- 1660: Restoration of the monarchy with the return of King Charles II.
- 1660-1685: Reign of King Charles II.
- 1660-1690: The period is also known as the "Age of Dryden," named after the prominent writer John Dryden.
- 1667: "Paradise Lost" by John Milton is published, though it is more commonly associated with the earlier period.
- 1667: "Paradise Regained" by John Milton is published.
- 1667-1685: Samuel Pepys' diary, a valuable historical and literary source, is written during this time.
- 1669: "The Diary of Samuel Pepys" is completed.
- 1670: The Royal Society is founded, reflecting the growing importance of science during this period.
- 1670-1685: The periodical essay becomes popular. Notable examples include Joseph Addison and Richard Steele's "The Tatler" and "The Spectator."
- 1671: "Absalom and Achitophel" by John Dryden is published.
- 1677: "All for Love" by John Dryden, a tragedy inspired by William Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," is performed.
- 1678: "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan is published.
- 1681: "Religio Laici" by John Dryden is published.
- 1682: "The Rehearsal" by George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, is a satirical play that mocks the conventions of heroic drama.
- 1688: The Glorious Revolution takes place, leading to the overthrow of King James II and the ascension of William III and Mary II to the throne.
- 1690: "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" by John Locke is published.
- 1691: "The Way of the World" by William Congreve, a significant Restoration comedy, is first performed.
- 1692: "The Relapse" by Sir John Vanbrugh, another notable comedy of manners, is performed.
- 1697: "The Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister" by Aphra Behn is published.
- 1700: "Oroonoko" by Aphra Behn, one of the earliest English novels with an African protagonist, is published posthumously.
- 1700: "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters" by Daniel Defoe is a satirical pamphlet that causes controversy and contributes to his later punishment with a spell in the pillory.
- 1700: "The Hymn to the Pillory" by Daniel Defoe is written in response to his punishment, defending his ideas with humor.
- 1700: The end of the Restoration Age, marking the beginning of the 18th century.
important characteristics of English literature during the Restoration period:
- Neoclassical Influence: The literature of this period was heavily influenced by classical Greek and Roman literature. Writers looked to classical ideals of order, restraint, and formal structure.
- Heroic Drama: The heroic drama, characterized by grand themes, heightened language, and strong moral lessons, was popular during the Restoration. John Dryden's "All for Love" and "Absalom and Achitophel" are examples.
- Comedy of Manners: This genre focused on satirizing the manners and affectations of the contemporary upper class. William Congreve's "The Way of the World" is a notable example.
- Satire: Satirical works, often witty and critical of societal flaws, were prominent. Writers like Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, though more associated with the later Augustan Age, were influenced by the satirical spirit of the Restoration.
- Puritan Reaction: After the strict moral codes of the Puritan era, the literature of the Restoration often displayed a more libertine and indulgent attitude, reflecting the relaxed social atmosphere after the return of the monarchy.
- Science and Reason: The Royal Society, founded in 1660, reflects the growing influence of scientific thought. Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing reason and empirical observation, began to shape literary discourse.
- Rise of the Novel: While the novel as a literary form was still in its infancy, works like Aphra Behn's "Oroonoko" and "The Fair Jilt" are considered early examples of prose fiction.
- Political Instability and Allegory: Political events such as the Restoration itself and the Glorious Revolution influenced literary works. Allegorical elements were often used to comment on contemporary politics and power dynamics.
- Literary Journals and Periodicals: The period saw the rise of literary journals and periodicals like "The Tatler" and "The Spectator," which played a significant role in shaping literary taste and cultural commentary.
- Individualism and Personal Expression: The literature of the time often reflected a focus on individualism and personal expression, exploring human emotions and experiences.
