, Cambridge.
  • Religious poems survive.
  • The Temple (1633).
  • ‘Easter Wings’ (p. 821): Irregular metre & rhyme, spiritual conflict with God, ‘emblem’ poem.