Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Sing, Heavenly Muse....

This week we looked at some of the literature written during English Civil War and Interregnum , and we saw how the Puritanical beliefs of the parliamentarians affected the subject matter and style of the works of this period. Hobbes's "Leviathan" was a political work emphasising the importance of a strong central government to control the individuals comprising society; Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress" showed the Christians of that time how they should always be hopeful on their journey through life; the aim of Milton's ambitious poem "Paradise Lost" was "to justify the ways of God to man". Gone are the days of the ebullient works of the Renaissance; in their place are more serious works of politics and religion.

16 comments:

ilyas YILMAZCAN said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Murat said...

In The English Literature period, thr seventeeth century is known as a transtion into modern world. The Civil War seperated men from the older ways of living, and religious controversies killed much that had remained lively in the national imigination since The Middle Ages.

Unknown said...

The civil wars are against the king,and the second civil war caused the execution of Charles.John Milton is one of the people against the king.He is a Puritan, and actively rebelled against the king.His poem "Paradise Lost" was written in English with Latin style.It was heroic poem , and the emphasis is on religious.It makes the poem impressive because the things he said about life is very effective.

kayhan yılmaz said...

In this period, the first thing i have observed is that the king is losing his power. Not only Royalty , but also The Parliament is dominant on the country.There are different kind of literary works(political,religious). This is the end of kingdom ,but the beginning of democracy.

ilyas YILMAZCAN said...

It affected me very much that John Milton became blind because of reading books by the candle-light.Also I wonder how he trusted in the person that he dictated Paradise Lost.He is a blind person and how could he check his work after dictating it?Also I dont agree with idea of Original Sin.I think everybody is born innocent and is equal to the addition of her/his sins and good deeds.

Unknown said...

Paradise Lost is an ambitious poem by john milton. He emphasizes religious on his poem. A sentences in his work people are superior to all creatures. yes it is true but unfournately we aren't aware of this:((

Anonymous said...

I saw that how the Puritanical beliefs of the parliamentarians affected the literature, because before this time,even in Shakespeare's time, writers couldn't criticise the method of management because of monarchy, but writers in that time could wrote abot politics. In 'Paradise lost' John Milton boasts himself a lot. This interested me.

Unknown said...

We see that this civil war effected English Literature very much. No drama had been written down. Despite this, poems which were written by John Bunyan, John Milton and Thomas Hobbes are impressive. I like the best Paradise Lost,for John Milton showed to people real way. But we don't understand. Also, he shows his Prutanism ideas on his poem with effective lines.

Unknown said...

After Romeo and Juliet,the civil war is not very affected me.The thing that affected me is John Milton.He was blind,but he wrote the work 'PARADİSE LOST'.Also John Milton lost his wives,but he did not lose his hope in life.OFFF IS NOT VERY TRAGIC?

Unknown said...

After Romeo and Juliet,the civil war is not very affected me.The thing that affected me is John Milton.He was blind,but he wrote the work 'PARADİSE LOST'.Also John Milton lost his wives,but he did not lose his hope in life.OFFF IS NOT VERY TRAGIC?

HATİCE ERDOĞAN

Unknown said...

I liked some of the beliefs of Puritans;they didn't use showy things while they were praying,but i didn't like the idea of abolishing theaters.

Unknown said...

Hmmm it is very tragic,but John Milton didn't lose his hope,and he wrote Paradise Lost,and he mentioned about heaven,God,hope in his book.

Unknown said...

although john milton was a blind person he was able to give such a work. I was impressed. ı think because people living in the civil war period were satisfied with neither king nor parliment so they produced utopias. they tried to found their kingdom or state in their minds

Unknown said...

Of the writers in this period, Thomas Hobbes wanted to answer some questions about the nature and legitimacy of state power raised by the English Civil War and so wrote the "Leviathan".Another writer in this period,John Milton wrote "Paradise Lost" which is his masterpiece and he had many other works.Although he is blind, that he wrote such a poem effected me very much.

ebru polat said...

English Civil War was different from any other wars. I can't imagine nations killing each other..

ali erdönmez said...

There are wars around the world,but Civil War has many drawbacks for the folks sharing same commodities.