THE
PURITAN AGE/ THE AGE OF MILTON
Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. James 1 came to the throne, it brought an
end to the Tudor dynasty. He was the James IV of Scottland. During the last
years of Queen Elizabeth, she was conscious of the patriotic unity of the
country. The new king did not pay much attention to this issue that caused
disintegrity in the country. People resented against the imposition of taxes
that was a result of the lavish expenditures of the king. Another factor that
turned the people against the king was alliance with Spain. As a result middle class
clashed with monarchy. The king dissolved 3 parliaments (1604, 1614, 1621). When
Charles 1 made his way to the throne he was initially popular but his deceitfulness
& wrong headedness soon turned people against him. In addition his marriage
to Henriietta Maria of France added up to the situation. Next the appointment
of Buckingham as Lord Chancellor was another step ahead. He gave in the
petition of civil rights (1628) that there would be no taxation without discussion
in the parliament, no imprisonment without trial and billeting of citizens. He
then dissolved parliament and imprisoned some of the leading men imprisoned. He
governed for 11 years without parliament. The archbishops punished Puritans
that caused riots. The Civil war started between the Royalists and
parliamentary forces/Puritans from 1642- 1648. Finally the king was captured
and sentenced to death in 1649. The country was declared The Common Wealth
(1649- 1653). Scotland proclaimed Charles II king of England. Cromwell took
steps to break resistance and eventually succeeded in 1651. Cromwell became the
lord protector of England. He was popular for his strong foreign policy. The
protectorate had become a monarchy by 1658. He died in 1658. The parliament
voted to restore monarchy under Charles II. Under such political circumstances,
the pastime activities like horse racing, bear baiting, the sport of the
cock-pit, theatrical performance were all banned. The Puritans for king & court
were a symbol of spiritual pride, hypocrisy, rebellion, tyranny. On the other
hand the typical Puritan held high ideals, tolerant of differences of opinion;
its spirit was a noble force, it saved England's national ideals, encouraged
the Pilgrim Fathers. The notable writers of the age were John Milton and
Bunyan.
The characteristics of the literature of Puritan age are as follows:
•
Relaxing in vigor/ Transition
•
exuberant gaiety & imaginative
freedom
•
artificial cheer , philosophic melancholy
& sobriety
•
Temperament changed
•
Less originality in poetry of thought
& emotions
•
Correctness of form
•
Intellectual play of fancy
•
Fashionably short
•
Affected language
•
Triviality of subject matter
In such diverse circumstances there were different trends in peotry:
- The School of Spencer:
•
Giles Fletcher (1583-1623)
o Famous work is “Christ victore, Triumph, Earth over & after death.
•
Phineas Fletcher (1542-1648)
o wrote many Spenserian pastorals & allegories.
o Famous work is “The Purple Island”
•
William Browne
•
George Wither
- The Metaphysical School
•
John Donne
o Love songs, hymns, elegies, holy sonnets
•
George Herbert
•
Richard Crashaw
•
Henry Vaughan
— The characteristics of poetry were as follows:
o Far fetched ideas.
o Full of logic & reasoning.
o Heterogeneous ideas are combined.
o Theme like love is experimented like science.
- The Cavalier Poets
•
Herrick Robert
•
Richard Lovelace
•
Sir John Suckling
•
Thomas Carew.
o Followers of Ben Johnson
o The Cavalier means (Royalist who fought on the side of the king during
the civil war.
o Pseudo classicist. They only follow Ben in rules & regulation
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