📖Restoration Literature Unit 6 – English Language & Literary Criticism

Historical Context

• Restoration period in English literature spans from 1660 to 1700, following the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II after the Interregnum
• Marked by a reaction against the strict moral and religious codes of the Puritan era, leading to a more secular and libertine society
• Rise of scientific rationalism and empiricism influenced intellectual thought (Royal Society founded in 1660)
• Political instability persisted with conflicts between the monarchy and Parliament (Glorious Revolution of 1688)
• Expansion of British colonialism and trade led to increased wealth and global influence
  • East India Company established control over India
  • Slave trade expanded in the Caribbean and North America
• Growth of London as a cultural and economic center fostered a vibrant literary scene
• Increasing literacy rates and the popularity of coffee houses contributed to the spread of ideas and literature

Key Authors and Works

• John Dryden, a dominant figure known for his satirical poetry ("Mac Flecknoe") and plays ("All for Love")
• Aphra Behn, one of the first professional female writers, known for her novel "Oroonoko" and her plays ("The Rover")
  • Challenged gender norms and societal expectations through her writing
• Samuel Pepys, whose detailed diary provides insights into Restoration society and culture
• John Bunyan, author of the allegorical novel "The Pilgrim's Progress"
• William Congreve, a prominent playwright known for his comedies of manners ("The Way of the World")
• John Locke, philosopher whose works ("Two Treatises of Government", "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding") influenced Enlightenment thought
• Jonathan Swift, satirist famous for his novel "Gulliver's Travels" and essay "A Modest Proposal"
  • Used humor and irony to critique societal issues and human nature

Literary Themes and Motifs

• Exploration of the tension between reason and emotion, often through the lens of love and relationships
• Satirical critiques of social norms, political corruption, and religious hypocrisy
  • Use of wit and irony to expose societal flaws
• Libertinism and sexual freedom as a reaction against Puritan morality
• Emphasis on the power of the individual and the pursuit of personal pleasure
• Fascination with the exotic and the "other," reflected in the popularity of travel narratives and colonial settings
• Themes of disguise, deception, and the gap between appearance and reality
  • Characters often engage in role-playing or masquerade
• Exploration of the nature of identity and the self in a changing social landscape

Genre Developments

• Rise of the comedy of manners, which satirized the behavior and customs of the upper classes (Congreve's "The Way of the World")
• Development of the heroic drama, which featured grandiose themes and characters (Dryden's "The Conquest of Granada")
• Emergence of the novel as a distinct literary form (Behn's "Oroonoko", Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress")
  • Emphasis on realism and individual experience
• Revival of the epic poem, often with a satirical or mock-heroic tone (Dryden's "Mac Flecknoe")
• Popularity of the essay as a means of exploring ideas and critiquing society (Swift's "A Modest Proposal")
• Continuation of the metaphysical poetry tradition, with an emphasis on wit and intellectual complexity (Dryden's poetry)
• Adaptation of classical forms and themes to suit contemporary tastes and concerns

Critical Approaches

• New Historicism: Examines literature in the context of its historical and cultural moment, considering factors such as politics, economics, and social norms
• Feminist Criticism: Analyzes the representation of gender roles and the experiences of women in Restoration literature, particularly in the works of Aphra Behn
  • Considers how female authors challenged patriarchal norms and asserted their agency
• Postcolonial Criticism: Explores the depiction of colonial subjects and the impact of colonialism on Restoration literature (Behn's "Oroonoko")
• Marxist Criticism: Examines the representation of class relations and the influence of economic factors on Restoration society and literature
• Reader-Response Criticism: Focuses on the role of the reader in constructing meaning and the ways in which Restoration texts engage with their audience
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: Analyzes the psychological motivations and desires of characters and authors, often through the lens of Freudian theory
• Queer Theory: Investigates the representation of non-normative sexualities and gender identities in Restoration literature

Language and Style

• Characterized by wit, elegance, and a conversational tone that reflected the language of the upper classes
• Use of rhetorical devices such as irony, paradox, and hyperbole to create satirical effects
  • Dryden's "Mac Flecknoe" employs hyperbolic praise to mock its subject
• Emphasis on the art of conversation and repartee, particularly in comedies of manners
• Incorporation of classical allusions and references to demonstrate learning and sophistication
• Experimentation with form and meter in poetry, such as Dryden's use of the heroic couplet
• Adaptation of prose style to suit different genres, from the introspective nature of Pepys' diary to the satirical bite of Swift's essays
• Development of a more standardized and prescriptive approach to grammar and usage (influence of Samuel Johnson's "Dictionary of the English Language")

Cultural Impact

• Restoration literature reflected and shaped the values and concerns of its time, serving as a mirror of societal changes
• Contributed to the development of a more secular and skeptical worldview, challenging traditional religious and moral authorities
• Influenced the development of the English novel and the comedy of manners as distinct literary forms
• Provided a model for future generations of satirists and social critics, such as Alexander Pope and Henry Fielding
• Helped to establish London as a cultural capital and center of literary production
  • Popularity of coffee houses as spaces for intellectual exchange and debate
• Sparked debates about the role of women in society and the literary world, particularly through the works of Aphra Behn
• Laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment emphasis on reason, individualism, and progress

Connections to Other Literary Periods

• Reacted against the austerity and moral didacticism of Puritan literature during the Interregnum
• Drew inspiration from the wit and sophistication of Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, particularly in the works of Shakespeare and Jonson
• Influenced the development of 18th-century Augustan literature, which continued the emphasis on satire, wit, and social commentary (Pope, Swift)
  • Dryden's use of the heroic couplet set a standard for Augustan poetry
• Anticipated the Romantic emphasis on individualism and the exploration of the self, particularly in the works of Pepys and Behn
• Shared a fascination with the exotic and the "other" with later Romantic and Victorian literature (Coleridge's "Kubla Khan", Brontë's "Jane Eyre")
• Provided a foundation for the realist novel of the 19th century through its emphasis on individual experience and social observation
• Influenced the modernist interest in experimentation with form and the exploration of the subconscious (stream of consciousness technique)