Reformation Period in English Literature

1500-1700: Two Centuries of Transformation

The Literary Reformation: A 200-Year Transformation

The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) fundamentally altered the course of English literature, creating what scholars now recognize as the early modern literary tradition. This 1500-word analysis explores how religious upheaval between 1500-1700 transformed English writing through six key developments:

Article Sections
  1. Vernacular Scripture Revolution
  2. The Protestant Poetic Tradition
  3. Shakespeare's Religious Complexity
  4. Metaphysical Poetry's Divine Struggle
  5. Puritan Prose and Pilgrim's Progress
  6. Restoration Literature's Legacy
Key Periods
  • 1500-1530: Pre-Reformation Catholic literature
  • 1530-1558: Tudor Reformation transitions
  • 1558-1603: Elizabethan synthesis
  • 1603-1660: Puritan ascendancy
  • 1660-1700: Restoration developments

1. The Vernacular Scripture Revolution

The most immediate literary impact of the Reformation came through Bible translation. Prior to the 16th century, English Christians relied on the Latin Vulgate, accessible only to clergy and educated elites. Three key translations transformed this landscape:

Tyndale's New Testament (1526)

William Tyndale's translation introduced:

  • 90% of the King James Version's wording
  • Protestant theological vocabulary
  • Direct, vivid English prose

Tyndale's translation cost him his life—he was strangled and burned at the stake in 1536—but his work became the foundation for all subsequent English Bibles.

Geneva Bible (1560)

The first mass-produced English Bible featured:

  • Verse numbering system still used today
  • Calvinist study notes
  • Compact quarto format

Shakespeare quoted from this version in his plays, and it remained popular among Puritans even after the King James Version was introduced.

King James Bible (1611)

The crowning achievement of Reformation translation:

  • 85% Tyndale's wording preserved
  • Balanced Protestant theology
  • Unmatched literary quality

Its influence permeated English literature, providing:

  • Allusions for Milton and Bunyan
  • Rhetorical models for sermons
  • Moral framework for novels

This vernacular scripture movement democratized religious knowledge while establishing new standards for English prose. As historian David Daniell notes, "Without Tyndale, no Shakespeare; without the vernacular Bible, no modern literature as we know it."

2. The Protestant Poetic Tradition

Reformation theology inspired three generations of English poets who transformed religious verse:

George Herbert
George Herbert

1593-1633

Herbert's The Temple (1633) represents Anglican devotional poetry at its finest. His poem "The Altar" visually recreates its subject through shaped verse, while "Love (III)" beautifully expresses Protestant grace theology:

"Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything."

Herbert's work demonstrates how Reformation poets could combine theological precision with profound emotional expression.

John Donne
John Donne

1572-1631

Donne's Holy Sonnets wrestle with Protestant anxieties about salvation. Sonnet XIV ("Batter my heart") uses startling violent imagery to portray spiritual rebirth:

"Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me."

This intense, personal spirituality became characteristic of Reformation literature, replacing medieval Catholicism's more communal piety.

Other notable Reformation poets include:

  • Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672): First published poet in America, whose work reflects Puritan spirituality
  • Edward Taylor (1642-1729): Colonial minister whose elaborate metaphysical poems were discovered centuries later
  • John Milton (1608-1674): Puritan epic poet who will be discussed in depth later

The Protestant Reformation was a major 16th-century religious, political, and cultural movement that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the creation of Protestant Christianity. Beginning in 1517 with Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses, the Reformation would transform European society and have lasting impacts that continue to shape our world today.

Origins of the Reformation

Portrait of Martin Luther
Martin Luther, the German monk who sparked the Reformation

The roots of the Protestant Reformation can be traced to several factors that created discontent with the Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages:

  • Corruption in the Church: Many clergy members were seen as corrupt, living lavish lifestyles while ordinary people struggled. The sale of indulgences (payments to reduce punishment for sins) was particularly controversial.
  • Intellectual movements: The Renaissance had encouraged critical thinking and a return to original sources, leading some to question Church traditions.
  • Political tensions: Emerging nation-states resented the power and wealth of the Church and sought greater independence.
  • Technological advances: The invention of the printing press allowed new ideas to spread rapidly across Europe.

