1. Literature of the 17th c. John Milton. “Paradise Lost”. “Paradise Regained”

The peculiarities of the English literature of the 17th century are determined by the events of this period: class contradictions which lead to the civil war (1642-1648) and the English Bourgeois Revolution (1640-1660)

1. The ideology of the English Bourgeoisie was a puritanical religion and calvinism. The struggle between the puritans against the British monarchy and official church. The puritans wanted to create a new church, relying on the work of a French preacher Jan Calvin. They influenced the life in England greatly. Even theatres were closed at that time.

2. The civil war ended in 1649 with the creation of the bourgeois republic; King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 and Oliver Cromwell became the leader of the new government. The establishment of new social and economic relations, feudal property replaced by the bourgeois, the worsening of class relations – had the reflection in the literature and determined the political and revolutionary direction of the English writers’ works.

3. 70-80 classicism: cult of antiquity; subjection of emotions to reason and feelings to duty; imitation of the past models of excellence; briefness; elegance; clarity; aiming at combining pleasure with instruction

John Milton (1608 -1674)

He was born in London and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, after the university studied at home in Horton, Buckinghamshire. At the age of 23 he got blind. When worked at Cromwell’s government as a consultant, during the 2nd civil war (1648-1651) he worked hard at his pamphlets and became a minister of government; by 1651 he was totally blind. During the war he supported republic and was against monarchy. After the restoration of Monarchy he was condemned to death penalty, but escaped from it - he died in 1674 in poverty as he was not in favour after the restoration of monarchy.

Works may be divided into 3 periods. At first he wrote his short poems at Horton. Then he wrote sonnets and pamphlets. His 3 greatest poems belong to his last group (Paradises+ tragedy “Samson Agonistes”). This great epic poem, "Paradise Lost" was planned in ten books, but written in twelve. It reflects his personal despair at the failure of the Revolution, yet affirms an ultimate optimism in human potential. The scene is the whole universe including Heaven&Hell. The poem is written in a splendid block verse&contains hundreds of remarkable thoughts put into musical verse. Milton's other great poem, "Paradise Regained" (published in 1671), is more severe and less splendid than "Paradise Lost".

2. The Eglish Enlightment. The birth of the English novel, its development. Defoe, Swift

Historical background:

18th c. GB grew into a strong capitalist country: 1. Intensive industrial development (the appearance of mills and manufactures) 2. Industrial revolution (new machinery) 3. The English bourgeoisie became part of the ruling class - the 2nd half of the 17th c. - 18th century was marked by British colonial expansion. 3. The British government become the ruling government all over the British Isles and developed contacts outside Britain. 4. The power of the king was nominal, it belonged to the Parliament ("Tories”, “Whigs”) 5. The development of culture and science; but still many people were ignorant, so one of the most important problems – education.

EARLY ENLIGHTMENT (1688-1740) 1. Flourishing of journalism 2. The main trend - classicism 3. The main genres - drama, poem, essay, pamphlet

The enlighteners defended the interests of the common people - the criticism was aimed against social inequality, religious hypocrisy, the immorality of the aristocracy. The central philosophical problem – the problem of man and his nature. The main trends:- classicism; -realism, -sentimentalism;- pre-romanticism. Genres: - realistic didactic novel;- adventure novel; - satirical novel; - family novel

2 groups of enlighteners:

I. moderates, who spoke in defense of the existing order and thought that a few reforms were enough to improve the situation in the country (Daniel Defoe (1661-1731); Joseph Addison(1672-1719); Alexander Pope (1688-1744); Laurence Sterne (1713-1768)

II. radicals, who wanted more democracy in the running of the country and defended the interest of the exploited masses( Jonathan Swift (1667-1745); Henry Fielding(1707-1754);

Daniel Defoe is considered to be the father of the English realistic novel. He wrote mainly adventure, picaresque (плутовские) novels. Born into a middle class family, received an excellent education, worked as a spy, hosier, journalist, political pamphleteer, businessman. Jonathan Swift is a famous satirist. Born in Dublin, was educated at Trinity College and graduated without honours, became Sir William Temple’s secretary, at Moor Park Swift read and studied much and in 1692 he took his Master of Arts Degree at Oxford University - in 1699 Sir Temple died, and Swift had to search for a new job, clergeman - in 1710 Swift joined the Tory party, in 1745 he died and was buried with simplicity