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History of English Literature Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 6: The Puritan Age or Age of Milton:

Milton as a Poet and His Contribution

CONTENTS

Objectives
Introduction
6.1 The Baroque Style
6.2 Sir Thomas Browne (1605–1682)
6.3 The Anglican Clergy: Taylor and Others
6.4 The Puritans: Baxter, Milton and Others
6.5 Philosophy: Hobbes, Harrington
6.6 The Eccentrics
6.7 Summary
6.8 Keywords
6.9 Review Questions
6.10 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Describe the baroque style and sir thomas browne.
Explain the puritans: baxter, milton and others.
Define the eccentrics.

Introduction

The age of Milton (that is, 1625-1660, comprising the Caroline age and the Commonwealth) was an
age of singular activity in the field of English prose. The central events of the age-political struggles
culminating in the execution of Charles I and the establishment of the Commonwealth-exerted
both a hampering and an encouraging influence on the prose writers of the age. Much was written
by them in sheer party spirit to promote either of the two conflicting parties-the Puritans and the
Cavaliers.
Thus the air was thick with party pamphlets most of which proved only of ephemeral interest.
Further, this age was remarkable for its production of some very eloquent and compelling sermons
of the first rank in the language. The age of Milton has been very aptly called “the Golden Age of
English Pulpit.” The names of such powerful writers as Taylor, Robert South, Fuller, Isaac Barrow,
and Richard Baxter are associated with this department of writing. In the field of moral, social, and
political philosophy the age was enriched by the works of Sir Thomas Browne, John Hales, and
Hobbes. Clarendon and Fuller wrote distinguished histories. Isaac Walton composed the quaint
work The Complete Angler—a work of its own kind. And then there was the almighty Milton who
distinguished himself almost as eminently in the field of prose as that of poetry.

Notes The age of Milton was a period of prolific activity in the field of English prose
touching many departments of life.

36 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY