Restoration Literature-- Unit 5 Flashcards
When was the Restoration Literature Period?
1660-1700
Who was the king of England during this period, and what was the moral situation of the country?
King Charles II. Morality reached its lowest point – the Puritan influence declined.
How were the subject matters of the Restoration literature presented? What did it appeal to?
“the literature was presented in a satirical and argumentative manner; the cold intellect”
What was another name for the Eighteenth Century? What years did it span? What was the dominating religion of that time?
The Age of Reason; 1700-1800; deism–“belief that God… after creating the world, left it… and man” to survive on their own. Man was supposed to use his “intellect”
What was “the first half of the Eighteenth Century called”? What was it “characterized” by?
“The Age of Pope; It was characterized by a return to classical standards.”
Who “wrote the only poetry of note in the first half of the Eighteenth Century”?
Pope
What was the second half of the Eighteenth Century called?
Age of Johnson
Who was the most prominent satirist of the time?
Jonathan Swift
What were the two greatest literary contributions of the age? What is the most enduring popular genre of modern time?
the novel and journalism; novel
Who wrote Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire?
Gibbons
What writing was characterized by a positive attitude toward life, and awakening to feeling, a love for nature, etc.? What were these poets called?
Lyrical poetry; Pre-Romantic poets
What did John Dryden Write?
A Song for Saint Cecilia’s Day, 1687
What is one of the most formal and most complex types of lyrical poetry? Describe its purpose?
an ode; its purpose is fixed and deals with a dignified theme
What form of literature did Dryden use in his poetry?
onomatopoeia
What is John Dryden remembered for being? What worldly success did he achieve?
the Father of Modern Literary Criticism
poet laureate of England
What does Pope emphasize about the universe in “An Essay on Man”?
its order
Why is the emphasis placed on man’s understanding of himself rather than man’s understanding of God? (to Pope in this poem)?
Pope thinks that life is just “look[ing] about us and” dying.
What is the revival of an interest in the classics? Who was the leader of this movement?
Neoclassicism; Pope
What two literary forms are Pope known specifically for?
the epigram and the heroic couplet– two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter
What is a type of extended prose fiction?
a novel
What are the three characteristics of a novel? What are its elements?
- realistic characters, a definite plot, and an obvious theme
- plot, setting, characterization, theme
Who wrote Pamela? What was its purpose?
Samuel Richardson; “to promote the cause of religion and virtue”
Where does the main tradition of the English novel come from? What bad novel did he write?
Henry Fielding; Tom Jones
What is the arrangement of incidents or events, or the sequence of related actions in a novel?
plot
What are the three main usual divisions in a novel?
beginning, middle, end
What is inherent in the plot and presents a struggle between the main character and the opposing character? What the names of these characters?
the conflict; the protagonist and the antagonist
What is the setting of a novel?
The physical background against which the events of a novel take place
What is the definition of characters in a novel?
The imaginary persons who carry out the action of the plot
What are the ways a writer can present his characters? Define each.
direct exposition– directly telling the reader what the character is like; indirect exposition– the reader draws his own conclusions about the character on the information given by the author
Which type of character remains the same throughout the novel? Which type of character undergoes a change?
static; dynamic
What is the definition of the theme of a novel?
the central idea which gives a work meaning; an interpretation of events and persons to give a lesson on human experience
What obviously is the most important necessity for every reader?
To test the literary ideas by the light of God’s Word
What is the central theme of Robinson Crusoe?
Dominance of man over nature as he depends upon God’s providence
