The movement

• The Enlightenment period ran from around the years of 1660 to 1790.
• Reason and rational thinking are key. They resolved issues with logic.
• Enlightenment believed that people do not have to depend on God to improve the world, but people could use their own wisdom to do so.

Characteristics

• The novel was becoming a popular literary medium.
• “Reasoning” as a core element meant that absolutes were rejected.
• It looked into individualism.
• Writers turned to nature.
• Enlightenment was a turning point in history because it pulled away from strict religious views, and gave way for scientific reasoning.
• There was better access to education which meant more people could access this new fountain of knowledge, furthering themselves away from the church and creating more individualistic reading and thought.
• Science was encouraged, a new concept at this time, religion was not expected to answer every question and limit the mind, which opened the world to new possibilities.
• Scientific ideas were flourishing in number, science in general and mathematics saw strong development, as well as medical improvements.
• One of the main genres from this period was political satire and debate. Satire was also frequently used for societal issues.

American Enlightenment

• In America, the novel took on popularity after gaining independence, however, the first one published was suppressed for being immoral, so the remaining novelists tried to include moralistic advice and religious sentiment.