Historical Background

I. Needed money for his wars but Parliament Refused to Fund him

I. He wanted the Calvinists to conform to the Anglican church but they believed in the freedom to choose their own minister

I. Royalists vs. Parliament forces II. Parliament condemned Charles I as a tyrant and parliament defeated his army with their own III. Charles I was beheaded Jan

I. Dissolved parliament in 1653, ruled as a “virtual dictator”, led new government called the English commonwealth

I. England was tired of taxes, violence, disorder, parliament offered crown to exiled Charles II in 1660(the monarchy was restored)

I. Mary ( protestant daughter of James II) invited by parliament to rule England ND James II fled to France. No blood shed.

I. New farm tools equals more food produced  population increased and more people moved to growing towns  people worked machines

I. Scientific Revolution  belief through observation of nature and reason people could discover the order of all things

I. Among the best known “ Sons of Ben” were Robert Herrick, Sir John Suckling, and Richard Lovelace. John Donne pioneered a new witty, cerebral style later known as metaphysical poetry. Metaphysical poetry is characterized by an unusual degree of intellectualism.

I. People lost faith in the power of human reason writers turned from standards of neoclassicism. II. Example Thomas Gray used fresh new emotions, these kind of emerging voices would end the age of reason III. Neoclassical Writers are English writers who imitate the style of classical writers referred to as myths, gods, and heroes of the ancient times

I. Created By Samuel Johnson II. Published in 1975 III. First dictionary to be considered a standard authoritative reference work on English