RESTORATION ERA

(1660 – 1789)
By : Mary Wollstonecraft
 The Beginning of
Restoration Era
4th April 1660 – Charles II
RESTORATION ERA (1660-1789)

issued the Declaration of

Breda.
Charles II became king the
monarchy was reestablished –
The restoration begin.

Charles II was a powerless king

who is remembered for the easy
morality of his court, reflected
___________

in much of the literary and

artistic production of the time.
CONTEXT AND CONDITION

Extreme ecstasy in way of life → immorality

The absence of themes of Elizabethan period → realism &

formalism

The artists were against the old styles & values

Simple way / style in writing

Formalism : the obedience to follow the rules and orders in writing

 The Literary Form
RESTORATION ERA (1660-1789)

◦ Occasional verse ◦ Ode

◦ Comedy ◦ Satire
◦ Tragedy ◦ Translation
◦ Heroic play ◦ Critical essay
 Characteristic of Restoration Drama
RESTORATION ERA (1660-1789)

 Women actors & playwrights

 Favored commercial purposes over
artistic purpose of drama
 Reinterpretation of Elizabethan plays
 Structure of theatre changed
 French influence, especially Moliere and
Pierre Comeille
 Heroic couplet
 The audience was of the middle class and
upper-class people.
 Types of Restoration Drama
RESTORATION ERA (1660-1789)

Comedy of Manners Heroic Tragedies

 Satirized the social life of  Struggle between love and

wealthy, upper class
 Made use of vulgar language,
sexual innuendos to expose
their immoral ways
 Full of witty, crisp dialogues
honor
 Heroic virtues of noble men
and women who were
wonderfully beautiful.
 Written in heroic couplet
 Restoration Drama
George Etherege (1634-91)
Love in a Tub, She Would if She Could.

William Wycherley (1640-1716)

The Country Wife.

William Congreve (1670- 1729)

The Way of the World, The Double Dealer, The Old
Bachelor, Love for Love.

Oliver Goldsmith (1730-74)

The Good-natured Man She Stoops to Conquer.
 The Most
Outstanding Figures
Prose Novel- The
Author ist Poet

-John Dryden
-John Bunyan
Aphra Behn Samuel Butler
-Sir William
Temple
John Dryden (1631 – 1700)
Annus Mirabilis (1667) – a poem which celebrates the
English naval victory over the Dutch, the fortitude of the
people and the King during the Great Fire.

Another works :
1668 - An Essay of Dramatic Poesy
1678 - political satire Absalom and Achitophel
1682 - Religio Loci
 Restoration’s Original
Printed
RESTORATION ERA (1660-1789)
For his Religion, it was fit
To match his learning and his wit;
'Twas Presbyterian true blue; Hudibras
For he was of that stubborn crew By : Samuel Butler
Of errant saints, whom all men grant
To be the true Church Militant;
Such as do build their faith upon
The holy text of pike and gun;
Decide all controversies by
Infallible artillery;
And prove their doctrine orthodox
By apostolic blows and knocks;
Call fire and sword and desolation,
A godly thorough reformation,
Which always must be carried on,
And still be doing, never done;
As if religion were intended
For nothing else but to be mended. (Lines 189-206)