---
title: "Restoration England | British Literature I"
description: "Restoration England is the 1660 to 1688 period after Charles II returned the throne, shaping British Literature I through satire, drama, and Milton."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/british-literature-i/key-terms/restoration-england"
type: "key-term"
subject: "British Literature I"
unit: "Unit 12"
---

# Restoration England | British Literature I

## Definition

Restoration England is the period from 1660 to 1688 when the English monarchy returned under Charles II. In British Literature I, it marks the rise of Restoration drama, satire, and political writing after the Interregnum.

## What It Is

Restoration England is the historical period in British Literature I that begins with Charles II’s return to the throne in 1660 and runs through the end of the seventeenth century. When your course uses the term, it usually means the world behind Restoration writing, a world shaped by the return of monarchy, reopened theaters, sharper social commentary, and a new literary interest in wit, skepticism, and public life.

The period matters because it follows the Interregnum, the years after the English Civil War when the monarchy was removed and England was ruled under Puritan influence. Under Cromwellian Rule, the theaters were closed and many forms of performance were restricted. Once Charles II came back, the arts came back fast too, and drama became one of the most visible signs that culture had changed. That shift is why Restoration England is often associated with stage comedy, court culture, and a more openly worldly tone.

In literature, this era is less about medieval heroism or Renaissance idealism and more about people living in a complicated, politically unsettled society. Writers explored ambition, hypocrisy, gender roles, sexuality, power, and religious doubt. You see this in the period’s dramatic style, especially in witty comedies and in works that use irony to expose human weakness. The literature can feel sharper and less idealized than earlier texts because it reflects a society trying to rebuild itself after war and regime change.

Restoration England is also the historical background for John Milton’s Paradise Lost, even though Milton himself is not a Restoration court writer. The poem was published in 1667, during the Restoration, and its big questions about rebellion, obedience, free will, and divine justice resonate strongly in a nation that had recently lived through civil conflict and political upheaval. That makes the period a useful lens for reading the poem’s political and religious tensions, not just its biblical story.

So when you see Restoration England in British Literature I, think of a literary culture that is reacting to a restored monarchy, reopened theaters, and a society newly interested in wit, performance, and the messier side of human behavior.

## Why It Matters

Restoration England gives you the historical frame for a big chunk of late seventeenth century British writing. If you know the period, you can read tone, theme, and genre choices more accurately instead of treating the text like it came out of nowhere.

It explains why drama changes so much after 1660. The reopening of theaters helped create a lively stage culture, and that changed what audiences expected from plays. Restoration comedy often feels urban, skeptical, and socially observant because it is written for a world where manners, marriage, class, and public reputation matter.

It also helps you read texts that wrestle with authority. Writers from this era often respond to the political shock of civil war, monarchy, republican rule, and the return of the crown. That background makes arguments about obedience, temptation, corruption, and order feel more concrete, especially in texts like Paradise Lost.

In a British Literature I class, this term gives you a vocabulary for talking about how literature reflects a changing England. Instead of saying a text is just “old” or “religious,” you can connect it to the specific cultural mood of the Restoration, where traditional power came back, but confidence in old certainties did not fully return.

## Connections

### Interregnum

The Interregnum is the period right before Restoration England, when the monarchy was abolished and England was governed without a king. It matters because Restoration literature often reacts against the Puritan restrictions of this earlier era. If you understand the Interregnum, the excitement around reopened theaters and the return of court culture makes a lot more sense.

### Cromwellian Rule

Cromwellian Rule shaped the cultural break that Restoration England followed. Under Oliver Cromwell, theatrical performance and many forms of public entertainment were restricted, which changed the literary landscape. Restoration writers inherit a society that has just come out of that restraint, so their works often feel more playful, theatrical, and socially open.

### [blank verse](/british-literature-i/key-terms/blank-verse)

Blank verse is a major form for serious writing in this period, especially in Milton’s Paradise Lost. Restoration England is the historical setting, but blank verse is one of the poem’s formal choices, so the two ideas work together in analysis. You can use the period context to explain why Milton would choose an elevated form for a politically and spiritually charged epic.

### [theodicy](/british-literature-i/key-terms/theodicy)

Theodicy is central to reading Paradise Lost in the context of Restoration England. The poem asks how evil and suffering can exist in a world created by a good God, and that question feels especially resonant in a nation that has lived through civil war and regime change. Restoration context helps you see why Milton’s poem is both religious and deeply historical.

## On the AP Exam

A passage analysis question may ask you to identify how a Restoration text reflects its historical moment. That means pointing out signs of reopened theater culture, political uncertainty, satire, or changing gender expectations instead of only summarizing the plot. If you are writing about Paradise Lost, you can connect its themes of obedience, rebellion, and authority to the Restoration world around Milton.

In an essay, use Restoration England as context when a text feels skeptical, witty, urban, or politically alert. You do not need to dump dates into the paragraph, but you should show that the period shapes style and theme. A strong move is to explain how the cultural reset after the Interregnum helps produce Restoration drama, or why a work published in 1667 still speaks to the tensions of the era.

## Restoration England vs Interregnum

Interregnum and Restoration England are close, but they are opposite historical phases. The Interregnum is the period without a monarch, while Restoration England begins when Charles II returns to the throne in 1660. If a question asks about censorship, theater closures, or Puritan rule, that points more toward the Interregnum or Cromwellian Rule. If it asks about reopened theaters, court wit, or post-1660 drama, that points to Restoration England.

## Key Takeaways

- Restoration England is the historical period from 1660 to 1688, when the English monarchy returned under Charles II.
- In British Literature I, the term usually points to the literary culture that grew out of that political shift, especially drama, satire, and writing about public life.
- The period matters because it follows the Interregnum and Cromwellian Rule, when theaters were closed and cultural expression was more restricted.
- Restoration writing often focuses on wit, gender, sexuality, hypocrisy, politics, and the messier side of human behavior.
- You can use the term to explain the background of Paradise Lost and other late seventeenth century works that respond to rebellion, authority, and religious doubt.

## FAQs

### What is Restoration England in British Literature I?

Restoration England is the period after 1660, when Charles II returned to the throne and English culture shifted again after years of civil war and Puritan rule. In British Literature I, it usually refers to the literary world of the late seventeenth century, especially drama, satire, and politically aware writing.

### Is Restoration England the same as the Interregnum?

No. The Interregnum is the period before it, when England had no king and was ruled under Cromwell. Restoration England begins when the monarchy comes back. If a text mentions reopened theaters or the return of Charles II, that is Restoration England, not the Interregnum.

### Why does Restoration England matter for Paradise Lost?

Milton published Paradise Lost during the Restoration, so the poem sits inside a period of political reversal and religious tension. That context helps explain why the poem focuses so intensely on rebellion, authority, free will, and obedience. The historical moment does not replace the poem’s biblical story, but it deepens the way you read it.

### What kinds of literature are associated with Restoration England?

The era is especially known for Restoration drama, including witty comedies and plays that focus on social behavior, class, and gender roles. It is also a strong period for satire and politically engaged writing. In class, you might connect the period to how writers use irony, performance, and social criticism.

## Related Study Guides

- [12.2 Paradise Lost: Structure, Themes, and Significance](/british-literature-i/unit-12/paradise-lost-structure-themes-significance/study-guide/9njFZJUz86kTtmR6)

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