This is what I have so far.
During the 16th century, optimism meant a belief that good trumps evil. Since then, it has changed, and means a tendency to look on the bright side. Optimism has four unique definitions, the tendency to look on the bright side, the belief that good trumps evil, the belief that good pervades the world, and the belief that this is the best of all possible worlds. In the 16th century, most people could in fact read and write due to the Gutenberg Press about a century earlier. The writing style in this time was scientific and theoretical ideas and ideals.
The biggest event in this era was the birth of Protestantism, so therefore the 95 Theses are the first literary work.
And my outline…
Intro
Background info—what people think at that time is reflected in the written worksDef of optimism (4 defs)What’s the current worldviewWho can read and writeWhat’s the main type of writingDef of optimism may be different for all eras
16th C
Luther, 95 Theses (1 week)More, Utopia (2 weeks)Foxe, Martyrs: Selections (1 week)Montaigne, Essays (1 week)Marlowe, Dr. Faustus (1 week)Shakespeare, Julius Caesar (1 week)
Major event was the birth of protestantismCatholicism was injured and brokenWorldview changed from middle agesIncrease in literacy and printing pressWriting develops—montaigne and shakespeareWriting for entertainmentLegends become enhancedDef #4 for middle agesDef #2 for this era
95 Theses 1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that thewhole life of believers should be repentance. 2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession andsatisfaction, which is administered by the priests. 3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance whichdoes not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh. 4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this isthe true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven. 7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest. 62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace ofGod. 94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head,through penalties, deaths, and hell; 95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, thanthrough the assurance of peace.
Foxe’s Martyrs BY THE GRACE AND SPEED OF CHRIST OUR LORD, WE WOULD DISCOURSE, IN PARTICULAR SORT, THE ACTS AND DOINGS OF EVERY AGE BY ITSELF, IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:O DECLARE, first, the suffering time of the church,which containeth about the space of three hundred years after Christ.Secondly, The flourishing and growing time of the same, containing other three hundred years.Thirdly, The declining time of the church, and of true religion, other three hundred years.Fourthly, Of the time of antichrist, reigning and raging in the church since the loosing of Satan.Lastly, of the reforming time of Christ’s church, in these latter three hundred years.Neither is it here any need to speak of these our lower and later times, which have been in king Henry’s and king Edward’s days, seeing the memory thereof is yet fresh and cannot be forgotten. But let this pass; of this I am sure, that God yet once again is come on visitation to this church of England, yea, and that more lovingly and beneficially than ever he did before. For in this visitation he hath redressed many abuses, and cleansed his church of much ungodliness and superstition, and made it a glorious church, if it be compared to the old form and state. And now how grateful receivers we be, with what heart, study, and reverence we embrace that which he hath given, that I refer either to them that see our fruits, or to the sequel, which peradventure will declare it.
Faustus Therefore we shall blame neither his parents nor his patrons, who desired only the best (asdo all pious parents), nor shall we mix them into this Historia. For they neither witnessednor experienced the abominations of their godless child. As was reported above, Doctor Faustus’ complexion was such that he loved what oughtnot be loved, and to the which his spirit did devote itself day and night, taking on eagle’swings and seeking out the very foundations of Heaven and Earth. For his prurience,insolence and folly so pricked and incited him that he at last resolved to utilize and to prove certain magical vocabula, figuræ, characteres and coniurationes in the hope of compelling the Devil to appear before him. When these two wicked parties contracted with one another, Doctor Faustus took apenknife, pricked open a vein in his left hand (and it is the veritable truth that upon thishand were seen graven and bloody the words: o homo fuge–id est: o mortal fly from himand do what is right), drained his blood into a crucible, set it on some hot coals and wrote… Upon hearing these words, and understanding that the Devil would surely dispatchFaustus this night, the students urged him to call upon God, begging Him for forgivenessfor Jesus Christ’s sake, saying:O God, be merciful unto me poor sinner, and enter not into judgement with me, for I cannot stand before Thee. Although I must forfeit my body unto the Devil, wilt Thoupreserve my soul!Faustus agreed to do this. He tried to pray, but he