Reading Response 1 – September 27th, 2019

Name : Rahmat Maulana

NIM : 321710009
Class : B-Morning
Subject : Introduction to Literature
Lecturer : Elly Susanti, SS. MA.

The Restoration Age (1660 – 1700)

The period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the Restoration period or the Age of Dryden
because monarchy was restored in England. The Restoration period was a period of
restoration of monarchic power after about eleven years of British rule by the Puritans under
the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. In culture and literature the Restoration period also meant
changes in attitudes or lifestyles of the British people. In the Puritan era moral life was much
more restrictive, while in the Restoration era moral life was much more lax and lifestyle,
especially for the upper class, was full of debauchery or rah-rah. The influence of the French
lifestyle was so dominant in the Restoration period. Great French authors such as Corneille,
Racine, Molliere were widely imitated by British authors. But unfortunately, what is imitated
from France is not only the good but also the bad things, especially for the works of the play.
In the Restoration period the writers tended to use shorter and clearer sentences without any
additions (cleancut sentences without unnecessary words). Thus, what is meant by formalism
in expression is obedience to the rules in writing, which gives rise to a clear, thorough, simple
writing style, but still maintained its beauty. In addition, because of the influence of French
culture, English writers were more concerned with reason than romantic dreams.
a. Poetry of Restoration Age
The most prominent form of poetry in the Restoration period is the "heroic couplet", which
is a poetic form where each line contains five hard presses on each second term (iambic
penta meter), and every two lines are rhythmic to each other. Example:

True wit is nature to advantage dress'd

What of was thought, but never so well express'd

The famous poet of the Restoration period was John Dryden (1631-1700). He is also
known as a playwright, critic, and satirist. His poetry reflected the political upheaval and
religious conflict that had taken place since the Puritan era, and also reflected his original
stand for Cromwell as expressed in the poem "Heroic Stanza on the Death of Cromwell".

Then when Charles II returned to England, Dryden praised the king in his poem "Panegyric
to His Sacred Majesty". In religion it is also less consistent. At first he embraced
Protestantism, but later he converted to Catholicism, and attacked the Anglican Church
which was revealed in the allegory poem "The Hind and the Panther". The Roman Catholic
Church is represented by the hind (red female deer), while the Anglican Church is
 described as the panther. Before converting, he defended the Anglican Church in his poem
"Religio Laici". Dryden's superiority is satire poetry. His famous satire includes "Absalom
and Achitopel", a political poem that attacks Charles II's enemies; "MacFlacknoe", a poem
that attacks another poet named Shadwell. Besides writing political and religious poems
Dryden wrote poetry stories, for example "Annus Mirabilis", and lyrical poems such as
"Alexander's Feast". His poetry can be conveniently divided under three heads:
- Political Satires: Absalom and Achitophel and The Medal
- Doctrinal Poems: Religio Laici and The Hind and the Panther
- The Fables: The Palamon and Arcite

b. Prose of Restoration Age

In the Restoration period not many poems were created. This period is marked by the use
of ratio, not imagination. Ratio is very instrumental in the development of writing prose.
Therefore, a number of critics, historians, philosophers and religious writers emerged at
that time.

The two greatest philosophers are Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and John Locke (1632-
1704). Hobbes was a supporter of absolute monarchy with the theory of lordship. He is
also a naturalist who states that natural science must be the foundation of all human
knowledge. His ideas are expressed in the book "The Leviathan" (1651). While John Locke
adheres to the flow of democratic forms of government. He said that all people and
governments were formed to protect these rights. His theories about politics are written in
the book "Treatises on Government" and philosophical ideas in the book "Essay
Concerning Human Understanding". Another prose writer is John Dryden who was very
instrumental in the development of English literature in the future. Dryden in prose works
uses short sentences and expresses his thoughts in a clear, concise, and exact manner.
Dryden's works include literary criticism "Discourse on Satire" and "Essay of Dramatic
Poesy". Besides Dryden, John Evelyn (1620-1706) and Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) also
became famous for their diaries written in everyday language. The books give a picture of
the Restoration era community, especially among superiors with all the political intrigues
and scandals.

c. Drama of Restoration Age

The most popular form of drama during the Restoration was "Comedy of Manners". This
kind of drama usually depicts relationships, conversations, and intrigues and various "love
affairs" among the upper society at that time, which are free from moral considerations
and romantic elements, even said to be obscene. Prominent playwrights include Sir
George Etherege (1633-1691). His best work is "The Man of Mode" or "Sir Fopling
Flutter" which gives a clear picture of the society at that time, a society whose lives are
filled with rah-rah. In this drama, it can be seen that the lives of upper class people are full
of intrigue, dignity and love affair. This drama tells the story of my love for Doriant and
her two dark boyfriends, Mrs. Loreit and Belinda. His two dark girlfriends were left behind
to chase after a rich woman. Another work is "The Comical Revenge" which is a "comedy
of manners" and which was written at the beginning of the Restoration period.
William Congreve (1670-1729) was the greatest comedy drama writer of the Restoration
period. He was heavily influenced by Molliers, a French writer and like other authors he
quipped the attitude of the people at that time. Two of his most famous plays are Love for
Love and The Way of the World. The drama first revolves around Valentine's love for
Angelica and then for his ingenuity he can save the lover's inheritance, Valentine.

The second drama also tells about the intrigues of Mirabell's love who fell in love with
Millamant, a niece of a wealthy woman, Lady Wisfort. To achieve her wish, Mirabell
loved her aunt but finally revealed the secret and caused Lady Wisfort's hatred.
Another famous playwright, William Wycherley (1640-1716), wrote The Country Wife,
"The Plain Dealer", and "Love in a Wood".

History of Tudors (
Reference:
Universitas Terbuka. N. D. “Kegiatan Belajara 5 – Ciri-ciri Sastra, Para Pengarang, dan
Karya Sastra Inggris Periode Restorasi”. Bahanajar.ut.ac.id.
http://bahanajar.ut.ac.id/app/webroot/epub/original_files/extract/1121/EPUB/xhtml/r
aw/st08rq.xhtml, accessed on September 26 2019
The Anne Boleyn Files. N. D. “British History Timeline The Tudors”.
https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/resources/british-history-timeline/history-
timeline-the-tudors/, accessed on September 26 2019