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Elizabethan Era (1558-1603): Chief Characteristics

Elizabethan Era (1558-1603): Chief Characteristics Introduction: Elizabethan Era is the most fascinating period in the history of England. It is named after the greatest Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth I. The long period of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) is known as the golden age in the history of England. The Elizabethan period was the period of glory and triumph in the life and literature of the English people. It is also known as the Renaissance or the Shakespearean age. This age is the first great age of drama and the second great age of poetry. The peace and the prosperity, the Renaissance and the Reformation, the liberty and stability, the discoveries and exploration etc. are the chief characteristics of the age. The Renaissance and the Reformation: In the Elizabethan age there were two potent forces– the Renaissance and the Reformation. Both the elements co-operated each other. These two elements produced a great uplifting of the spirit. The Renaissance aro...

Modern Age: Chief Characteristics

  Modern Age: Chief Characteristics The end of the Victorian era is the beginning of modern age. The first half of the 20th century is very important in the history of English literature. It marks a clear departure from the compromise and stability of the Victorian period. The following are the important characteristics of the modern age: 1. Interrogation and Anxiety : The 20th century is known as the age of interrogation and anxiety. In this century the scientific revolution shook man's faith in the authority of religion and church. The social, moral, political and economic scenario was changing fast. People were not ready to accept anything without testing it on the touchstone of reason. Modern industrial and technical progress gave birth to the spirit of competition. It increased frustration, anxiety and cynicism. The literature of this period reflects all these tendencies. 2. Art's for Life's Sake: In the modern age the doctrine of art for art's sake was reje...

Metaphysical Poetry: A Short Note

  Metaphysical Poetry The term metaphysical may be applied to any poetry which deals with spiritual or philosophical matters. But it is limited to the work of a group of poets of the seventeenth century. Metaphysical poetry is a revolt against the popular current of the time. Among these poets John Donne is the most notable. Other so-called metaphysical poets were John Cleveland, Abraham Cowley, Richard Crashaw, George Herbert and Henry Vaughan. In 17th century John Dryden in his 'Discourse' said that Donne affects the metaphysics. Later on Dr. Johnson borrowed this term from Dryden's phrase and used it for a group of 17th century poets. Dr. Johnson said, ‘About the beginning of the 17th century appeared a race of writers that may be termed as metaphysical poets. They were men of learning. To show their learning was their whole endeavour. Their thoughts are often new but seldom natural. The heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together’. The following are the import...

A Letter to God by Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes (Translated by Donald A. Yates): A Complete Study

I. About Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes: Gregorio Lopez Y Fuentes was a Mexican fiction writer. He became popular as one of the major chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution. He is considered as one of the major exponents of the ‘Novel of the Revolution’ too. In his works he presented the social issues of his time. He composed many exciting, humorous, and symbolic stories. His story A Letter to God is very popular. His most significant work is El indio (The Indian). It was published in 1935. It is a fictional study of the life of indigenous race of Mexico. In his youth Gregorio Lopez Y Fuentes spent much time in his father’s general store. He came in contact with the Indians, farmers, and labourers of the region there. Later he described their lives in his works. As a young man he fought in the Mexican Revolution. He served as the general editor of a newspaper named El Universal. Gregorio Lopez Y Fuentes was born on Nov. 17, 1895 at Huasteca in Veracruz, Mexico. He died on December 10, 1...