Absalom and Achitophel

“To His Sacred Majesty” by John Dryden (1661)

Although he had written a poem about Cromwell’s death in 1659, Dryden chose to openly break with his family’s religious and political beliefs by welcoming the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660. His poem “To His Sacred Majesty” celebrates the coronation of King Charles II and hails the king as a bringer of peace and prosperity. The poem is written in Dryden’s trademark heroic couplets, and it offers a portrait of idealized monarchy.

“Paradise Lost” by John Milton (1667)

While Dryden welcomed the Restoration era of King Charles II and used his writing to extol the virtues of monarchical rule, his contemporary John Milton remained a staunch Puritan and an advocate for a commonwealth. Milton’s most famous work, “Paradise Lost”, is an epic narrative poem that also uses biblical allegory to explore the pressing political issues of the time. In retelling the story of Satan’s rebellion against God and Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, Milton explores the question of legitimate versus illegitimate power and the nature of revolt. Milton’s narrative style uses blank verse, not heroic couplets, and the tone of his work is serious instead of satirical.