The Restoration

1660 - 1798

The Monarchy
The coronation of Charles II marks the
beginning of this time period. named for the restoration of the British
Crown

Time of peace, order, and prosperity,

but also, science, logic, and reason.

French Sophistication
While in exile, Charles spent his
time with Louis XIV of France.
Silks, lace, jewels, and wigs Elegant parties

Emulated French sophistication Theatres were reopened

Comedies of manners

Age of Reason
Charles II was a patron of the arts and
sciences. Established the Royal Society Named John Dryden the first poet laureate Issac Newton Scientific method John Locke Encouraged people to use intellectual
reasoning Led to the rejection of divine right of kings and the American Revolution

Politics
Limiting control of the monarchy
Tories Whigs

Began to question rule itself

Beginnings of English satire

Relations with Ireland

Under British rule, but not part of the
Commonwealth
Majority of Ireland was Catholic Rulers of Ireland placed by Britain
Led to widespread poverty and unrest

Majority of people could not

Vote Hold office Own land Receive an education

Satire

Satire
A literary technique in which behaviors or
traditions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.

Satire is a sort of glass (mirror), wherein beholders do generally discover everybodys face but their own. Swift

Beginnings
Began with the ancient Greeks,
Fathers of Satire
Inspired by the decadence of the Roman
Empire Horace (1st century BCE) Juvenal (2nd century CE)

but really became more developed with the Romans.

Satire in England
18th century satire included prose, poetry, and drama. Satirists sought to protect civilization from corruption by
attacking hypocrisy, arrogance, greed, vanity, and stupidity.

18th century novelist Henry Fielding: The satirist is to be regarded as our physician, not our enemy.

Characteristics of Satire
Attempts to bring about change by exposing an oddity or a
problem in an imaginative, often humorous, way.

Usually social or political in nature. Uses irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and
foolishness.

Types of Satire
Horatian Satire
Often light and humorous Playful and amusing Pokes fun at foolishness or
corrects vice
Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock

Types of Satire
Juvenalian Satire
Darker kind of laughter Can be bitter, even angry Criticizes corruption or incompetence
Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

Elements of Satire
Exaggeration/stereotypes: all politicians are corrupt; all
teenagers are irresponsible (these writers are not objective)

Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration Understatement: the opposite of exaggeration; making a

statement sound shockingly casual and offhand

Elements of Satire
Exaggeration/stereotypes: all politicians are corrupt; all
teenagers are irresponsible (these writers are not objective)

Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration Understatement: the opposite of exaggeration; making a

statement sound shockingly casual and offhand

Elements of Satire
Irony: contrast between what is said and what is really meant,
between what is expected and what really happens, or between what appears to be true and what really is true. Sarcasm: Verbal irony; A cutting, often ironic remark intended to
wound.

Wit: intellectual humor

Contemporary Examples of Satire