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”
Grub Street
Definition: Street in impoverished district of London that was famous for high concentration of hack writers, aspiring poets, and low-end publishers and book sellers
Example: Referenced in “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift”
Anglo-Irish
Definition: Class of English Protestants who took land from Catholics in Ireland. Swift was from English parents who migrated to Ireland. They taxed the local Irish.
Example: Referenced in “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift”
Schadenfreude
Definition: Pleasure from the misfortunes of others.
Example: “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift” begins with a quote that says we like it when bad things happen to our friends.
Ekphrasis
Defintion: Verbal description of a visual work of art.
Example: Alexander Pope’s “Epistle 2: To a Lady on Characteristics of Women”
Heroic Couplets
Definiton: Rhyming pairs of iambic pentameter.
Example: Alexander Pope
Epistolary Novel
Definition: A novel written in a series of letters.
Example: Samuel Richardson’s “Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded.” Satirized by Henry Fielding
Conduct Books
Definition: Helped people conform to expected duties or behaviors and could be directed at either men or women. Made women pious and taught them to be successful on the marriage market.
Example: Samuel Richardson’s “Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded”
Theory of the Ridiculous
Definition: Defined by Henry Fielding as Ridiculous= Affectation which is made up of Vanity and Hypocrisy. Vanity is somewhat funny but Hypocrisy is hilarious.
Example: Henry Fielding’s “Joseph Andrews”
Sensibility
Definition: Movement that sprang up in reaction to the satirical ridicule of the 18th century. Brought attention to social ills and need for improvement of society. But instead of humor the writers used highly emotional, often tearful, portrayals to elicit readers’ sympathies.
Example: Thomas Grey’s “Sonnet on Death of Mr. Richard West,” “Ode on Distant Prospect of Eaton College,” “Elegy Written in Country Churchyard”
Hypocrisy
Definition: Claiming moral behavior when actions prove otherwise. Part of Theory of Ridiculous that is thought to be hilarious.
Example: Henry Fielding’s “Joseph Andrews”
Vanity
Definiton: Excessive pride or admiration in one’s own appearance or achievements. Part of Theory of the Ridiculous that was thought to be somewhat funny.
Example: Henry Fielding’s “Joseph Andrews”
1666
Definition: Year of great suffering in London. Included the Plague and Great Fire of London.
Example: Daniel Defoe’s “Journal of the Plague Year”
Restoration
Definition: Began with the restoration of the Stewart monarchy with Charles II. It was an era of sexual and intellectual freedom. Great scientific discovery and global conquest occurred. The theater was revived after Puritans shut it down. Charles II set questionable moral standard.
