Jacobean Age (1603-1625) : Caroline Era (1625-1649)

Jacobean Age (1603-1625)
Elizabethan literature generally reflects the lively self-confidence of a nation expanding its powers, increasing
its wealth, and thus keeping at bay its serious social and religious problems. Disillusion and pessimism
followed, however, during the unstable reign of James I (1603–25). The 17th century was to be a time of great
upheaval—revolution and restoration of the monarchy, and, finally, the victory of Parliament, landed
Protestantism, and the moneyed interests. The rule of King James I of England was a unique time in English
History. James, also known as James VI of Scotland, was the first ruler to unite England and Scotland. This
time period, known as The Jacobean Era was a time relatively free of the conflict and trouble that was ever-
present during the rule of his aunt, Queen Elizabeth I. This peace made it possible for the British Empire to not
only discover and develop lands in the new world, but also to excel and succeed in the artistic world of theatre
and literature.
During Jacobean era, there was emergence of the tobacco industry and it was consumed in large amounts. It
was sometime during the rule of King James I that Britain started establishing colonies. One such colony was
America. Most noted event of this era took place was when a group of English Catholics plotted to attack the
Parliament and the King in the Palace of Westminster.
During the Jacobean period, people were religious. However, they also believed in the existence of witchcraft
and supernatural beings and activities. It was during the Jacobean period that popular Shakespearean plays like
Tempest, Macbeth were written. Major poets of this Era are John Donne and George Herbert. Their poetry was
based on religion with extensive use of irony and oxymoron.
Tragedy and Satire was at its peak during the Jacobean era
Caroline era (1625-1649)
The Caroline age is named after Charles I (1625-1649). Caroline is an adjective of Carolus, the Latin word for
Charles. The age of Caroline is an age of poetry of three kinds or schools: Metaphysical, Cavalier and Puritan
schools of poetry.
The entire period was marked by civil war, which divided the people into two factions: one loyal to the King
and the other opposed to him. The crisis began when James I, who had reclaimed the right of royalty from an
Act of Parliament. He gave too much importance to the Divine Right and began to ignore the Parliament. The
Puritans, who had become a powerful force in the social life of the age, began the movement for social and
constitutional reforms. The Puritans influenced the English middle classes during the reign of James I. It was
not till the time of his successor that Puritanism emerged as a great national power.
Puritanism became a political as well as a moral and religious force. It had two chief objects: the first was
personal righteousness; the second was civil liberty. In other words, it aimed to make men honest and to make
them free. Hampden, Eliot, Milton, Hooker and Cromwell were some eminent puritans. Puritanism exercised
great influence upon the tone and temper of English life and thought. During the Puritan role of Cromwell
severe laws were passed. Simple pleasures were forbidden, theatres were closed. Puritanism destroyed human
culture and sought to confine it within the circumscribed field of its own particular interests. It was fatal both to
art and literature. Great literature could not be produced during this period. Milton was an exception. He was
the greatest literary genius of this era.
Interregnum (1649-1660)
After the execution of Charles I and up to the restoration of Charles II, England was for the first time without a
monarch. The period between the two reigns, the interregnum, was an uneasy time during which the country
was led by the deeply religious Oliver Cromwell. After the death of Charles, a new king did not assume power
until 1660. The period from 1649-1660, when England was without a king, is called the English Interregnum.
England was instead controlled by the Rump Parliament, those who remained in Parliament after Charles'
supporters were kicked out of office.
William III and Mary II ruled Britain jointly after dethroning King James II in what is known as
the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Although Mary was James's daughter, she was a devoted Protestant, as was
her husband, William (Prince of Orange), and many Parliamentarians and nobles wanted Mary to be monarch
instead of her Roman Catholic father. In the autumn of 1688, after being asked by Parliament to take action
against King James, William arrived in England with an army to depose him. James escaped the country,
resigned, and Mary was invited to take the throne. However, Mary did not want to rule alone. She felt that her
husband should be crowned instead (he was also a grandchild of King Charles I). But as William wanted the
crown to pass to the next legitimate heir (which was Mary) and not claim the crown by conquest, a compromise
was reached: Mary and William would rule jointly.
In 1690, Mary's father made an attempt to recover the throne, but was heavily defeated at the Battle of the
Boyne. James was hurt by what he saw as a betrayal by his two Protestant daughters (his younger daughter
Anne also supported his deposition) and disowned them both. Mary was troubled by her estrangement from her
father, but felt it was her duty to put her God, country and husband first.
Augustine age (1702-1750)
Neo classical age, and Age of enlightenment
Anne
George 1st (Anne’s cousin)
George 2nd
George 3rd
Augustine age
This political event coincides with (and to some extent is responsible for) changes in the literary, scientific, and
cultural life of Britain.
During this time, a premium was placed on the importance of human reason and on a realistic philosophy that
held that knowledge about the world was through the senses and by applying reason to what we take in through
our senses. Reason was an unchanging, uniquely human characteristic that served as a guide for man. Thus this
time is often also called the Age of Reason or Enlightenment. Characteristics of this period included observing
human nature and nature itself which were considered unchanging and constant.
The age is also known as the neoclassical period. Writers of the time placed great emphasis on the original
writings produced by classical Greek and Roman literature. The literature of this period imitated that of the age
of Caesar Augustus, Alexander Pope copied and translated the work of writers such as Horace and Virgil.
Also called as age of satire.
Rise of Novel: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (considered as first novel in English literature) and Gulliver
Travels by Johnathan Swift
Essays became famous Joseph Addison and Richard Steele
Printing of books became cheap, people became literate and reading became popular.
Age of sensibility (1750-1798)

Samuel Johnson (poet, moralist, literary critic)
Also known as Dr. Johnson. He compiled the first dictionary of English language.

Jacobean Age (1603-1625) : Caroline Era (1625-1649)

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Age of sensibility (1750-1798)

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