These factors created an environment ripe for reform, but it was Martin Luther's bold challenge in 1517 that ignited the movement.

Key Figures of the Reformation

Martin Luther biography
Martin Luther

The German monk whose protests against Church abuses launched the Reformation.

View Biography
John Calvin biography
John Calvin

French theologian who developed Reformed theology in Geneva.

View Biography
Ulrich Zwingli book
Ulrich Zwingli

Swiss reformer who led the Reformation in Zurich.

Learn More
William Tyndale book
William Tyndale

English reformer who translated the Bible into English.

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Timeline of Major Events

1517

Martin Luther posts his Ninety-five Theses, traditionally marking the start of the Reformation.

1521

Luther is excommunicated and declared an outlaw at the Diet of Worms.

1525

Peasants' War in Germany, partly inspired by Reformation ideas but condemned by Luther.

1534

Henry VIII breaks with Rome and establishes the Church of England.

1536

John Calvin publishes Institutes of the Christian Religion; William Tyndale is executed for translating the Bible into English.

1545-1563

Council of Trent launches the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

1555

Peace of Augsburg allows German princes to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism.

Recommended Resources for Study

Books About the Reformation

The Reformation book
The Reformation: A History

Comprehensive overview by Diarmaid MacCulloch

View on Amazon
Here I Stand book
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther

Classic biography by Roland Bainton

View on Amazon
Reformation Readings
The Reformation: Readings in Western Civilization

Primary source collection

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Online Resources

Documentaries and Media

Luther (2003 Film)

Biographical film about Martin Luther starring Joseph Fiennes

View on Amazon
Reformation Overview (YouTube)

Crash Course European History

Watch Free

Conclusion

The Protestant Reformation was one of the most transformative movements in Western history. Beginning as an attempt to reform the Catholic Church, it ultimately created a permanent division in Christianity and set in motion changes that would shape modern society. From its theological emphases on Scripture and faith to its political and cultural consequences, the Reformation's influence continues to be felt more than 500 years after Luther first nailed his theses to the Wittenberg church door.

Conclusion: The Reformation's Enduring Literary Legacy

The Protestant Reformation's 200-year transformation of English literature established foundations that would shape Western literature for centuries. By examining this period through six key developments—vernacular scripture, Protestant poetry, Shakespearean complexity, metaphysical verse, Puritan prose, and Restoration synthesis—we see how religious change catalyzed literary innovation.

Three enduring legacies stand out:

  1. Democratization of Literature: Vernacular Bible translation made profound ideas accessible to all English speakers, not just Latin-educated elites.
  2. Individual Spiritual Expression: Reformation theology's focus on personal faith created new literary modes for exploring interior life.
  3. Artistic Freedom Within Orthodoxy: Writers like Shakespeare and Milton demonstrated how creative genius could operate within (and sometimes challenge) Protestant frameworks.

As we continue to study this transformative period, we recognize that the Reformation's literary children—from Bunyan's allegories to Donne's metaphysical conceits—continue to speak powerfully to modern readers about faith, doubt, and the human condition.

The Literary Reformation: A 200-Year Transformation

The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) fundamentally altered the course of English literature, creating what scholars now recognize as the early modern literary tradition. This 1500-word analysis explores how religious upheaval between 1500-1700 transformed English writing through six key developments:

Article Sections
  1. Vernacular Scripture Revolution
  2. The Protestant Poetic Tradition
  3. Shakespeare's Religious Complexity
  4. Metaphysical Poetry's Divine Struggle
  5. Puritan Prose and Pilgrim's Progress
  6. Restoration Literature's Legacy
Key Periods
  • 1500-1530: Pre-Reformation Catholic literature
  • 1530-1558: Tudor Reformation transitions
  • 1558-1603: Elizabethan synthesis
  • 1603-1660: Puritan ascendancy
  • 1660-1700: Restoration developments

1. The Vernacular Scripture Revolution

The most immediate literary impact of the Reformation came through Bible translation. Prior to the 16th century, English Christians relied on the Latin Vulgate, accessible only to clergy and educated elites. Three key translations transformed this landscape:

Tyndale's New Testament (1526)

William Tyndale's translation introduced:

  • 90% of the King James Version's wording
  • Protestant theological vocabulary
  • Direct, vivid English prose

Tyndale's translation cost him his life—he was strangled and burned at the stake in 1536—but his work became the foundation for all subsequent English Bibles.