could not. As it was with Cain, whosaid his sins were greater than could be forgiven him, so was it with Faustus also, whowas convinced that in making his written contract with the Devil he had gone too far. When it was day the students, who had not slept this entire night, went into the chamberwhere Doctor Faustus had lain, but they found no Faustus there. The parlor was full ofblood. Brain clave unto the walls where the Fiend had dashed him from one to the other.Here lay his eyes, here a few teeth. O it was a hideous spectaculum. Then began thestudents to bewail and beweep him, seeking him in many places. When they came out tothe dung heap, here they found his corpse. It was monstrous to behold, for head and limbswere still twitching. From it the students and clerks in particular should learn to fear God, to flee sorcery, conjuration of spirits, and other works of the Devil, not to invite the Devil into their houses, nor to yield unto him in any other way, as Doctor Faustus did, for we have before us here the frightful and horrible example of his pact and death to help us shun such acts and pray to God alone in all matters, love Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength defying the Devil with all his following, that we may through Christ be eternally blessed
17th C
Shakespeare, Macbeth (1 week)Cervantes, Don Quixote: selections (1 week)King James Bible: History, Introduction (1 week)Bacon, Essays (2 weeks)Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress: selections (1 week)Milton, Paradise Lost: Books I, II (1 week)
2nd def of optimism for centuryShakespeareLived religiously persecuted eraUnderground CatholicIncorporated views of societyHad old and new ideasCervantesHappy go lucky fictional funUsed imagination and crazy namesPeople learned how to use lit as entertainmentKJVWhy was project undertakenPuritans did not like old BiblesGot King James II to authorize new version2nd and 3rd def of optimismBaconScientific methodNot everything b/c God said soImprove man’s stateA New AtlantisEmphasis careful experimentation + analysis to increase knowledge + better lifePoint show utopia because of knowledge + scientific methodBunyanAllegory for Christianity and moralityGood wins in endEvil pervades realityMiltonGood triumphsQuixote tung + cheek + laughs at self
Pilgrim’s Progress This book it chalketh out before thine eyes The man that seeks the everlasting prize; It shows you whence he comes, whither he goes, What he leaves undone; also what he does: It also shows you how he runs, and runs, Till he unto the gate of glory comes. It shows, too, who set out for life amain, As if the lasting crown they would obtain; Here also you may see the reason why They lose their labor, and like fools do die. This book will make a traveller of thee, If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be; It will direct thee to the Holy Land, If thou wilt its directions understand Yea, it will make the slothful active be; The blind also delightful things to see.
18 century
Mandeville, Fable of the Bees: poem, selections (1 week)Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (2 weeks)Swift, A Modest Proposal; Gulliver’s Travels: Lilliput (1 week)Voltaire, Candide (1 week)Verbal rhetoric: Wesley, Pitt, Wilberforce (2 weeks)
Industrial rev and less religious persecutionMandevilleSocial order theoriesHuman design or divine design firstNow proposed originate spontaneouslyPursuit self interest causes prosperity othersAssumed bees act like humans + seek self interestCreates human like society in bees without knowingDefoeThemes include pride and humility, survival, and struggles with conscienceShows author’s puritanGod = everything
Fable of the Bees Vast numbers thronged the fruitful hive,Yet those vast numbers made them thrive;Millions endeavouring to supplyEach other’s lust and vanity;While other millions were employedTo see their handiworks destroyed.They furnished half the universe,Yet had more work than labourers.Some with vast stocks and little painsJumped into business of great gains;And some were damned to scythes and spades,And all those hard laborious tradesWhere willing wretches daily sweatAnd wear out strength and limbs to eat;While others followed mysteriesTo which few folks bind ‘prentices,That want no stock but that of brassAnd may set up without a cross,As sharpers, parasites, pimps, players,Pickpockets, coiners, quacks, soothsayers,And all those that in enmityWith downright working, cunninglyConvert to their own use the labourOf their good-natured heedless neighbour.These were called knaves, but bar the name,The grave industrious were the same:All trades and places knew some cheat;No calling was without deceit.
Thus every part was full of vice,Yet the whole mass a paradise;Flattered in peace and feared in wars,They were the esteem of foreigners,And lavish of their wealth and lives,The balance of all other hives.Such were the blessings of that state;Their crimes conspired to make them great:And virtue, who from politicsHad learned a thousand cunning tricks,Was, by their happy influence,Made friends with vice; and ever since,The worst of all the multitudeDid something for the common good.