The Era of Puritanism (1564-1660): Literary Works

The reign of the Puritans also produce a large amount of literature (poetry, prose), but drama could not thrive because it is prohibited by the authorities. Drama regarded as a nest of immorality by the Puritan authorities. It is just so different with Elizabeth period where drama produces a lot of outstanding works. So we can see that the literary works of Puritan period are just different from Elizabeth period. In period of Puritan literature, there are three groups of poems; metaphysical, cavalier and Puritan. Here are the complete version of the era of Puritanism (1564-1660): Literary Works.

Poetry

We can find poems in this period are way too different from the previous one. We may even call the literary in this period as the depression kind of expression. If in Elizabethan period we know some greatest poets like Edmund Spenser, Philip Sidney, George Chapman and Thomas Sackville who each of them expressing their emotions through their works. The emotions here are like the real emotion which a human possessed. Unlike this period, we can find three new kinds of poems which are different with any poem in previous periods. The characteristic of a poem in this period includes a thing, like geometrical, not human being, as the comparison material. This kind of poem can be classified into metaphysical poetry.

Metaphysical Poetry

The term was first used by Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1786), a famous writer of the 18th century. Metaphysical poetry prefers intellect rather than emotions, so there are a lot of scientific terms in the poem. There are plenty of prominent metaphysical poets in this period, like John Donne (1572-1631), George Herbert (1539-1633), Edmund Waller (1606-1678), Sir John Suckling (1609-1642), Andrew Marvell (1621-1678), and Henry Vaughan (1621-1695).

Metaphysical poetry has the following characteristics:

1. The poems are always in short version, have solid meanings and very economical in the use of words (concentration).

2. The use of unusual imagination (imaginary or unusual conceit).

3. The use of harsh language and rude (often very strong and rough language).

4. The use of science terms (science and learning).

5. The theme revolves around human nature ambiguous (man's dual nature): physical and spiritual.

John Donne (1572-1631)

He is the first poet of metaphysical poetry who was born and raised in a strong Catholic tradition. He studied in Trinity College, Cambridge and then became a Lincoln’s Inn’s member. He was popular for his lifestyle: read a lot but living lavishly. As a metaphysical poet, he used unusual imaginary and he doesn’t use conventional comparisons, rather uses fantastic metaphors and excessive hyperboles. The Sun Rising, The Good Morrow, Love’s Alchemy, and A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning are some his phenomenal works. As for the latter poem, Donne said that his idea was still telling about a couple, even when one of them is separated. He is so popular in making a lot of poems about love. Here is the uniqueness comparison which he used in one of his metaphysical poems:

Our two souls therefore, which are one

Through I must go, endure not yet

A breach, but an expansion

Like gold to airy thinness beat

If they be two, they two so

As stiff twin compasses are two,

Thy soul the fix foot, makes no show

To move, but death, if th’ other do.

And thought it in the centre sit,

Yet when the other far death ream,

It leans, and hearkens after it,

And grows erect as that comes home.

Such wilt how to be me, who must

Like th’ other foot, obliquely run;

Thy firmness makes my circles just,

And makes me end, where I begun.

We can see that the first stanza states that two souls have become one, then even if one had to go, it will not lead to a split, rather becomes widespread as gold which hammered into as thin as air.For the second stanza, it states that if they become two souls, those souls are like a pair of rigid compasses. The compass’ soul that became permanent leg shows no sign of move, but the legs would move, if the other leg moves.

Fun Facts:

There are also some poets who made religious poems, such as George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, and Abraham Cowley. Here is one of George’s religious poems.

The Pulley (or Rest, or The Gifts of God)

When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessing standing by,

“Let us,” said He, “pour on him all we can:

Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span”,

So strength first made way;

Then Beauty flowed; then Wisdom; Honour, Pleasure.

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,

Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said He,

“Bestow this jewel also in my creature,

He would adore my gifts instead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;

So both should loser be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;

Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

If goodness let him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast”.

