English History: 17th Century 7

• The early 17th century was marked by significant shifts in monarchy, religion, science, and literature.

History

• Following Elizabeth I's death, James I ascended to the English throne, succeeded by Charles I, whose reign was characterized by royal absolutism and increasing tensions with Parliament.
• The English Civil War erupted between Parliamentarians and Royalists, resulting in the King's execution.
• The Commonwealth was established under Oliver Cromwell, who governed in a king-like manner.
• The problem of succession followed Cromwell's death, ultimately leading to the restoration of the monarchy with Charles II.

Religion

• The Protestant Reformation continued to influence religious life.
• James I fostered stability and negotiated peace with Spain.
• A middle ground emerged in interpreting the Bible which led to some stability.
• The Gunpowder Plot, led by Guy Fawkes, triggered a surge of anti-Catholic sentiment, causing concern for Charles II.
• The King James Version of the Bible, a graceful and moderate translation, became the standard English scripture for writers, influencing literature with its literary qualities and appeal to both Protestants and Roman Catholics.
• The King James Version was published in the vernacular, but the church remained hierarchically organized with bishops, a point of contention for Puritans.

Science

• Analogy and order were highly valued, drawing parallels between the microcosm and macrocosm; Regicide disrupted this established order, leading to perceived chaos.
• Heliocentrism, challenge geocentrism and greatly change worldviews:
• Alchemy, blood as the most important fluid, the four humors (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm), and the development of the scientific method (observation, experiment, logic) were also of note.

Literature

• Patronage remained essential due to the absence of copyright laws; Poetry primarily circulated in manuscript form because of social stigmas.
• Censorship, initially weakened by the collapse of the Stationer's Company during the Civil War, was later reinstated after the Restoration, resulting in more treatises and pamphlets.
• The dominant literary genres included poetry, epic, familiar essays, and short prose.

Poetry

• Poetry shifted from sonnets to shorter, wittier, and more intellectual forms.
• It adopted a direct, conversational style structured as dramatic monologues that are addressed to a person or entity, often employing the "carpe diem" motif.
• "Carpe diem" is a Latin phrase that means "seize the day", often employed to highlight a love for life over thoughts of eternity
• Metaphysical poets like Marvell, Donne, and Herbert integrated science and religion into their ideas and images.
• Metaphysical poets experimented with form and explored the connection between earthly life and broader contexts such as religion and science.

Andrew Marvell

• Andrew Marvell was a secretary, tutor to Cromwell, and intellectual who expanded upon the sonnet form, later converting to Protestantism.
• To His Coy Mistress employs rhyme, iambic tetrameter, dramatic monologue, rhyming couplets, and syllogism (argument, thesis, antithesis, synthesis).
• To His Coy Mistress is a "carpe diem" poem that uses hyperbole.

John Donne

• John Donne, originally a converted Roman Catholic, later became a preacher in the Church of England.
• Donne's poetry includes images or "conceits" connected to science, as well as the micro and macrocosm.
• The Sun Rising mocks aubade (morning poem) conventions for lovers parting at dawn
• The Sun Rising is written with irregular meter and rhyme, colloquial but learned language, and a dramatic monologue addressed to the sun, contrasting with Petrarchan love poetry.
• The Sun Rising employs chiasmus, which is a reversing of the grammatical order (subject/object).

George Herbert

• George Herbert, a preacher, destroyed his secular verse, preserving only religious poems.
• Easter Wings utilizes irregular meter and rhyme to explore spiritual conflict with God.
• Some consider it an "emblem" poem where form and content work together (the more he believes, the longer the lines) reflecting a conversational style that addresses God.