The Puritan Age I 清教徒 时期 英国文学

1 The Puritan Age

1. The half century between 1625 and 1675 is called the Puritan period for two reasons: first,

because Puritan standards prevailed for a time in England; and second, because the greatest

literary figure during all these years was the Puritan, John Milton. Historically the age was

one of tremendous conflict. The Puritan struggled for righteousness and liberty, and because

he prevailed, the age is one of moral and political revolution. In his struggle for liberty the

Puritan overthrew the monarchy, beheaded Charles I, and established the Commonwealth

under Cromwell. The Commonwealth lasted but a few years, and the restoration of Charles II

in 1660 is often put as the end of the Puritan period. The age has no distinct limits, but

overlaps with the Elizabethan period on one side, and the Restoration period on the other.

The age produced many writers, a few immortal books, and one of the world’s great literary

leaders. The literature of the age is extremely diverse in character, and the diversity is due to

the breaking up of the ideals of political and religious unity. This literature differs from that of

the preceding age in three marked ways: 1. it has no unity of spirit, as in the days of Elizabeth,

resulting from the patriotic enthusiasm of all classes. 2. In contrast with the hopefulness and

vigor of Elizabethan writings, much of the literature of this period is somber in character; it

saddens rather than inspires. 3. It has lost romantic impulse of youth, and become critical and

intellectual; it makes us think, rather than feel deeply.

2. Puritanism, in the 16th and 17th cent., a movement for reform in the Church of England that

had a profound influence on the social, political, ethical and theological ideas in England and

America. Originating in the reign of Elizabeth I, the movement opposed the ecclesiastical

establishment and aimed at purifying the church---hence the name Puritan. Many Puritans

sided with the parliamentary party in the English Civil War and held great power between

1640 and 1660. They were cast out of the Church of England after the Restoration. In

America the early New England settlements were Puritan in origin and theocratic in nature.

The spirit of Puritanism long persisted there, and the idea of congregational democratic

government was carried into the political life of the state as a source of modern democracy. It

had two chief objects: the first was personal righteousness; the second was civil and religious

liberty. In other words, it aimed to make men honest and free.

3. Literature of the Puritan period

a. The transition poets=Jacobean poets.

They are called so, because they show clearly the changing standards of the age. Of whom

Samuel Daniel 1562-1619 is chief. He is interesting for two reasons,---for his use of the

artificial sonnet, and for his literary desertion of Spenser as a model. Delia, “Complaint of

Rosamond”, “Civil Wars”.

b. The song writers

Thomas Campion 1567?--- 1619 Nicholas Breton 1545?---1626? Lyric poets of a mixture

of the Elizabethan and Puritan standards. They sing of sacred and profane love with the same

zest. Development of music and French influence.

c. The Spenserian poets 2 Giles Fletcher 1588?---1623 a follower of Spenser in the noble simplicity and majesty of

his lines, suggestive of Milton. “Christ’s Victory and Triumph”

George Wither 1588---1667 covers two periods. Hymns and Songs of the Church, varied life,

dull poetry, epitome of the age.

d. The Cavalier poets

gallant, opposite to Puritan who is serious and rational. Write songs generally in lighter vein,

gay, trivial, often licentious, but can’t altogether escape the tremendous seriousness of

Puritanism.

Herrick, Lovelace, Suckling

e. The metaphysical poets

The name given by Dr. Johnson in derision, because of the fantastic form of Donne’s poetry,

is often applied to all minor poets of the Puritan age. Of all these poets, we can consider here

only Donne and Herbert, who in different ways are the types of revolt against earlier forms

and standards of poetry. In feeling and imagery both are poets of a high order, but in style and

expression they are the leaders of the fantastic school whose influence largely dominated

poetry during the half century of the Puritan period.

John Donne 1573—1631

Life:

Son of a rich iron merchant. On his father’s side he came from an old Welsh family, and on

his mother’s side from the Heywood and Sir Thomas More’s family. Both families were

catholic, and in his early life persecution was brought near; for his brother died in prison for

harboring a proscribed priest, and his own education could not be continued in Oxford and