First stanza: When God created the first man, he provided a glass of blessing. God says: I will pour all my power and wealth of the world that had been scattered, so that becomes one (in humans).

Second stanza: And came in the strength, beauty, wisdom, honor, pleasure. When everything is running out, God stopped him because he realizes the language of all his wealth, is safely kept at the bottom (bottom).

Cavalier Poetry

The poets of this kind of poetry are the most loyal followers of King Charles I. They have high-spirited souls which are different with those metaphysical poets. They really love secularism things and not really a fan of religious thing. They imitate a popular motto from Italy, Carpe Diem which means “Catch the Day” or in our current motto, it is like You Only Live Once, so be happy and do whatever you want to do. Make pleasure while you are still alive, because tomorrow you may be dead. Some prominent poets are like Robert Herrick (1591-1674) with some of his works; To the Virgins to Make Much of Time, To Enjoy the Time, and To Daffodils, Thomas Carew (1595-1639) with some of his works; To His Mistress in Absence, and Richard Levelace (1618-1658) with his poems To Althea from Prison. This is one of Cavalier poems, To the Virgins to Make Much of Time from Herrick.

Gather ye rosebuds while you may

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun

The higher he is a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he is to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse and worst

Times still succeed the former.

Then be not cuy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;

For, having lost but once your prime,

You may forever tarry.

First stanza: Gather flowers while you can, because time flies. Flowers that glow today will wither tomorrow morning.

Second stanza: The sun shines like bright lights of heaven. The higher the sun, the closer it will be drowned.

Puritan Poetry

John Milton (1608-1674)

The most prominent poet using this kind of poet style in Puritan period is John Milton (1608-1674). He served also as a foreign affair at Oliver Cromwell’s reign. He was raised in a strong Puritan so that it made him to be a Renaissance high-spirited and devoted to his faith. He studied in Cambridge and for a short-term he lived with his parents in Horton. At Horton, he wrote L’Allegro and IL:Pensoroso. Those are lyric verses that depict a happy man (life during the day) and human melancholy or contemplated (life at night). He also made Lycides, which is a pastoral elegy about the death of his friend. In this elegy he denounced the corruption and lacks the spiritual life pastors. In 1652, Milton became completely blind, as he really loves to read. But he kept writing with a help from all of his daughters. On his blindness, he makes Sonnet on His Blindness which tells about his brave in facing his pain. His last work which he made on his darkness is Samson Agonistes which tells about his feelings as a blind. He feels like a Samson, a great hero which was made blind by the enemy.

Another prominent work of John Milton is Paradise Lost which has its sequel; Paradise Regained. Paradise Lost is an epic poem consisting of 12 books, written in the form of blank verse. This poem was written in 1658 when he was totally blind and was completed in 1663. This poem tells the story of Adam and Eve, who were expelled from heaven because they were tempted by a devil persuasion which is formed of a snake. They have to live on earth with all their sins and sufferings. As for Paradise Regained, it tells about a human salvation. He writes prose, monograph and pamphlet too. Some of his works on prose field are On Reformation and The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce.

Prose

John Bunyan (1620-1688)

He wrote allegory prose, The Pilgrim’s Progress, which tells about an allegorical journey undertaken by a person who represents mankind in general. The journey begins from the City of Destruction or mortal life to the Celestial City or the life hereafter.During the journey, the person experiencing various forms of grief, inducements, and temptations, but he never give up to reach The Holy City and his struggle eventually resulted in victory. The places he went through; The Valley of Humiliation, the Slough of Despond, Doubting Castle, The Valley of the Shadow of Death, and so on. While the figures who encountered; Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Pliable, Evangelist, Giant Despair, Hopeful, and so on.This work is paired with the world famous allegory works such as DivinaComedia, by Dante and the Faerie Queen, by Edmund Spencer.

Drama

Puritan people think that drama or theatrical activities represent the habit of evil so that there were no prominent figures for drama.