Here's a list of 30 significant works from the Restoration period, along with their writers and approximate publication years:
- "Paradise Lost" by John Milton (1667)
- "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan (1678)
- "Absalom and Achitophel" by John Dryden (1681)
- "The Diary of Samuel Pepys" by Samuel Pepys (1660-1669)
- "All for Love" by John Dryden (1677)
- "The Rehearsal" by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (1671)
- "The Fair Jilt" by Aphra Behn (1688)
- "The Way of the World" by William Congreve (1700)
- "The Relapse" by Sir John Vanbrugh (1692)
- "Amphitryon" by John Dryden (1697)
- "Oroonoko" by Aphra Behn (1700)
- "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters" by Daniel Defoe (1702)
- "The Hymn to the Pillory" by Daniel Defoe (1703)
- "Religio Laici" by John Dryden (1681)
- "The Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister" by Aphra Behn (1687)
- "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley (1675)
- "Annus Mirabilis" by John Dryden (1667)
- "The Adventures of Covent-Garden" by Aphra Behn (1671)
- "The London Gazette" (1665) - Important for historical context
- "The Tatler" by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele (1709-1711) - Periodical
- "The Spectator" by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele (1711-1712) - Periodical
- "Astraea Redux" by John Dryden (1660)
- "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell (1681)
- "The Man of Mode" by George Etherege (1676)
- "The Way of the World" by William Congreve (1700)
- "Hudibras" by Samuel Butler (1663-1678)
- "The Dutch Lover" by Aphra Behn (1673)
- "Mac Flecknoe" by John Dryden (1682)
- "The Rival Ladies" by William Davenant (1664)
- "The Narrative of the Persecutions of Agnes Beaumont" by Agnes Beaumont (1679)
MCQs
1. Who was the reigning monarch during the Restoration period?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King James I
c) King Charles II
d) Queen Anne
Answer: c) King Charles II
2. Which work is often considered a masterpiece of epic poetry from the Restoration period?
a) "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan
b) "Paradise Lost" by John Milton
c) "The Way of the World" by William Congreve
d) "All for Love" by John Dryden
Answer: b) "Paradise Lost" by John Milton
3. Which writer is known for his satirical pamphlet "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters"?
a) John Dryden
b) Daniel Defoe
c) Aphra Behn
d) William Congreve
Answer: b) Daniel Defoe
4. What is the genre of literature that satirizes the manners and affectations of the contemporary upper class during the Restoration?
a) Heroic Drama
b) Comedy of Manners
c) Epic Poetry
d) Tragedy
Answer: b) Comedy of Manners
5. Who is known for his influential diary, providing valuable insights into the daily life of the Restoration period?
a) Aphra Behn
b) Samuel Pepys
c) John Bunyan
d) William Wycherley
Answer: b) Samuel Pepys
6. "The Way of the World" is a notable work by which Restoration playwright?
a) William Congreve
b) John Dryden
c) George Villiers
d) William Wycherley
Answer: a) William Congreve
7. Which event in 1688 led to the overthrow of King James II and had a significant impact on literature and politics?
a) The Great Fire of London
b) The Glorious Revolution
c) The Restoration
d) The Gunpowder Plot
Answer: b) The Glorious Revolution
8. Aphra Behn is known for which novel, considered one of the earliest examples of English prose fiction?
a) "Oroonoko"
b) "The Fair Jilt"
c) "The Rover"
d) "The Country Wife"
Answer: a) "Oroonoko"
9. John Dryden's "Absalom and Achitophel" is a political allegory that refers to events during which historical or biblical figure's reign?
a) King Solomon
b) King David
c) King Saul
d) King Nebuchadnezzar
Answer: b) King David
10. What literary form became popular during the Restoration period, with examples like "The Tatler" and "The Spectator"?
a) Tragedy
b) Heroic Drama
c) Periodical Essay
d) Epic Poetry
Answer: c) Periodical Essay
11. Which of the following works is a satirical play that mocks the conventions of heroic drama during the Restoration period?
a) "The Way of the World" by William Congreve
b) "The Rehearsal" by George Villiers
c) "All for Love" by John Dryden
d) "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley
Answer: b) "The Rehearsal" by George Villiers
12. In "Oroonoko" by Aphra Behn, what is the main theme of the narrative?
a) A satirical critique of the upper class
b) The Glorious Revolution
c) The experiences of an African prince and his tragic fate
d) The restoration of the monarchy
Answer: c) The experiences of an African prince and his tragic fate
13. Who wrote the play "The Man of Mode," which is a comedy of manners from the Restoration period?
a) William Congreve
b) John Dryden
c) George Etherege
d) William Davenant
Answer: c) George Etherege
14. "The Dutch Lover" is a play written by which Restoration playwright?
