History of English Literature

 

• 30 minute reading challenge 
• You will learn
• Chronology
• All ages names
• Characteristics
• Representative writers
• Best works  
• first complete this , later you can read complete ages one by one. 
• all the best. 
• English Literature Chronology
• Chronology is the first thing you need to know , if you are starting your preparation of History of English literature. 
• here , we go
• Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (450–1066)
• This period is called as the Dark Ages
• Roman Britannia breaks into many kingdoms .
• Lots of religious conversion.
• What we know today as Britain , was captured by Celts. 
• Two groups came from southern Europe , and attacked Britain . ( that time it wasn't Britain).
• One of them was Brythons or Britons.
• Now , you get the idea, why its Britain Now. 
• Gaels went to Second largest island , it became later Ireland. 
• Celts were pagan ( means believe in many Gods) 
• Their priests were Druids.... 
• (They used to tell them we are directly in contact with Gods LOL )
• Roman occupation -
• Now , in the story ROMANS enter. 
• 1- They had great military power. 
• 2- They pushed Celts into Wales and Ireland.
• 3- They stopped Vikings too.
•  Roman's Religion - they followed Christianity. 
• 
  
• The Age of Chaucer (1340-1400)
• See, now we are starting English literature study and here we will be talking about the literature upto Chaucer's age. 
• But , keep in mind that we can date any age with perfect date. 
• Changing from one age to another age, is a gradual process. 
• But, for our convenience and for learning sake we do it . 
• hmmmm, 
• So , What is the date for Chaucer's Age?
• Answer is from 1340 to 1400 according to literary historians. 
• Next question can come to your mind 
• why we study Chaucer ? 
• We study Chaucer because he is the most important writer.
• but why is he the most important writer? 
  good question. 
• here are some possible answers
• He is the first writer who wrote in English significantly.
• His works help in development of English as a language. 
• in words of Spencer " Chaucer, well of English undefiled"
• it means according to Spencer "He wrote pure English" 
• 
  
•  Middle English Period (1066–1500)
• ( uncle Chaucer wrote His great work in this period ) 
• He wrote his magnum opus The Canterbury Tales 
• Its a collection of 24 tales ,written nearly in 17000 lines using Middle English
• All the stories written as the part of a contest, people going the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket from London.
• Again the same question 
• Why is The Canterbury Tales important to us?
• Ans - The Canterbury Tales gives a great pen picture of 14th century England. It means we don't need to time travel to 14th century to see people of that time . Just read the canterbury tales . Isn't it a great help ?
• We will discuss The Canterbury Tales in details . For now it's enough. 
• Some other characteristics of the age 
• 1-First significant age in English Literature.
• 2-An Era of transition. 
• 3- Growth of national sentiments
• 4-Black death
• 5-Peasant revolt (1381)
• 6-Th corruption of the church and reformation movement by John Wycliff. 
•  
• The Fifteen Century (1400-1516)
• From the death of Chaucer to the Renaissance . 
• Called long barren period - W.H.Hudson. 
• Why barren period? 
• Simply because people , didn't develop literature but there were some writers who tried their level best - 
• These four are called The English Chaucerians
• Thomas Occleve 
• John Lydgate
• Stephen Hawes 
• John Skelton 
• The Scottish Chaucerians
• 1-James I
• 2-Robert Henryson
• 3-William Dunbar
• 
  
•  

• The Renaissance (1500–1660)
• (Mr. Shakespeare is here )
• Renaissance means Intellectual Rebirth 
• Just remember this for now.
• What is birth place of renaissance ?
• Italy .
• Renaissance was the result of three impulses :
• 1- The inspiration derived from the revival of classical learning. 
• 2- The stirring of man's imagination by great voyages of discovery.
• 3- The spirit of religious reformation which began in Germany. 
• 
  
•  
• The Neoclassical Period (1600–1785)
• (They were trying to be smart as ancient Greek writers they were faking them) 
•  
• The Romantic Period (1785–1832)
• (Simple , rustic Wordsworth) 
• For pdf click the link-
• The Victorian Period (1832–1901)
•  
• The Edwardian Period (1901–1914)
•  
• The Georgian Period (1910–1936)
•  
• The Modern Period (1914–?)
•  
• The Postmodern Period (1945–?)
•  
•