1640-1780
The Age of Reason
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Puritan Rule
Anti-Catholic sentiment
Little pleasure or entertainment as in
Shakespeare’s time
Music banned; theaters closed; celebration of
religious holidays banned
How do you think the events of this period
affected literature?
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Charles II returned to the throne
Holidays, music, theater returned
Carpe diem spirit
Oh-oh…
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Plague returned in 1665; 100,000 died
Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city
What do you think the Puritans thought about the
fire and plague?
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Deism – the belief that God could be
understood through reason and observation of
the laws of the universe/physical world
Scientific Revolution led to advances in
physics, math, astronomy – Newton
Philosophers tried to understand the laws of
human nature
Satire, plain prose (as opposed to the flowery
language of Shakespeare) became popular
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Blood transfusions
Blood pressure
Treatment of anemia
Microscope – blood cells, micro-organisms
Thermometers
Telescopes
Hospitals; the scientific method
Calculus
Gravity
Pendulum clock
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Points of the flaws and vices of people
Often attempts to raise awareness or influence
social change
Uses humor, exaggeration (hyperbole)
Jonathan Swift – A Modest Proposal, Gulliver’s
Travels
We will read and write satire, and watch some
video examples!
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Objective record of events
Modern day journalism began during the
1700’s
Do you keep a journal? How is a journal
different from a diary?
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First dictionary of the English language written
in 1700’s – Samuel Johnson
40,000 entries
Modern dictionaries have 470,000
We’ll look at excerpts from the first dictionary
and write one of our own!
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A brief witty saying that sums up a moral point
Example: Mankind must put an end to war or
war will put an end to mankind.
Alexander Pope wrote heroic couplets –
epigrams that were made up of two lines that
rhyme.
Try it!!