1. Historical Introduction to the Age of Reason - Abridged
The following information is gleaned from pages 407 – 426 of Elements of Literature, and beyond.

2. An Age of Many Names
The time period from 1660 to 1800 is a time of many different names.
No one name was enough / sufficient because so many different things were going on at the time.
Some of the names this age has acquired include the following:
Restoration
Augustan
Neoclassical
Age of Reason / The Enlightenment
Let’s talk about each of these, in turn.

3. The Restoration – Pgs
The previous period, the Renaissance, ended when the Puritans took over England by a violent coup, killing King Charles I.
Eleven years later, the “Restoration” begins when the Puritans are removed from power and the monarchy restored. The last king’s heir, Charles II, is brought back from his hiding in France, and made king.
Thus, the monarchy in England is “Restored.”

4. The Augustan Age – Pgs 413 Many people were happy about this change.
After the many violent revolutions of the past (the Puritan uprising, putting down the Puritans, etc), people were ready for things to stay the same for a while – no more wars, no more revolutions, no more overthrowing the government. An age of peace following an age of conflict.
Similarly, Emperor Augustus Caesar of Rome was known for having a great age of peace following an age of war. Thus, England came to call its own age of peace after war an “Augustan” Age.

5. The Neoclassical Movement – Pg 414
In literature and art, en emphasis on the classics was happening again – as with the Humanistic movement. However, while the Humanistic movement balanced the wisdom of the classics with that of the Bible, the Neoclassical movement emphasized the classics during a time when religious skepticism was on the rise.

6. The Age of Reason and the Enlightenment – Pgs 414-415
Previously, people explained natural events through various assumptions, superstitions, etc.
For example, comets, earthquakes, floods, etc, were assumed to be punishments from God or an omen foretelling someone’s death. This was “why” these events were happening.
In the Age of Reason, people start to question “how” rather than “why.”
They start attributing scientific, rational explanations for natural events.
A comet is no longer seen as an omen of death, but a ball of ice that orbits the Earth in precise and measurable patterns.
An earthquake is no longer seen as a punishment for sins, but a result of tectonic plates shifting about.

7. The Glorious Revolution
Also known as the Bloodless Revolution.
After Charles II, James II took power.
James II was Catholic in a country that frowned upon Catholicism very much – so much so that the Church of England was the only legal church.
Other heirs to the throne, namely William of Orange and Mary, James II’s daughter, forced Charles II out of power by the threat of violence rather than violence itself. Thus, no blood was shed, and a protestant sat on the throne, once again.

8. Literature and Art – Pg 420
When the monarchy was restored, two things happened to the people’s rights:
Fewer religious rights, as now the Church of England was the only legal church in England. This was done in an effort to reduce uprisings from other sects / groups, as with the Puritans. This resulted in many groups immigrating to North America.
More rights with regard to art / theater. The theaters were closed by the Puritans (who loved censorship and disliked anything innappropriate), but reopened by King Charles II. Theater flourished once again.

9. Literature and Art – Pg 421
At this time, many forms of literature flourished, but two big genres were satire and parody.
Both genres are humorous yet critical in nature, making fun of things for various reasons.
Satire – Makes fun of something in society in order to draw attention to it, increase awareness, and encourage change.
Parody – Makes fun of something by adopting its style for the sake of humor / enterntainment.
These are not two mutually exclusive categories. Some works blend elements of both.

10. Famous Satirists
The two most famous authors of British satire at this time were the following
Jonathan Swift – Wrote Gulliver’s Travels, “A Modest Proposal,” etc. His works are heavily political, but each element is couched in either fantasy, as with Gulliver, or extreme exaggeration and sarcasm, as with “Modest.”
Alexander Pope – Wrote The Rape of the Lock, which makes fun of two rich families making a huge fuss over a very small event and nearly coming to violence in the street. The name is intentionally overdramatic, and actually refers to a stolen lock of hair at a dinner party.