ThAct: History Puritan + Restoration age

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

In this blog I am going to discuss Poet, prose writers and others related things to Puritan age, which is given by Dilip sir from The English Department and it's a part of a syllabus, paper number 105/History of English literature.

For the original texts, more materials, presentation and blogs visit this sites:-

• Material website
  
• Dilip Barad's Blog
  

PURITAN AGE:-

In the 17th century there was a movement called Puritan movement which gave us so many great works. In this age, writer of written age divided into groups like:-

• Cavalier Poets
• Transitional poets
• Metaphysical poets
• Spenserian Poets

CAVALIER POETS:-

Cavalier poets were the poets connected with the royal court. During the 17th century, a group of poets called Cavalier poets contributed to poetry. Ben Johnson was the model for them. They dealt with the theme of love. Their poetry was more realistic and Frank. These are some characteristics of the Cavalier poets:-

• Lyrical style
• Lucidity of expression
• Theme of love
• Realistic and Frank treatment
• Sophisticated, lucid style
• Followed classicists like Ben Johnson
• Balance and control style 
• Use of wit, paradox and irony
• Avoided metaphysical conseits, excessive logic and arguments.

Here are some famous figure of the Cavalier poets as follow:-

• Richard Lovelace
• John suckling
• Thomas carew
• Andrew Marvell
• Robert Harrick
• Edmund Waller

TRANSITIONAL POETS:-

Transitional poets also known as 'precursor of romantic poetry'. Those 18th century poets who show some characteristics and elements related to romanticism and also not ignoring the old convections are called transitional poets. 

Here are some famous figure of the Transitional poets as follow:-

• Bishop Percy
• Robert Burns
• James Thomson
• Oliver Goldsmith
• Thomas Gray
• Thomas Chatterton
• James MacPherson
• George Crabbe
• William Collins
• William Cowper
• William Blake

SPENSERIAN POETS:-

17th century poets who like to follow Spencer and his style of writing known as Spenserian poets.

Here are some famous figure of the Spenserian poets as follow:-

• Phines Fletcher
• Giles Fletcher
• George Wither
• William Brown
• William Drummond

METAPHYSICAL POETS:-

The term 'metaphysical' was used for the poetry of John Donne and his followers who wrote poems on the same line. This kind of poetry differs from lyrical or romantic poetry of the Elizabethan age. The metaphysical poetry came into existence as a reaction against romantic excesses of the Elizabeth and poet. Donne's poetry is marked by concentrated passion, intellectual agility and dramatic power. His poetry is introspective and analytical. Dr Johnson called Donne's poetry metaphysical in modern age. T.S. Eliot, F.R. Leavis and and others re-evaluated John Donne's poetry and put it on a very high pedestal. 

Here are some famous figure of the Metaphysical poets as follow:-

• John Donne
• George Herbert 
• Richard Crashaw
• Henry Vaughan
• Andrew Marvell
• John Cleveland
• Abraham Cowley

JOHN DONNE:-

LIFE AND MARRIAGE:-

John Donne was English poet, scholar and soldier. He was born on 22 January, 1572 in London, United Kingdom and died on 31 March, 1731 in London, United Kingdom.

Donne's life was as tormented one as his poetry. His poetry and life both are full of passions and tansion of moods. It is marked by his passionate youth, uncertain approach to religion, his errors and fumblings, is piety and devotion. Donne's father was a healthy iron merchant of London. Donne's parents were Roman Catholic. So, obviously he was  educated in Roman catholic schools. Then he went to Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

He started his worldly career as a secretary to Sir Thomas Egerton. Egerton's second wife brought with her the daughter of her brother named Anne More. Donne fell in love with her. Donne was 29 while Anne was only 17. River secretly married at the end of 1601. Donne was arrested for the act and impressioned. Donne realised that the marriage with Anne More had brought Misfortune in his life. By inspiring this incident he wrote:-

"JOHN DONNE, ANNE DONE, UNDONE"

John entered Anglican Church in 1615 and became the dean of St.Paul's church in 1621. He continued to hold this prestigious position until his death in 1631. He was the first Anglican Preacher and his sermons were very popular. He summed up his spiritual progress in these words:-

"JACK DONNE, DOCTOR DONNE, DEAN DONNE"

WORKS:-

Apart from easy, superficial, romantic style, he brought intellectual element in his poetry. His works include poems, satires, elegies and lyrics. His love poems, 'The songs and sonnets' were written in a vivid and startling  language. A vein of satire runs through in his love poetry. The rhythm is highly dramatic. He used unequal lines, very often quite short. He was a psychological poet who presented complex thought processes. All his poems are intentionally personal. His famous poems are as follows(by clicking the title of the poem you can find whole poem for better understanding):-

• The Sun Rising
  
• The Canonization
  
• Lovers Infinitenesse
  
• The Anniversary
  
• A Valediction : Forbiddin Mourning
  
• Twicknam Garden
  
• Love's Growth
  
• Love's Alchemy
  
• The Flea
  
• A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucius Day

His religious poems express his intense struggle and psychological complexities. 'Holy Sonnets' were written after 1610. This 19 sonnets are intensely personal. They reveal the struggle of his mind before taking order in the Anglican Church. Dryden wrote that Donne's poetry effects metaphysics. Donne also wrote satire and elegies. T. S. Eliot re-evaluated John Donne and put him on a high pedestal. All works of Donne appeared after his death. Edmund Gosse published 'The life and letters of John Donne' in 2 volumes in 1899 and H. J. C. Grierson published 'Poems of John Donne' in 2 volumes in 1912.

JOHN DONNE AS A LOVE POET:-

The definition of love changes poet to poet. According to Lewis, there are three levels of Donne's poetry:-

• The celebration of simple appetite
• He thinks that love is God and lovers are clergies 
• The poems of love celebrating virtuous love

Lewis further says that Donne's love poems have five major themes:-

• Sorrow of parting
• The miseries of secrecy
• Falseness and inconstancy of the mistress
• The fickleness of his own nature
• The contempt of love itself

Donne's love poetry is quite complex. Donne was a scholar and his love poetry carries the element of his erudition and scholarship. He adored love and the beloved with her beauty. Love is according to him perpetually in flux, it is physical, sensual and realistic. He can be called an atheist of love. He says that love is not permanent. Lovers can be indifferent and untrue and women are more untrue than men. 

Donne had his own experience of love. His love to Anne made him Undone.

Donne's poetry is not simple like Burns' poetry of love. It is reflective and philosophical. In Donne's poetry we quickening of the brain, the vision extending in range. The greatest of Donne's poetry lies in is experience of the passion ranging from the lowest to the highest. 

Note:- If you find any problem or question or suggestions please let me know ☺️ some of the information are collected from the different sources, books and websites. 

Words:-1167

Photos:- 2

Quotes:- 2