a) Aphra Behn
b) William Wycherley
c) John Dryden
d) George Villiers
Answer: a) Aphra Behn
15. What is the genre of Samuel Butler's "Hudibras," a satirical poem written during the Restoration period?
a) Epic Poetry
b) Tragedy
c) Comedy of Manners
d) Periodical Essay
Answer: a) Epic Poetry
16. Who is the author of "The Relapse," a notable comedy of manners from the Restoration era?
a) William Congreve
b) John Dryden
c) Sir John Vanbrugh
d) George Etherege
Answer: c) Sir John Vanbrugh
17. What significant historical event is often associated with the writing of John Milton's "Paradise Lost"?
a) The Glorious Revolution
b) The Great Fire of London
c) The Restoration
d) The English Civil War
Answer: d) The English Civil War
18. Who wrote the poem "To His Coy Mistress," known for its exploration of themes of love and time?
a) John Dryden
b) William Congreve
c)
Andrew Marvell
d) Samuel Butler
Answer: c) Andrew Marvell
19. Which play by William Wycherley is considered a classic example of a Restoration comedy?
a) "The Rover"
b) "The Man of Mode"
c) "The Country Wife"
d) "Amphitryon"
Answer: c) "The Country Wife"
20. What is the title of the famous satirical poem by John Dryden that mocks a rival playwright?
a) "Absalom and Achitophel"
b) "Annus Mirabilis"
c) "Mac Flecknoe"
d) "Astraea Redux"
Answer: c) "Mac Flecknoe"
21. What is the primary theme of John Dryden's poem "Annus Mirabilis"?
a) The Glorious Revolution
b) The Great Fire of London
c) The events of a miraculous year
d) The Restoration of the monarchy
Answer: c) The events of a miraculous year
22. Which periodical, co-founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, was influential during the Restoration and early 18th century?
a) "The Rehearsal"
b) "The Spectator"
c) "The Tatler"
d) "The Rival Ladies"
Answer: c) "The Tatler"
23. Who is the author of the play "The Rover," a comedy set against the backdrop of carnival time in Naples?
a) John Dryden
b) Aphra Behn
c) William Wycherley
d) George Etherege
Answer: b) Aphra Behn
24. What work by John Bunyan is an allegory representing a Christian's journey towards salvation?
a) "All for Love"
b) "Pilgrim's Progress"
c) "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters"
d) "Annus Mirabilis"
Answer: b) "Pilgrim's Progress"
25. Which writer is known for the poem "To Althea, from Prison" that reflects themes of liberty and carpe diem?
a) Andrew Marvell
b) Samuel Pepys
c) John Dryden
d) William Congreve
Answer: a) Andrew Marvell
26. Who is credited with writing "The Adventures of Covent-Garden," a comedic work from the Restoration period?
a) Aphra Behn
b) John Dryden
c) George Etherege
d) William Congreve
Answer: a) Aphra Behn
27. Which poet wrote "Astraea Redux," celebrating the return of Charles II to the throne?
a) John Dryden
b) Andrew Marvell
c) Aphra Behn
d) William Davenant
Answer: a) John Dryden
28. What was the main literary form of Daniel Defoe, known for works like "Robinson Crusoe" and "Moll Flanders"?
a) Epic Poetry
b) Novel
c) Tragedy
d) Satirical Essay
Answer: b) Novel
29. In "The Fair Jilt" by Aphra Behn, what genre is predominantly explored?
a) Tragedy
b) Comedy of Manners
c) Satire
d) Novel
Answer: d) Novel
30. Which work by John Dryden is a mock-heroic satire that mocks a contemporary poet and his literary pretensions?
a) "All for Love"
b) "Mac Flecknoe"
c) "Absalom and Achitophel"
d) "The Relapse"
Answer: b) "Mac Flecknoe"
