THE PURITAN LEGACY

& THE COMMON

WEALTH
1625-1675
A glimpse at the Historical
background of the Age….
 Puritan period can be regarded as a
second Renaissance.
 Puritan movement meant moral and
political reform lasts in the nation almost
for half a century.
 The Age has no distinct limits but
overlaps the Elizabethan Period on one
side and the Restoration on the other
hand.
Why the Age is called Puritan?
 According to ‘Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary it means people
who has strict moral attitudes.
 The Age is called Puritan because-

Puritan standards prevailed for a

period of time in England and secondly,
the greatest literary genius was the
Puritan– JOHN MILTON.
What happened in this period..
 Historically, the age was one of extreme
conflict. The Puritans fought vehemently
to restore righteousness and personal
liberty.

 When the Puritans able to beheaded

Charles-1, established the
Commonwealth under Cromwell.
 Under the Cromwell, their goal of setting
liberty and righteousness was succeeded.

 The age was one of the moral and political

revolution.

 The idea of National Church which was seen

in the earlier times, ended up.
Who were the puritans?
 ***Puritan included people of all
religious sects- English Churchmen
of Separists, Calvinists, Coventars,
Catholic noblemen. All these
fought united against the
despotism in Church as well as
State.
 Why so happened?
 This is happened because people were fed up
from extreme despotism of the monarchy.
People were earlier loyal to the monarchs. But
since the time of Jacobean Period, james-1 the
monarchy tried to prove their ‘DIVINE RIGHT’
which upset the Parliament. Later the strife
between the Monarchy and the Parliament
ended up in the overthrow of Charles-1 and
the formation of new ruler Cromwell, the
representative of the PARLIAMENT.
Impact on LITERATURE…
 Sudden change in the political
ideals and confusion of people
reflected in literature.
 Now under Cromwell, pleasure is
thought as SIN.
 People can’t sought for pleasure
and this goes same with literature.
Characteristics of literature during
this period….
 The struggle for political and religious
liberty divided the nation which is also
distinct in the literature created in the
period.
 PESSIMISM is pervaded in the literature.
 No romantic ardor is tainted in the
literature instead it was marked by critical,
intellectual spirit.
 No great writers emerged whom can be
comparable to Elizabethan writers.
Literary output:
 John Milton-
 Due to his great creations, the Age is
known after him.
 Also known as great Puritan poet whose
work supported the Parliamentary party.
 A literary genius who also tread new
paths of religious ground.
 An outstanding poet who tried his hands
both at poems & sonnets.
Works of Milton:-
 His masterpiece is ‘Paradise Lost’, the
only English epic.
 He wrote a series of pamphlets against
episcopacy, divorce, liberty of press and
support of regicide.
Some major works of literature
 Political writing developed. Exmpl:
Leviathan by Hobbes
 Paradise Lost by Milton
 Areopagitica by Milton
Significant groups:-
 The Roundhead: it’s a pseudo name given
to the supporters of the Parliament. They
were opposite to the Cavaliers. The
Cavaliers were also known as Royalists.
 The Cavaliers: the Cavaliers who known
as Royalists were supporters of the King.
These believe the supreme power of the
Kings as ‘Divine Rights’.
The cavalier Poets:
 The Cavalier poets were the supportes of
King Charles. They emerged during the
17th century. The poets of this group are
Robert Harrick, Thomas Carew, John
Suckling, Richard Lovelace & Henry
Vaughan. They all were admirer of Ben
Jonson. The poetry they wrote were
different from the Metaphysical poets.
They expressed directly without using
metaphors & allegories
Some distinct characteristics:
 Plain and direct language.
 Influenced by Renaissance spirit.
 Avoid the subject of religion.
 Deals with the subject-matter of minor
pleasures or sadness.
 Historical background:
 In 1603 James-1 succeeded Elizabeth to
the throne. His accession to the throne
made the political situation of England
became gloomy. He was a bigot &
believed to ‘the divine right of the king’.
This helped in the rise of Puritan
philosophy to impact the Englishmen.
Historical background:

 In 1625 Charles-II ( son of James-I) succeeded

to the throne who was thoroughly unreliable
& treacherous. He dissolved the parliament in
1629 & ruled without it for 11 years. Though he
revived it again in 1639 yet the conflict
between him & the parliament resulted in his
death & the establishment of Commonwealth
( under Cromwell).
Historical background:
 The most important political event was the
civil war ensued in 1641. this impacted the
entire period and almost all the writers
were effected by it. On the one side the
country was torn between political conflicts
and upheavals and on the other hand the
puritan movement was making its impact.
Historical background:

 It was a movement against the political

and moral degradation of a cultured
nation. Life was stern. Under Cromwell
severe laws were passed. Pleasures were
forbidden.
Literature at a glimpse:
 In literature, the puritan period is one
that of confusion due to the breaking up
of ideals. Spenser’s tradition was
perishing. Metaphysical Poetry became
popular. High Elizabethan standards were
declining.
Literature at a glimpse:
 Drama was totally eclipsed and the
reflective & philosophical mood was
emerging. The out-put of poetry was
much smaller and the fashion towards
shorter poems was seen, specially the
lyric poem. Prose activity was much
than the poetical works.