Final Flashcards
Plague Year
Definition: Occurred in 1665-1666. Strain of black death that was concentrated in the center of London and affected mostly the poor. People were quarantined in the city during the epidemic.
Example: Daniel Defoe wrote “Journal of the Plague Year”
Great Fire
Definition: Occurred in 1666 and gutted the inner city of London. It helped snuff out the plague. Left 80,000 people homeless.
Example: Daniel Defoe’s “Plague Year”
Libertinism
Definition: Sexual libertinism argues against the bounding of desires and views physical experience as the antidote to cultural suppression.
Example: John Wilmont the Earl of Rochester’s poems “Against Constancy,” “Disabled Debauchee,” and “Song”
Glorious Revolution
Definiton: Also known as bloodless revolution. When James II took the throne, Parliament was not happy because he was Catholic. William and Mary come to England with an army, but James II abdicates without any bloodshed.
Example: Oroonoko was written to rally the royalists to ensure James II remained on the throne
slave trade
Definition: Britain involved in slave trade from 1600’s-1807. It had colonies in South America with large plantations that required slaves. They grew tobacco and sugar. Slave trade was approved and regulated by the government. Abolitionist movement began in 1780’s and the trade was officially banned in 1807.
Example: Aphra Behn’s “Oroonoko”
Natural Philosopher
Definition: A scientist.
Example: Robert Hooke and “Micrographia”
microscopy
Definition: Using a microscope to view the very small.
Example: Robert Hooke and “Micrographia” as well as Margaret Cavendish’s criticism in “Description of a New Blazing World” and “Observations upon Experimental Philosophy”
Experimental Philosophy
Definition: Precursor to the scientific method. Hypothesis must be proved through experiment.
Example: Margaret Cavendish’s “Observations Upon Experimental Philosophy”
empiricism
Definition: New interest of 18th century. When applied to scientific thought, it is the idea that knowledge comes from sensory experience
Example: Margaret Cavendish’s “Description of a New Blazing World” and “Observations upon Experimental Philosophy”
Royal Society
Definition: Full name is Royal Society for Improving Natural Knowledge. Founded in 1660 and granted charter by Charles II in 1662. Acted as scientific advisor to British government. Published “Philosophical Transactions”
Examples: Robert Hooke and Thomas Sprat’s apology “History of the Royal Society”. Margaret Cavendish and Jonathan Swift Criticized it.
satire
Definition: Genre of literature where vices and shortcomings are ridiculed with intent of shaming individuals and society into improving
Example: Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
Brobdingnag
Definition: Swift’s description of a world where he is very small and everything is huge. It is a satire of Hooke’s Micrographia, saying that everything is monstrous and disgusting when viewed up close. Also satirizes social climbers.
Struldbruggs
Definition: Swift’s characters who are born with a birthmark on their heads that means they cannot die. They can still age, so they end up living a lonely and isolated life because their memories fail them. Associated with Greek Myths.
Example: Described in Jonathan Swift’s “Voyage to Laputa” as part of “Gulliver’s Travel’s”
apology
Definition: Defense of something.
Example: Thomas Sprat wrote “History of the Royal Society” to defend its empirical approach to science through experimental philosophy as well as its attempt to renovate language and make it suitable for scientific reportage
Scriblerus Club
Definition: Informal group of writers who were friends in early 18th century London that included Swift, Pope, Gay, and others. Founded in 1712 and lasted until death of founders. Satirized abuses of learning (erudition, false wit, and scholarly jargon)
Example: Referenced in “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift”
