Devotional Experience and Erotic Knowledge in the Literary Culture of the English Reformation: Poetry, Public Worship, and Popular Divinity

This study explores how Calvinist experientialism provided a theology and epistemology in the poetry of five early modern English poets, emphasizing how bodily experience corroborated and verified devotional truth. It also shows how the Reformed models for devotion shaped how people experienced their encounters with God and how English poets described sexual longing and access to earthly beloveds.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This comprehensive study delves into the profound influence of Calvinist experientialism on the poetry of five early modern English poets: William Shakespeare, Robert Herrick, John Donne, Fulke Greville, and John Milton. During the Reformation, a significant shift occurred in both official church ecclesiology and informal devotional practices, emphasizing that an individual's experience of devotion extended beyond mere feelings to include thoughtful contemplation. For the early modern English populace, bodily experiences became a valuable tool for corroborating and verifying devotional truths, rendering the invisible and unknowable tangible and accessible. This volume argues that these religious developments provided a novel epistemological framework for early modern thinkers and poets to envision and interpret devotional intention and access. Moreover, these Reformed models of devotion not only shaped the way individuals experienced their encounters with God but also had far-reaching implications for the way English poets portrayed sexual longing and their access to earthly beloveds in their literary creations during the post-Reformation era. By engaging in a dialogue with devotional writers such as William Perkins, Samuel Hieron, Joseph Hall, and William Gouge, this book showcases how the English Calvinist tradition attributed epistemological potential to a diverse array of ordinary experiences, including sexual experiences.

Introduction:
The Reformation brought about a transformative shift in the understanding of devotion, challenging the traditional notion that it solely resided in the realm of feelings. It introduced the idea that an individual's experience of devotion could encompass both emotional and intellectual dimensions. This shift not only impacted official church ecclesiology but also permeated informal devotional practices among the early modern English populace. Bodily experiences became crucial in corroborating and verifying devotional truths, making the invisible visible and knowable.

The Role of Bodily Experience:
In the context of early modern English society, bodily experiences played a significant role in shaping individuals' understanding of devotion. The Reformation emphasized the importance of personal experience and the individual's relationship with God. The emphasis on the senses, particularly sight, hearing, touch, and taste, allowed individuals to connect with God on a more tangible level. Bodily experiences, such as attending church services, praying, and reading religious texts, provided a means of corroborating and verifying devotional truth.

The Poetry of Early Modern English Poets:
The poetry of these five early modern English poets reflects the profound influence of Calvinist experientialism on their artistic expressions. William Shakespeare, renowned for his complex characters and profound insights into the human condition, incorporated devotional themes into his works. His plays, such as "Hamlet" and "Macbeth," explore the complexities of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning in life. Robert Herrick, known for his exquisite lyricism and spiritual themes, wrote poems that celebrated the beauty of nature and the divine. John Donne, a master of metaphysical poetry, explored the relationship between the human soul and God, using vivid imagery and complex metaphors to convey his spiritual experiences. Fulke Greville, a prominent courtier and author, wrote satirical poetry that often critiqued the excesses of the aristocracy and advocated for religious reform. John Milton, a towering figure in English literature, wrote epic poems such as "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained," which explored the themes of sin, redemption, and the ultimate fate of humanity.

Epistemological Implications:
The Reformation's emphasis on the individual's experience of devotion introduced a new epistemological framework for early modern thinkers and poets. It challenged the traditional notion that knowledge came solely from external sources, such as religious texts or authority figures. Instead, it posited that personal experience could be a source of knowledge and understanding. The poetry of these poets reflects this shift, as they sought to explore the depths of their spiritual experiences and convey them to their readers in a meaningful way.

Sexual Desire and Access to Earthly Beloveds:
The changing religious landscape of post-Reformation England also had profound implications for the portrayal of sexual longing and access to earthly beloveds in the literary production of the period. The Calvinist emphasis on sexual purity and the dangers of lust led to a heightened awareness of the complexities of human sexuality. English poets began to explore the themes of sexual desire, longing, and the boundaries between love and sin in their works.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this study explores the way Calvinist experientialism provided both a theology and an epistemology in the poetry of five early modern English poets. The Reformation's emphasis on personal experience and the individual's relationship with God shaped how early modern English people understood devotion. The poetry of these poets reflects the profound influence of Calvinist experientialism on their artistic expressions, as they sought to explore the depths of their spiritual experiences and convey them to their readers in a meaningful way. The changing religious landscape of post-Reformation England also had profound implications for the portrayal of sexual longing and access to earthly beloveds in the literary production of the period, as English poets began to explore the themes of sexual desire, longing, and the boundaries between love and sin in their works.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 160 x 242 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192886552