1. Essential Question
What are the impacts of major historical events on literature, language, and lifestyle during the Restoration?

2. The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century: 1660-1800

3. Reign of Charles II
His coronation marks the beginning of the Restoration.
Charles II reinstituted the Anglican Church as official church of England.
He attempted to outlaw Puritan and independent sects. This resulted in the popularity of British colonies in America.
The suppression of revolutionaries made the public scared to voice opposing views on any subject
Charles tried to imitate the sophistication of France.
Patron of the arts and sciences: one of his first acts was to reopen the theaters Cromwell had closed
Charles and brother James supported play companies financially; this era saw the first real female actresses!
The monarchy shares authority with Parliament.
Whigs: limit royal authority; Tories: support royal authority

4. Royalty and the People
When Charles II died he had no legal (legitimate) heir. The problem? His brother James II was a Roman Catholic
James restored Catholicism and was forced to abdicate the throne.
fled to France in 1688, his Protestant daughter Mary took over
Parliament passed the English Bill of Rights (limits on royal authority).
Since then, all English monarchs have been Anglicans (at least in name)
George I instituted the first official prime minister.
George III led England into a series of political mistakes- loss of American colonies.

5. Restoration/18th Century Monarchs
James II ( )
William and Mary ( )
Anne ( )
George I ( )

6. Restoration/18th Century Monarchs
George II ( )
George III ( )
William IV ( )
George IV ( )

7. The Age of Reason
The other labels of this time period include Age of Reason, Age of Enlightenment, Augustan Age, Neoclassical period
Newton created the scientific method.
Scientists were inspired by Newton and made many discoveries.
In the Renaissance, people had superstitious beliefs about unnatural events; they believed that nature gave warnings about social disaster. People looked for supernatural intervention in trying to explain WHY certain events transpired
During the Enlightenment, the focus shifted from “WHY did this happen?” (Renaissance) to “HOW?” It became acceptable and popular to question to old explanations– scientific method
Deism: Religious belief based upon reason and observation of nature; “watchmaker” analogy says God built complex universe, then let it run by itself
Scientific method was used by philosophers as well.
John Locke encouraged people to revolt against unjust government
Improved living conditions resulted (smallpox vaccine)

8. Social Observers
Writing about real experiences: The members of the Royal Society of London call for more precise, plain and exact writing (such as shortening long sentences)
There was a new form of English prose: popularity of journals, pamphlets, and travel writing
Journalists of the eighteenth century were reporters and reformers of public manners and morals

9. Social Observers
Early novels were long, fictional, broad stories – often comical; used realistic styles of newspapers
1st: Robinson Crusoe
Engaged and connected with middle class sentiments
These novels had a lasting importance: fiction is a reflection of the time in which it was written. They help us understand humor and human insights of human experiences.
Language was more precise, exact, and plain, which helped expand literacy and had a wider public audience (written in a simpler, more common form of English to be read and understood)
The Diary of Samuel Pepys records accurate details about life in these times.

10. Satirical Voices
Neoclassicism: Writers during this time modeled their works after Latin works, classics of Rome and Greece.
They were deemed to have permanence and represented universal values in human experience
The most accomplished writers of the eighteenth century were Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift
They both criticized contemporary society. They believed in order and discipline.
Pope attacked immorality and bad taste, usually of the upper class
Pope and Swift were both appalled by the squalor and shoddiness (in art, manners, morals) that underlay the polished surfaces of Augustan life—its violent and filthy underside
Both writers deplored corrupt politics, materialism, and commercialism

11. Purpose of satire: expose political corruption and problems in society
Satirical Voices
Plays were produced during this time period: Witty comedies, included emphasis on sexual relationships; these plays were another outlet for satire of the age
Restoration comedies satirized the artificial society of the Stuart court.
Satirists saw themselves as representatives of the people, working towards social reform.
Purpose of satire: expose political corruption and problems in society
Elements of satire: exaggeration, sarcasm, and understatement

12. “I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.” Jonathan Swift
“For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Alexander Pope

13. The Age of Johnson
Samuel Johnson is considered to be the most influential man of the 2nd half of the 18th century.
Samuel Johnson criticized optimism, the idea of progress (that human society was always improving for the better) and the idea that humans are fundamentally moral (if we reformed society, everyone would just do the right thing)
A concern with real life led to many nonfiction works being published.
Johnson wrote The Dictionary of the English Language.
During this time period, poetry became simpler, with freer lyrics.

14. These were attended by well-known figures. Women began publishing.
Rise of Women Writers
Women were excluded from universities and coffeehouses, so they began salons (private gatherings).
These were attended by well-known figures.
Women began publishing.
Charlotte Smith: radical attitude toward morality and class equality
Fanny Burney: immediately popular; now known for her diary
Mary Wollstonecraft: challenged the status quo regarding equality for women

15. Questions: 3- Applying “Off the page” or “From the brain” Evaluate
1- Gathering “On the page” or “From the book”
Complete
Identify
Recite
Define
List
Select
Describe
Observe
2- Processing “Between the Lines” or “From the book and brain”
Compare
Sort
Infer
Contrast
Distinguish
Analyze
Classify
Explain (why?)
3- Applying “Off the page” or “From the brain”
Evaluate
Judge
If/Then
Generalize
Predict
Hypothesize
Imagine
Speculate
Forecast

16. Summary-Cornell Notes
List 3-5 things that had the biggest impact on literature, language, and lifestyle during the Restoration.
Add a brief statement about why.