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
What prophetic warning did Robinson Crusoe’s father give regarding his future?
that Robinson “would have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel, when there might be none to assist in recovery”
What were Robinson’s fears at first finding himself on a desolate island?
that he was dreadfully in need of shelter, food, provisions, and protection against any natives and wild beasts
List two hopeful thoughts that Crusoe had when realizing his situation?
he was alive, and not drowned; that God singled him out from drowning, and could save him now; He was not starved and on a barren island; he did not need clothes because of the heat; there were no wild beasts, God sent the ship where he could gain provisions from its wrecked frame.
How did Robinson keep track of the days?
Marking on a wooden post
What two words would describe Crusoe’s attitude toward work?
Industry and orderliness
What experience awakened Crusoe’s feelings toward God at first? How did it affect him? Did he really change after this experience?
what he thought was miraculous growth of corn; he was touched; no
What really made him fear and repent during his illness?
A dream in which a bright man came from a black cloud bringing judgment upon him
How did Crusoe’s illness bring him to a consciousness of God?
- His illness made him think about death. He then saw that the Lord had been merciful to him on many occasions. He began to be serious about repentance.
How did Crusoe divide the seasons?
by the rainy and dry seasons
How did Crusoe celebrate the second anniversary of his coming to the island?
he “spent the whole day in humble and thankful acknowledgement” and “in a solemn manner”
Who spoke the first word on the island other than Crusoe? What was it?
his pet parrot; Poll
What type of vessel did Crusoe have particular pains in making?
an earthenware pot
What did he make clothes out of?
goat skins
Who did Crusoe at first think had made the footprint?
Satan
What did Crusoe think of Friday?
He was “greatly delighted” with his “new companion”
What was difficult for Crusoe to teach Friday?
that God did not immediately destroy Satan (free-will).
What concept did Friday readily respond to?
Salvation
How did Crusoe benefit spiritually from Friday?
He read his Bible with more attention to rightfully answer Friday’s questions
What did Crusoe bring with him on his journey back to England?
his goat skin cap, umbrella, one parrot, and his money
How long had Crusoe been gone?
35 years
Who wrote Robinson Crusoe?
Daniel Defoe
What did Richard Steele begin?
the famous periodicals: The Tatler and The Spectator
What is the purpose of The Tatler?
“to expose the false arts of life… cunning, vanity, and affection, and to recommend a general simplicity… dress… discourse, and behavior” and “to stem, as far as I can, the prevailing torrent of vice and ignorance”
In what will various subject matters be discussed?
various coffeehouses
Who were the six members of the Spectator Club? Who is more extensively developed in later issues?
Sir Roger de Coverley, a literary law person, Sir Andrew Freeport– the merchant, Captain Sentry, Will Honeycomb
What types of people did Addison say were reading his paper?
“well-regulated families,” lazy, rich men studying others, people who do not think on their own, and women.
What did Addison say were the advantages in reading The Spectator?
readers would become “wittier” and more “moral;” “virtue and discretion may not be short… starts of thought.” Also, he thought that “philosophy… [would] dwell in clubs and assemblies.”
What moral aims are mentioned?
long lasting “virtue and discretion” ; destroyed “vice and folly”
What does he especially wish to do for the ladies?
to treat them as “reasonable creatures” and to give them entertainment elsewhere than in dress “trifles”
What strange item did Coverley provide for all his congregation?
cushions to kneel on
What action would Coverley do himself, but then after quitting, get on to others for the same thing?
sleep
What is the ridicule of human folly or vice with the purpose of correcting it?
satire
What task of exploration was laid out to Gulliver by the Lilliputians?
the navigation of the circumference of their entire land
What item did the Lilliputians recover and bring to Gulliver?
his hat
What were the horses/ men called in Gulliver’s Travels
Houyhnhnms; yahoos
In what way were the “Yahoos” of Gulliver’s land cruel and debased?
war
What does Gulliver wrongly suppose was the reason for all the wars in England?
religion
What was Jonathan Swift remembered for?
being the greatest English prose satirist
Who wrote Commentaries on the Laws of England?
Blackstone
What is the definition of a law according to Blackstone?
A rule of action dictated by a superior being
What two qualities does is man endowed with?
reason and free will
Why does Blackstone believe the law of nature to be superior to any other law?
Because it was expressly declared by God to be law
Upon what two foundations does all human law depend?
Law of Nature and Law of Revelation
Who was the greatest writer of the eighteenth century?
Samuel Johnson
Which poem ironical describes the destruction of waste and frivolity? Who wrote it?
“A Short Song of Congratulation” Samuel Johnson
What is the greatest biography in the English literature?
Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson
What was one superb skill of young learning that he showcased when he learned a selection of the Common Prayer Book?
his almost instantaneous memorization of the selection
Why did Johnson not finish at Oxford University?
he was too poor
Who was his wife?
the widowed Mrs. Porter
What was the major embarrassing moment in Boswell’s first meeting with Johnson?
Johnson “put Johnson in his place” by not accepting his trivial flattery.
Who was the “learned” man that Johnson thought were extremely depraved and deserved to be “hunted out of society”? Who was comparable in evils?
Rousseau; Voltaire