31. What is the central theme of "The Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister" by Aphra Behn?
a) Romantic love between siblings
b) Satirical critique of noble families
c) Exploration of familial relationships
d) Tragic love affair
Answer: b) Satirical critique of noble families
32. Which play by William Congreve is known for its complex plot, witty dialogue, and intricate characters?
a) "The Country Wife"
b) "The Rover"
c) "The Way of the World"
d) "The Man of Mode"
Answer: c) "The Way of the World"
33. In "The Dutch Lover" by Aphra Behn, what is the main focus of the narrative?
a) Dutch trade relations
b) Political intrigue
c) A romantic affair
d) Satirical portrayal of Dutch society
Answer: c) A romantic affair
34. Who is the author of the poem "Hymn to the Pillory," written in response to being punished in the pillory?
a) Samuel Pepys
b) Daniel Defoe
c) John Dryden
d) Aphra Behn
Answer: b) Daniel Defoe
35. Which work by Aphra Behn challenges racial and gender stereotypes through its depiction of an African protagonist?
a) "The Fair Jilt"
b) "The Rover"
c) "The Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister"
d) "Oroonoko"
Answer: d) "Oroonoko"
36. Who is the co-author, along with Richard Steele, of "The Spectator," a periodical influential during the early 18th century?
a) John Dryden
b) Joseph Addison
c) Aphra Behn
d) Daniel Defoe
Answer: b) Joseph Addison
37. What literary form became popular during the Restoration period, characterized by its use of fictional characters to convey moral lessons?
a) Periodical Essay
b) Novel
c) Heroic Drama
d) Epic Poetry
Answer: b) Novel
38. Who wrote the poem "To His Coy Mistress," known for its exploration of themes of love and time?
a) Andrew Marvell
b) John Dryden
c) Aphra Behn
d) Samuel Pepys
Answer: a) Andrew Marvell
39. What is the primary theme of Aphra Behn's play "The Rover"?
a) Political intrigue
b) Carnival and revelry
c) Religious conflict
d) Exploration of class divisions
Answer: b) Carnival and revelry
40. Which work by John Bunyan is an allegorical novel depicting the journey of Christian towards the Celestial City?
a) "All for Love"
b) "Pilgrim's Progress"
c) "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters"
d) "Annus Mirabilis"
Answer: b) "Pilgrim's Progress"
41. What is the central theme of William Congreve's "The Mourning Bride"?
a) Love and revenge
b) Political intrigue
c) Satirical critique of society
d) Exploration of religious conflict
Answer: a) Love and revenge
42. In "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley, what is the protagonist, Horner, famous for pretending to be?
a) A doctor
b) A priest
c) A eunuch
d) A soldier
Answer: c) A eunuch
43. What is the primary focus of Aphra Behn's "The Fair Jilt"?
a) The portrayal of a virtuous woman
b) A comedic exploration of courtship
c) A satirical critique of political figures
d) The cunning tactics of a deceitful woman
Answer: d) The cunning tactics of a deceitful woman
44. Who is the author of "Religio Laici," a poem that explores religious and philosophical themes during the Restoration?
a) John Milton
b) Samuel Pepys
c) John Dryden
d) Andrew Marvell
Answer: c) John Dryden
45. Which work by John Dryden satirizes political figures and events, particularly the Exclusion Crisis of the late 1670s?
a) "All for Love"
b) "Mac Flecknoe"
c) "Absalom and Achitophel"
d) "The Relapse"
Answer: c) "Absalom and Achitophel"
46. Who is the author of "The London Gazette," an important publication during the Restoration period for historical context?
a)
Samuel Pepys
b) John Bunyan
c) Aphra Behn
d) William Congreve
Answer: a) Samuel Pepys
47. Which play by William Wycherley is known for its portrayal of the manipulative character, Lady Fidget?
a) "The Way of the World"
b) "The Country Wife"
c) "The Rover"
d) "The Relapse"
Answer: b) "The Country Wife"
48. In "Amphitryon" by John Dryden, what is the main theme of the play?
a) Love and jealousy
b) Political satire
c) Mythological confusion
d) Religious conflicts
Answer: c) Mythological confusion
49. Who is known for the quote, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned"?
a) William Congreve
b) Aphra Behn
c) John Dryden
d) William Wycherley
Answer: a) William Congreve
50. Which play by John Dryden is a tragedy inspired by the Shakespearean play "Antony and Cleopatra"?
a) "All for Love"
b) "Mac Flecknoe"
c) "The Rover"
d) "The Way of the World"
Answer: a) "All for Love"
