The Age of Milton in English Literature l Characteristics of Milton's age in literature - The Metaphysical Poets - Major writers of Milton's Age - John Milton Contribution in English Literature - BS English Subject introduction of Literature History of English Literature Semester 1 Punjab University

Milton's Age in English Literature 

The time from 1625 to 1675 is regarded as the puritan age, since Puritan ideals dominated throughout the period in England and also as John Milton (1608-1674) was the Puritan and he also dominated the age of Puritan that is why it is called the age of John Milton. However, The Puritans fought for justice and freedom.

The Age of Milton:
The main characteristic of Milton's age is the development of puritanism as a moral and social force. Wyclif's successors and Lollards supported pretty strict ideas of life and behavior and were labeled Puritans. Puritanism developed as a major national force during the reign of James I. It prevailed after the civil war with the victory of Oliver Cromwell. Puritanism's influence on English society and thinking was significant. Puritanism's moral and theological elements are blended with the Renaissance energy.

Milton's Life:
John Milton was born on 9 December 1608 in Bread Street, Cheapside, London. He received his training at St. Paul's School and Christ's College, Cambridge. He was kept out of bed by his books until midnight. He showed an uncompromising commitment to study. Milton thus became a brilliant scholar. He released his "Paradise Lost" in 1667. In 1671, he also wrote Paradise Regained and Samson Agonists. Milton passed away on 8Nov.1674.

Milton's Writings Fall Into Four Periods 

Following are Milton's writings periods;

The Time of the College: 

It ended on the 1632 Cambridge Career. 

The late Poetic Period:

It is the period of prose works and the period from which he had been mostly accomplished. Milton mourns the late death of his college buddy Edward King in 'Lycidas.' It's an elegy of rural life.

The Period of Horton: 

Closing the era of his prose from 1640 to 1660 for the Continent in 1638.

Milton's Poetry: 

Milton created the finest English poetry in "Paradise Lost." He showed his intellect strength and creative force in this masterwork. Milton's Puritanism focuses on Eternal Purpose and justifies the method of God to mankind. The inspiration and subject matter of this poem originate from Milton. "Paradise Lost," Milton puts out Satan's rebellion against God, the battle in heaven, the fall of the rebels, world and man creation, Eve's and Adam's temptation, and eviction from Eden. He presents the divine cleansing activity. "Samson Agonistes" the dramatic poem crowns the labors of the concluding years. Milton uses the ideas of Greek tragedy in "Paradise Lost.'

Milton's Poetry Characteristics: 

Milton is the finest English poet after Shakespeare. We have a magnificent combination of intellect strength and artistic force in him. He is the greatest of English poets. He is unmatched in magnificent style, the grandeur of thought, and diction. His descriptive power is really good. The discussion in the council of the fallen angels demonstrates Milton's remarkable insight into motivation and character in the opening volumes of 'Paradise Lost.' The whole poem has an intensity of uniqueness. His tremendous elegance of style and versification is remarkable in the technical aspect of his poetry. Milton continues to be our best master.

The Metaphysical Poets of School 

''Johnson created the term "metaphysical." The metaphysical poets were learned, men. They did not copy nature or life. Their thinking is fresh. Their art is full of affections, stupidities, far-sighted similarities, etc. Johnson believes metaphysical poetry is "a deliberate departure from nature in seeking something new and unusual. Richard Crashaw, Henry Vaughan, John Donne, Herrick, Thomas Carew,   George Herbert, and Lord Herbert of Cherbury were the metaphysical poets. Donne was the head of this school. They are termed metaphysical poets not because they are extremely intelligent, but because their poetry is full of ideas, exaggerations struggle over the meanings of words, learning, and distant symmetries and analogies.''

Contribution of other Poets in Milton's Age:

Following are the writers of Milton's age; 

Mr. Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

He composed both romantic and holy verses, but this is because of the poetry of the former kind, for which he is widely known. He has a great deal in common with the songwriters of Elizabethan, but Herrick is included in Donne's metaphysical school on account of his thoughtful imagination and a contemplative tone, particularly in his religious poetry.

Thomas Carew

The greatest writer of his era was Thomas Carew (1598-1639), on whom Donne had more effect. Although he lacks Herrick's spontaneity and freshness, he is superior to him in exquisite manufacture. In addition, although having the power and energy of the poetry of Donne, the verse of Carew is neither rough nor dark as that of the Master. His love persuasions are a beautiful beat of rhythm and harmony.

