History of Jacobean Prose l Jacobean Prose Characteristics l Jacobean and Caroline Prose l Jacobean Prose Writers

History of Jacobean Prose

In the mid-17th century, or rather in the age of Milton, prose developed. Despite the influence of the civil war, the writing output was large and good.
The sermon was evolving noticeably; the pamphlets were copious; and history, politics, philosophy, etc. were well represented. The literary style has evolved remarkably.
The prose of this epoch was cultivated in a totally distinct style to Elizabethan and prose of the 16th century. The prose authors adopted a style that Bacon & Hooker never imagined. The building was loose, over-coloured, and extravagant. The authors freely employed classical Latin words. Despite its inconveniences, the prose of this age had numerous qualities. It is fresh in shape. It was the time of biography, autobiography, history, and personal studies.
The language of this age is strongly religious and philosophical. Robert Burton, Sir Thomas Browne, Taylor, Fuller & John Milton were the main prose authors of this century.

Style Baroque
In England, every prior period had improved literature from ancient to current. In some ways. The Milton Age, however, does not see to it that improved English prose from the antiquity of Elizabethan prose is an ideal of simplicity, understanding, and lucidity.
Although some significant Jacobian authors kept a distance from the elaborate writing style, a huge proportion of Milton's prose writers were affected by Elizabeth's Gothic style. As a result, plain prose was lost by Bacon & character authors and in the age of Milton, a baroque style was established.

Browne Prose
The best prose writer of the century, Sir Thomas Browne, had the attributes of curiosity, learning, meditation, and humor. He was a professional doctor with a profound interest in religion. As a thinker and writer, he loved to study physical facts. He desired to erase mistakes in all areas of learning and holiness, although he himself made such mistakes. He was one of his age's most learned men. His principal works include "Religio Medici," "Vulgar Errors," "A Letter to the Friend," "Christian," etc.

Anglican Prosa
Milton's prose is unique because of its marked religious tendency. The secular interest in the Jacobean period appears to have given religious interests a significant role. Among the Anglicans, George Herbert, Jeremy Taylor, etc. were the most notable prose authors. Most of them had preached. The last name was the most important of them all. His most renowned work was "Holy Living & Holy Dying" like Browne; he's interested in human moral reasoning. He isn't terrified of death like him again. Death, in his opinion, is only a central point between the two lives.

Puritan prose
Milton commanded the puritan camp. Compared with the written works of the Anglicans, Puritans are characterized by brutality and lack good taste. From the age of 31-50, Milton authored a lot of pamphlets on political subjects (a tiny book with a few pages that gives information or a view on something). His prose is adorned, excessively Latinized, and exceedingly serious and sincere.

Philosopher's Prose
Thomas Hobbes' prose is the main cause of political and religious controversy. He was Bacon's secretary. The "Leviathan" is his most important work. It presents his ideology of totalitarianism, materialism, and rationality. In his utopian work "Oceania," James Harrington disputes Hobbes' views that favor absolute monarchy. But he and others lacked the lucidity and exactness that Hobbes possessed.

Eccentric Prose
Finally, we find several "eccentrics" who wrote in the middle of the 17th century. One of those eccentrics was Fuller. He was an Anglican clergyman who published the "Church History of Britain" and the "History of the worthy of Great Britain." Fuller's language is quite peculiar, yet has aspects of humor, including metaphysical wit.

The Authorized Bible Version
The greatest work of this century is the English Bible translation. There's more than just translation. It is original literature. The Bible translations into English are created at different times by different people. However, the "Authorized version" was created following a convention called by King James-I to consider Puritans' demand for an adequate English dictionary of the Bible. The version was named "approved" as a fresh version was translated with the king's approval. The effect of the "authorized version" on English style development was immense, especially on English prose. Many of the words used in the authorized version became a widespread part of the English language.