13.4 Major Restoration Authors and Their Works

Restoration literature emerged after Charles II's return to the throne in 1660. It marked a shift towards wit, satire, and social commentary, with authors like John Dryden and Aphra Behn leading the charge. Their works reflected the era's political turbulence and changing social norms.

Key themes included political satire, sexual freedom, and the celebration of monarchy. Neoclassicism and heroic couplets dominated poetry, while prose comedy gained popularity in theater. These literary innovations laid the groundwork for future movements in English literature.

Major Restoration Authors and Their Works

Themes and styles in Restoration literature

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• Themes
  • Satire and social criticism skewered societal norms and political figures (John Wilmot's poetry)
  • Political commentary reflected turbulent times of monarchy restoration (Dryden's "Absalom and Achitophel")
  • Restoration of monarchy celebrated return of Charles II, explored political stability (Dryden's "Astraea Redux")
  • Libertinism and sexual freedom challenged traditional morality (Rochester's "The Imperfect Enjoyment")
• Styles
  • Neoclassicism embraced order, restraint, and classical forms (Dryden's translations of Virgil)
  • Heroic couplets dominated poetry with rhyming pairs of iambic pentameter lines (Pope's "The Rape of the Lock")
  • Prose comedy emerged as popular dramatic form (Congreve's "The Way of the World")
  • Restoration comedy featured witty dialogue, stock characters, and sexual intrigue (Wycherley's "The Country Wife")
• Techniques
  • Wit and wordplay showcased intellectual prowess and humor (Etherege's "The Man of Mode")
  • Character types like fops, rakes, and cuckolded husbands became staples (Vanbrugh's "The Relapse")
  • Use of prologues and epilogues directly addressed audiences (Behn's prologue to "The Rover")
  • Breaking the fourth wall engaged viewers in metatheatrical moments (Davenant's "The Siege of Rhodes")

Key Restoration authors and contributions

• John Dryden
  • Poet Laureate and literary critic shaped literary taste and criticism
  • Pioneered heroic drama blending romance and tragedy (Dryden's "The Conquest of Granada")
  • Developed the heroic couplet as dominant poetic form
  • Notable works: "Absalom and Achitophel" satirized political figures, "Mac Flecknoe" mocked rival Thomas Shadwell
• Aphra Behn
  • First professional female writer in English paved way for women in literature
  • Introduced novel-length fiction with complex narratives ("Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister")
  • Explored themes of gender and race challenging societal norms
  • Notable works: "Oroonoko" critiqued slavery, "The Rover" examined gender roles and sexual politics
• Samuel Pepys
  • Diarist and naval administrator recorded daily life in meticulous detail
  • Provided intimate account of Restoration-era London including social customs, politics, and personal life
  • Chronicled major events like Great Plague (1665) and Great Fire of London (1666)
  • Significance of his diary for historical and literary studies offers unparalleled insight into 17th-century England

Impact of Restoration on literary movements

• Development of the novel
  • Influence on early novelists like Daniel Defoe shaped realistic narratives ("Robinson Crusoe")
  • Experimentation with narrative forms led to epistolary novels (Richardson's "Pamela")
• Evolution of comedy
  • Influence on Comedy of Manners refined wit and social satire (Sheridan's "The School for Scandal")
  • Impact on later playwrights like Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw continued tradition of social commentary
• Advancement of women's writing
  • Paved way for future female authors like Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters
  • Influenced feminist literary criticism by highlighting early women's voices
• Contribution to literary criticism
  • Dryden's essays on dramatic theory established principles of neoclassicism
  • Influence on development of literary analysis shaped academic discourse
• Impact on poetry
  • Refinement of satirical verse influenced Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift
  • Influence on Augustan poetry emphasized balance and wit (Pope's "Essay on Criticism")
• Historical documentation
  • Pepys' diary as a model for personal narratives inspired future memoirists
  • Influence on non-fiction writing and journalism emphasized eyewitness accounts and detailed observation