Richard Crashaw (1613-1649) 

He had a different temperament than Herrick or Carew. He was an essentially religious poet, and the Flaming Heart is his finest work. Although less creative than Herrick and inferior to Carew, Crashaw sometimes achieves the heights of exceptional brilliance in his poetry.

Henry Vaughan (1622-1695) 

He was also at home in the holy and mundane verses. Although the vigor of Crashaw is missing, Vaughan is more consistent and clear, calm and deeper.

George Herbert (1593-1633) 

He was the most well-read of all the poets of the metaphysical school, with the exception of Donne, of course. This is because his expression is clear and his ideas are transparent. There is both simplicity and genuine seriousness in his religious poetry. Mixed with the didactic tone, his poetry also has a tendency of petty comedy.

Lord Herbert of Cherbury :

He is inferior to his brother George Herbert as a poetry writer; nevertheless, he is best known as an autobiographical author. In addition, he was the first poet to employ the meter that Tennyson made famous in In Memoriam.

Abraham Cowley

He was a poet and essayist who produced poetry of a fancy, courtly character. He also converted the Pindaric ode to English poetry.

Characteristics of  Age of Milton 

Following are the main features of Milton's age;

Influence of Puritianism 

The impact of Puritanism upon English society and literature was tremendous. The spirit which it produced was magnificent and high yet it was also harsh and merciless. The Puritan’s honesty and uprightness are apparent but his fanaticism, Milton's moroseness, and the narrowness of his perspective and sympathies were terrible. In his over-enthusiasm to respond against existing injustices, he attacked the beautiful things of life, denounced science and art, disregarded the joy of beauty, which invigorates secular existence. Puritanism damaged human civilization and tried to confine human culture within the limited sphere of its own specific goals. It was deadly to both art and literature.

Puritanism created ambiguity in literature

The attitude of liveliness, of young power and energy, of romanticism and heroism which characterized Elizabethan literature, was noticeable by its absence. In the words of W. J. Long: “Poetry assumed new and striking shapes in Donne and Herbert, while prose became as gloomy as Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy. The spiritual melancholy which sooner or later fastens upon all authors of this era, and which is mistakenly linked to Puritan influence, is due to the falling apart of recognized norms in religion and governance. 

Want of Passion and Consistency

The literature of this time lacked concreteness and intensity. Shakespeare stands first and foremost for the actual facts of life; his words and phrases tremble with energy and thrill with fire. Milton is worried rather with fantasizing about life, his lines turn over the mind with louder majesty, now and again exciting us as Shakespeare appears to have done with the fine abundance of visionary, but more often trying to impress us with their intellectual ferment and power, than moving us by their gentleness and passion. Puritanism started with Ben Jonson, but it found its best writers expression in Bunyan. 

Want of the Spirit of Unity

Despite the variety, the Elizabethan literature was characterized by the sense of togetherness, which came from the great national pride of all classes, and their love and loyalty to the Queen who had a single-minded aim to pursue the nation’s prosperity. During this time James I and Charles II were opposed to the interests of the people. The nation was split by the battle for political and religious liberty, and the literature was as separated in spirit as were the battling groups.

The dominance of Critical and Intellectual Spirit

The analytical and intellectual attitude, instead of the romantic mood which reigned in Elizabethan literature, dominates the work of this time. W. J. Long writes: “In the literature of the Puritan age one searches in fruitless for passionate devotion. Even in the verses and love poems, an important, artistic character takes hold, and whatever love story argues itself is in form instead of in feeling, a wonderful and artificial embellishment of speech rather than the natural expression of a soul in which viewpoint is so pure and proud that poetry is its only expression.”

Decay of Drama

This era is notable for the decline of drama. The civil unrest and the strong resistance of the Puritans was the primary reason of the death of theater. The real theatrical output of the era was modest and unimpressive. The closure of the theatres in 1642 provided the last push to the growth of theater.

Conclusion

Thus the period was lacking in english literature, both in availability and types and in this regard, it stands in sad contrast with the period previously passed. The sun of the Elizabethan period had set and the darkness had fallen on the literary landscape in the Puritan age.