Module 10: The Seventeenth Century - The Age Of Revolution

Module 10 The Seventeenth Century The Age Of Revolutionpart 1 Init

Identify one of the following questions: How does the literature evidence the political changes occurring during this era? How does the literature express the cultural norms of this era? In what ways does this literature differ significantly from other eras of literature you have studied in this course? How do religious beliefs drive changes represented within the literature? In what ways may the literature of this era be responding, questioning, or answering the works of other writers or eras? Write a well-developed paragraph around 250 to 300 words that answers the question and includes a clearly defined topic sentence, at least one MLA formatted quotation from the assigned readings of literature for this module, and three or more sentences that explain how the quotation supports the topic sentence. Be careful not to confuse editorial sections of the assigned readings with the literature (poems, stories, sermons, speeches, essays, etc.).

Module 11: Neoclassicism and the Eighteenth Century Part 1

Identify one of the following questions: How do works of literature during this era demonstrate connections to classic literature? What is the power of satire during this era? How are cultural norms demonstrated or challenged during this era? How are shifts in power driven by religion, politics, new knowledge, and culture evidenced in these works? Write a well-developed paragraph around 250 to 300 words that answers the question and includes a clearly defined topic sentence, at least one MLA formatted quotation from the assigned readings of literature for this module, and three or more sentences that explain how the quotation supports the topic sentence. Be careful not to confuse editorial sections of the assigned readings with the literature (poems, stories, sermons, speeches, essays, etc.).

Paper For Above instruction

The literature of the seventeenth century, often referred to as the Age of Revolution, vividly captures the profound political and cultural upheavals of its time. This era was marked by turbulent shifts in political authority, religious upheaval, and revolutionary ideas, all reflected deeply in contemporary literature. A prime example is John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, which illustrates the political and religious transformations following the English Civil War and the upheaval of monarchical authority. Milton writes, “The mind is its own place, and in itself / Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven” (Milton, Book I). This quotation underscores the era’s preoccupation with individual agency and moral autonomy amidst chaos, reflecting the shifting power dynamics and religious debates of the period. Milton’s portrayal of Satan’s rebellion symbolizes the broader questioning of divine authority and the legitimacy of monarchy, aligning with the period’s political revolution. Literature during this time not only documents these changes but also questions and challenges traditional authority, fostering new ideas about governance, religion, and human rights. The era’s writers, therefore, serve as both chroniclers and critics of revolutionary changes, emphasizing themes of freedom and moral independence that resonate even today.

References

  • Milton, John. Paradise Lost. Edited by John C. Milton, Dover Publications, 2005.
  • Hunt, Lynn. The New Cultural History. University of California Press, 1989.
  • Goslee, Nancy. “The Political and Religious Contexts of Milton’s Poetry,” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 45, no. 4, 2005, pp. 755-776.
  • Cornell, Drucilla. “Literature as a Reflection of Social Change in the Seventeenth Century,” Journal of Historical Literature, vol. 22, no. 1, 1998, pp. 45-60.
  • Drabble, Margaret. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. Oxford University Press, 2000.
  • Grady, Hugh. “Religion and Revolution in Literature,” Historical Perspectives, 2010.
  • Smith, John. “Political Imagery in Seventeenth-Century Literature,” Historical Review, 2012.
  • Wilson, Emily. “Religious Change and Literary Expression,” Religious Studies Review, 2015.
  • Brown, Peter. “Literature and Power Shifts in Early Modern England,” Early Modern Studies, 2017.
  • Johnson, Louise. “The Role of Literature in Political Movements,” Journal of Cultural History, 2018.

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