(1) Comedy of Manners

This is a comic play usually centered around romantic or juicy sexual intrigue. This was the most popular theatrical genre during the Restoration period. Restoration audiences loved their laughs, and writers of the period dished out jokes a-plenty in those plays.

(2) Satire

Making fun of someone, or something, in a way that exposes their flaws. Restoration writers were big on satire: they liked being mean and hilarious. Joan Rivers (RIP) would be proud.

(3) Heroic Couplet

Two rhyming lines written in iambic pentameter (with ten syllables in each line, and alternating stress on the syllables). The Restoration poets—especially John Dryden—couldn't get enough of this form in their poetry.

(4) Social Life

Holy gossip, Batman: social life is a big theme in Restoration literature. Social life includes things like marriage, sex, money, class—any and everything having to do with social relations. Writers of this period love to comment on social life and especially social hypocrisy.

(5) Politics

The Restoration period was marked by political upheaval—the restoration of monarchy was the huge political event of the age. It's no wonder, then, that politics is one of the big themes of Restoration literature.

(6) Faith

The Restoration age was a time when there was tons o' debate and disagreement over faith and religion in England. For this reason themes of faith and religion are a hot topic in the literature.

(7) Restoration of Monarchy

In 1660, Charles II ascended the English throne and monarchy was restored in England. Now we know why Restoration literature is called "Restoration" literature. We think it should be called Era of The Huge Curly Wig Literature… but don't refer to it that way on your midterm papers.

(8) Rejection of Puritanism

Up until 1660, England had been ruled by those uptight Puritans who just didn't wanna let anyone have any fun. Once Charles II ascended the throne, however, people turned against Puritanism, including many writers. It was (finally) party time.

(9) Reopening of Theaters

In 1660, when Charles II ascended the throne, he reopened the theaters, which had been closed by those same pesky Puritan joykills who had been in power. The Puritans thought the theaters were cesspits of immorality. Charles II thought otherwise, and when the theaters were reopened there was a theatrical revival in the country.

(10) French Literature

Charles II had spent his exile in France before returning to England to reclaim the throne. He was very influenced by French culture and French literature, and the English writers of the Restoration reflected the king's tastes. Their work is also influenced by French literature.