History of english literature plan

(a) The Restoration Period (1660-1700)

This period is called the Restoration Period because in this period, with the restoration of monarchy, the English literary tradition was restored. In the Commonwealth Period Charles II, the son of Charles I, escaped to France. After the fall of Commonwealth, the people of England brought him back and made him king of England on May 29, 1660. He remained in power till his death in 1685 when James II, another son of Charles I, ascended the throne. He was a Catholic and most of the people who were Protestants wanted to dethrone him. In 1688 there was the Glorious Revolution against him. He fled to France. William III of France and his wife Mary, the son-in-law and daughter of James II, came to power. William ruled England till his death in 1702. The important events of this period were:

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  A general reaction against puritanical restraints became very strong.
  
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  Two political parties-the Whig and the Tory-were formed. The Whigs were against the king and for the Protestants. The Tories supported the king and the Catholics.
  
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  In 1690 there was Jacobite Rising. The Catholics of Ireland who were led by James-II, fought against William's soldiers and were defeated. 
  
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  In 1662 the Royal Society was founded to promote scientific research. Sir Isaac Newton was a member of it.
  
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  Industrialization began in England.
  
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  In 1695 the press was made free. Everyone was given liberty to express his or her views.
  
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  The Bill of Rights was adopted in 1689. It restricted monarch's power and enhanced parliament's power.
  

Major Writers and Their Major Works:

Milton wrote his great epics in this period. He remained almost unaffected by the liberal ideals of the Restoration period.

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  Paradise Lost (1667)
  
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  Paradise Regained (1671)
  
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  Samson Agonists (1671)
  

Samuel Butler (1612-80): Hudibras (1663), a satire in verse.

John Bunyan (1628-88):

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  Pilgrim's Progress (1678), the famous allegory in prose.
  
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  The Holy War (1682), an allegory in prose.
  

John Dryden (1631-1700):

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  All for love (1678)
  
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  The Indian Emperor (1665)
  
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  Aureg-Zebe (1675)
  
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  Absalom and Achitophel (1681)
  
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  MacFlecknoe (1682)
  
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  'The Essay of Dramatic Poesy' (1668)
  

 William Congrerve (1670-1729):

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  Love fe love (1695)
  
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  The Way of the World (1700)
  
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  The Double Dealer (1693)
  

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  George Farquhar (1678-1707) :
  

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  The Recruiting Officer (1706)
  
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  The Beaux' Stratagem (1707)
  

John Locke (1632-1704) : An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)