Lexile Measurement: 1040
Historical Overview 1660-1798 Restoration and Enlightenment
The Changing Literary World of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century
During the 1700s, the literary world began to change due to a growing population of
educated people. This resulted in the appearance of daily newspapers, magazines, and
libraries. Educated middle-class Londoners enjoyed spending time in coffeehouses
where they could read and discuss issues of the day.
During the period of the Restoration and the eighteenth century, three literary ages
evolved: the Age of Dryden, the Age of Pope and Swift, and the Age of Johnson.
The Age of Dryden
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This period extends from 1660, the beginning of the Restoration, to 1700, the
time of Dryden’s death.
John Dryden was named England’s official poet by Charles II.
Dryden was well-known for his satirical poems of real people of the day; these
are called mock-heroic poems.
Dryden’s prose and poetry was most noted for variety and fluency. He set the
tone of the new ages.
With the reopening of the theatres, Dryden wrote comedies and “tragi-comedies”
(serious plays with humor).
The Age of Dryden is considered the beginning of the prose period, with easy-toread works that documented real-life events including the Great Fire and the
Plague.
The Age of Pope and Swift
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This period, during the reign of Queen Anne, extends from 1700 to Pope’s death
in 1744.
Noted authors of the time were Defoe, Addison, Steele, Pope, and Swift.
Alexander Pope epitomizes the neoclassical style by incorporating wit and
balance into his work.
Pope’s most famous work was Rape of the Lock, a satire on the war between the
sexes. It was precipitated by the cutting of a lock of hair from a young lady’s
head.
A number of well-known aphorisms can be found in his Essay on Criticism and
Essay on Man including “Whatever is, is right.”
Jonathan Swift was known for his satirical prose works and his belief that human
nature is flawed.
Gulliver’s Travels by Swift was written as a criticism of the human race.
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is noted as the first novel written during this
period.
The Age of Johnson
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© 2010 CompassLearning, Inc.
E4029
Lexile Measurement: 1040
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Following the deaths of Pope and Swift, Samuel Johnson became the most
noted British literary figure, from 1744 to 1784.
Johnson was most well-known for writing Dictionary of the English Language: the
first standard dictionary was published in 1755.
Johnson’s life was chronicled in The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell,
where we learn that Johnson was well-liked, intelligent, and a gifted
conversationalist.
Johnson wrote a philosophical tale entitled Rasselas in which the moral is,
“Human life is everywhere a state in which much is to be endured, and little to be
enjoyed.”
Noted authors of the time include Goldsmith, Gibbons, and Fielding, who wrote
Tom Jones.
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© 2010 CompassLearning, Inc.
E4029