17 & 18th Century: Satire

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

17th & 18th Century England

Literature & Criticism

Let's start with a few questions to refresh your memory.

Who is not a metaphysical poet?

1. John Donne
2. Andrew Marvell
3. George Herbert
4. The Gawain Poet

What was the motto of the metaphysicals?

Which of the following was not a popular theme with metaphysical poets?

1. Mortality
2. Time
3. Love
4. Politics

Late 17th Century

Crisis and Civil War

Oliver Cromwell

Led the Parliamentarians to victory, ruled with an iron fist. Was well-connected in Europe.

He was a strict Puritan.

After his death, the Republic fell apart.

Charles I

Waged expensive wars, kept taxing his population.

Believed in divine rule. Parliament disagreed.

In the end, was defeated, convicted and executed.

Ideals

Both under Cromwell's and Restoration leaderships:

Enlightenment: Order, Knowledge, Rationalism

Sense of British Superiority --> Imperialism

Morality

- Corrupt Upper Class

- Colonialism and oppression

- Proper facade, hypocritical behaviour

Guess what happens next

- Strict, extreme policies lead to protests

- Literary styles --> Satire, Journalism, Novels

Augustan Literature

1. the use of classical Greek and Roman models of poetry.

2. the purpose of poetry was thought to be to instruct and delight the population.

3. the idea that human society should be ordered, balanced, and rational, just as the universe was thought to be; any upset of this careful balance of nature could have catastrophic consequences.

4. the use of satire in order to point out flaws in human behavior/society. (satire was used to mock certain behaviors; by pointing them out and mocking them, authors hoped to get people to correct them)

Holding up a mirror to the public.

Smart, but polished writing, sometimes funny

Avoids offense, by giving it delicately.

Attacking its subject.

Shock and harsh language, often darker

Thinly veiled criticism

Horation Satire

Juvenalian Satire

1. Horatian
2. Juvenalian

1. Horatian
2. Juvenalian

Assignment for next week

Do the assignment published on SOMToday. It's quite a bit of work.