Overview
This period marks a return to monarchy and cultural refinement following the English Civil War. It features the rise of satire, neoclassicism, and the novel as a dominant form. Writers responded to growing urbanization, scientific discovery, and political tension with wit, reason, and moral commentary.
Key Themes and Characteristics
- Satire and Wit: Writers used humor to expose hypocrisy and critique politics and manners.
- Reason and Restraint: Literature emphasized balance, clarity, and decorum—hallmarks of neoclassical style.
- Emergence of the Novel: Narratives explored middle-class life, virtue, and realism.
- Heroic Couplet: A favored verse form for poetry, particularly in mock-epics and odes.
- Moral and Social Commentary: Writers reflected on human nature, civility, and public virtue.
Major Authors and Works
- John Dryden – Absalom and Achitophel, Mac Flecknoe
- Jonathan Swift – Gulliver’s Travels, A Modest Proposal
- Alexander Pope – The Rape of the Lock, An Essay on Criticism
- Samuel Johnson – The Rambler, Dictionary of the English Language
- Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe
- Samuel Richardson – Clarissa
- Henry Fielding – Tom Jones
Quick Tip
For this period, focus on how satire, structure, and literary form are used to explore larger cultural values. Track how the novel emerges from personal letters, moral allegory, and realism.