Geneva Bible (1560)

The first mass-produced English Bible featured:

  • Verse numbering system still used today
  • Calvinist study notes
  • Compact quarto format

Shakespeare quoted from this version in his plays, and it remained popular among Puritans even after the King James Version was introduced.

King James Bible (1611)

The crowning achievement of Reformation translation:

  • 85% Tyndale's wording preserved
  • Balanced Protestant theology
  • Unmatched literary quality

Its influence permeated English literature, providing:

  • Allusions for Milton and Bunyan
  • Rhetorical models for sermons
  • Moral framework for novels

This vernacular scripture movement democratized religious knowledge while establishing new standards for English prose. As historian David Daniell notes, "Without Tyndale, no Shakespeare; without the vernacular Bible, no modern literature as we know it."

2. The Protestant Poetic Tradition

Reformation theology inspired three generations of English poets who transformed religious verse:

George Herbert
George Herbert

1593-1633

Herbert's The Temple (1633) represents Anglican devotional poetry at its finest. His poem "The Altar" visually recreates its subject through shaped verse, while "Love (III)" beautifully expresses Protestant grace theology:

"Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

The Literary Reformation

The Protestant Reformation fundamentally reshaped English literature, transitioning it from medieval Catholic traditions to diverse Protestant expressions that would lay the foundation for modern English writing.

Vernacular Scripture

The translation of the Bible into English democratized religious knowledge and established new standards for English prose.

  • William Tyndale's New Testament (1526)
  • Geneva Bible (1560) - Shakespeare's Bible
  • King James Bible (1611) - Literary masterpiece
Secularization of Drama

Reformation hostility toward Catholic mystery plays led to the development of secular theater:

  • Christopher Marlowe's controversial plays
  • Shakespeare's complex religious themes
  • Closing of theaters by Puritans (1642)

Literary Timeline 1500-1700

1517

Martin Luther posts 95 Theses - Beginning of Protestant Reformation

1526

William Tyndale's English New Testament published

1534

Act of Supremacy - Henry VIII breaks with Rome

1560

Geneva Bible published - becomes the Bible of English Protestantism

1590-1600

Shakespeare's major plays written during Elizabethan religious settlement

1611

King James Bible published - pinnacle of Reformation English prose

1667

John Milton publishes Paradise Lost - Protestant epic masterpiece

1678

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - most popular Puritan work

Key Authors of Reformation Literature

Martin Luther
William Tyndale

1494-1536

Father of the English Bible

Tyndale's translation work established the foundation for all future English Bibles. His prose style influenced generations of writers. Martyred for his translation work, Tyndale's last words were reportedly "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."

"I defie the Pope and all his lawes. If God spare my life, ere many yeares I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust."
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare

1564-1616

The Bard of Protestant England

Shakespeare's works reflect the complex religious landscape of Elizabethan England. While avoiding direct religious commentary, his plays explore Reformation themes like individual conscience (Hamlet), divine justice (King Lear), and mercy (Measure for Measure).

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
— Hamlet
John Milton
John Milton

1608-1674

The Protestant Poet

Milton's works embody Puritan ideals while transcending them artistically. His masterpiece Paradise Lost (1667) reimagines the Genesis story with Protestant theological depth and literary grandeur.

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
— Paradise Lost

Major Literary Works

King James Bible
King James Bible (1611)

The crowning achievement of Reformation translation, influencing English language and literature for centuries.

View on Amazon
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost (1667)

John Milton's epic poem exploring Protestant themes of free will, obedience, and redemption.

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Pilgrim's Progress
Pilgrim's Progress (1678)

John Bunyan's allegory of the Protestant spiritual journey, written while imprisoned for preaching.

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Further Reading

British Library: Reformation Resources Institute of Historical Research: Reformation Studies Poetry Foundation: Religious Poetry Collection
Academic Studies