17th century english writers Essay

High schools everywhere read Romeo and Juliet every year. It’s a part of our curriculum but should it be? The answer is no, it shouldn’t be. Teenages don’t want to read a story that was written over four hundred years ago and barely legible. Most kids like to read stories that they can relate to, not some unrealistic story about the fourteenth century. Also throughout the book there are sexual references that bring out the immaturity in people. The majority of people don’t find Romeo and Juliet interesting anymore, so why should we force them to read it?

Social classes in America changed greatly in the 18th century because of the economic success that occurred at this time. “Expanding trade made possible the emergence of a powerful upper class” (Foner, 123), which also made possible the emergence of a weaker lower class. The upper classmen of the colonies, also known as the colonial elite, were the ones who planted staple crops or the ones who rule colonies. Although there were no set social rankings, it was clear that prominent men controlled the colonies’ governments. Planters of the colonial elite no longer had to worry about if they were going to be able to pass their wealth down to the next generations in their family; prominence in the 18th century became possible through family relations.

The topic I have chosen to discuss related to the last 400 years in Western Civilization is the industrial revolution in Britain. The industrial revolution was what created the modern capitalist system. Britain was the first to lead the way in this huge transformation. Technology changed, businesses, manufactured goods, and wage laborers skyrocketed. There was not only an economic transformation, but also a social transformation. The industrial revolution is such an interesting subject to further explore, because it truly made a difference in Britain in the late 1700s. The industrial revolution brought an increased quantity and variety of manufactured goods and even improved the standard of living for some individuals, however, it resulted in grim employment and living conditions that were for the poor and working classes. The industrial revolution had a bright and dark side to it. It was dark due to all the horrible working conditions, crowded cities, unsanitary facilities, diseases, and unsafe work environment, but the bright side is that it was a period of enormous social progress.

In the modern world, children’s literature, fairy tales, and fiction books influence our childhood and early development. In the 1500’s and 1600’s no children’s literature for entertainment existed, they had educational books. As babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, my parents and teachers read us books after books. It is proven that reading to young kids is important for their imagination, vocabulary, and communication skills in early life.

From around 1750 to 1900 Britain went through major changes or transformation in industry, agriculture and transportation that affected everybody’s lives. For some it generally improved their lives, however not all were so lucky. The industrial revolution brought with it many changes good for some and bad for others.

Literature of the English Restoration offers the example of a number of writers who wrote for a courtly audience: literary production, particularly in learned imitation of classical models, was part of the court culture of King Charles II. The fact of a shared model explains the remarkable similarities between “The Imperfect Enjoyment” by the Earl of Rochester and “The Disappointment” by Aphra Behn—remarkable only because readers are surprised to read one poem about male sexual impotence from the late seventeenth century, let alone two examples of this genre by well-known courtly writers. In fact, Richard Quaintance presents ten more examples by lesser-known poets as he defines the literary sub-genre of the neo-Classical “imperfect

The middle ages are a topic that most people know of as the ‘Dark Ages’ but mainly because no one could identify what really happened during this time period. This was a period of learning and innovation. Great things like religion, democracies were spread and created. That is why the ‘Dark Ages’ weren’t so “dark,” like every person makes them out to be!

The Medieval Era The Medieval era is so easily generalized into the three orders of those who fight, those who work, and those who pray, or even simply divided into the privileged and unprivileged. These distinctions are important, for the ability of the church and manor to influence a peasant's actions and to take a peasant's earnings was obviously a central component of a peasant's life. However, when peasants constituted such a sizable majority of the population (over 90 percent), it is also important to recognize the distinctions among them. Some peasants were free and some were serfs. Some peasants were well off and some were barely subsisting.

“In 1649, as Harrington saw it, the people who owned the property of England deposed the kind and began to take charge of the government. Their action proved premature. Monarchy and Aristocracy turned out to be stronger than Harrington had supposed, but he gave the people (or at least those who owned property) the nerve to think that

Thomas Cromwell was a great English statesman and lawyer who lived in the late 1400s to early 1500s. He was born in 1485 in the district of Putney in London, England. Though he was born into a blacksmith and trade family, he wanted to be self-made and get into the government and politics of England. At a young age, Thomas Cromwell traveled through Europe, including Italy and France, picking up various trades such as military, banking and as a clerk but later ending up as a lawyer (Maynard, 8).

Popular protest and rebellion show that subordinate members of society were unhappy with how society was based around class. Rebellions and protests were an outlet for class based frustrations. There was a fear that the crown, which was positioned in a high level on the Great Chain of Being, would make life harder for the commoners for its own benefit. For example, in 1536 Adam Fermour in Waldron in Essex had a fear that if a man should pass away, the crown would allow his wife and children to starve or turn to beginning to survive. Fears such as this one were shared within in labouring class between 1530 and 1550. These fears further antagonised local grievances and made it more likely for people to join rebellions. The rebellions of 1549 show this frustration with the class based system as John Guy describes the situation as being ‘the closest thing Tudor England saw to a class war’.

It was turbulent times for England during the 17th and 18th century. England was in an unquenchable thirst for more power. “During the 17th and 18th century, England was determined to subdue all lesser countries, especially Ireland” (Stevenson, 28). At the time, England was the dominating country, looking to expand their influence across the world. War broke out constantly as the conquest for more land continued. Moreover, war was constant with the three kingdoms, England, Ireland, and Scotland. Revolts in each kingdom also affected the country’s ability to participate in the war. As

The history of the modern world derives from thousands of years of human history. Embedded in its history are the many eras of man which have constructed our modern learning, art, beliefs, and order. The middle ages, although represented as “dark”, backwards, and idle, were in fact a bridge linking the classical and modern world. Medieval society may not have been in a sense glorious, but the era of itself was a prime foundation of the modern world’s newfound stability, a revival of the law and teachings from the classical era, a reinvestment and reform in the church, and a precursor to the golden age of art.

It was during the Elizabethan age that England felt the complete effect of the Renaissance. There occurred a revival of the old and classical literature of Greece and Rome and this was manifested in the poetry of the age. The Elizabethan age was characterized by an extreme spirit of adventure, aestheticism and materialism which became the characteristic features of Elizabethan poetry. Many poets displayed their skill in versification during this time and England came to be called The Nest Of Singing Birds.

1. “Cease to look upon Edmund as the enemy of your house; look upon him as a son, and make him so indeed!—How say you, Sir Philip? My son!—Yes, my Lord; give him your daughter: He is already your son in filial affection! Your son William and he are sworn brothers; what remains but to make him yours? He deserves such a parent, you such a son; and you will by this means, ingraft into your family, the name, title, and estate of Lovel, which will be entailed on your posterity for ever.” — The Old English Baron, 110