2. English Literary History

Major Periods of English Literary History

Introduction to Literary History

  • Organization of Literature: Genre and historical period.

  • Classification of Literature: Divided into distinct periods based on chronological order.

  • Contextual Understanding: Understanding historical background is vital for appreciating literary texts.

  • Characteristic Analysis: Each period has unique features, norms, and assumptions.

1. The Old English or Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066)

  • Historical Context:

    • Began with Germanic tribes (Jutes, Angles, Saxons) conquering England.

    • Marked by the introduction of Christianity and establishment of monasteries for written literature.

    • Influential figures: Alfred the Great supported education and chronicling history.

  • Notable Literary Works:

    • Beowulf: The earliest epic of English literature.

    • Other poems: "The Wanderer", "The Seafarer", "The Husband's Message", "The Wife's Lament".

    • The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Earliest prose work.

  • Literary Characteristics:

    • Dominated by paganism, heroic deeds, and glory.

    • Most authors unknown, with notable exceptions being Caedmon and Bede.

2. The Middle English Period (1066-1500)

  • Historical Context:

    • Begins with the Norman Conquest; divides into Anglo-Norman Period and Age of Chaucer.

  • Notable Features:

    • English language evolves, prose gets established.

    • Poetry remains the dominant literary form. Drama starts with "Mystery Plays" and "Morality Plays".

    • Influences from Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

    • Major themes: Love, chivalry, and religious narratives.

3. The Renaissance Period (1500-1660)

  • Historical Context:

    • Renaissance spirit influences England after 1500.

  • Subdivisions:

    • Elizabethan Age (1558-1603):

    • Key figures include Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare.

    • Major works span from tragedies to comedies and sonnets.

    • Literary Features:

    • Golden Age in literature marked by humanism, national pride, and scientific curiosity.

    • Reflected in nature and beauty in literature.

4. The Neoclassical Period (1660-1785)

  • Historical Context:

    • Known for its return to classical antiquity influences.

  • Literary Features:

    • Emphasis on technique over originality; imitation of Greek and Roman styles.

  • Subdivisions:

    • Restoration Period (1660-1700): Focus on satirical and realistic drama.

    • Augustan Age (1702-1745): Influenced by classical models, emergence of the modern novel.

    • Age of Sensibility (1745-1785): Shift towards emotional expression and prose. Decline of strict classical forms.

5. The Romantic Period (1798-1832)

  • Historical Context:

    • Marked by the publication of Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads.

  • Key Characteristics:

    • Focus on emotion, individualism, and nature.

    • Dominant literary forms: Poetry highlighting imagination and subjectivity.

  • Major Writers: Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Jane Austen.

6. The Victorian Period (1832-1901)

  • Historical Context:

    • Named after Queen Victoria; reflects societal changes through literature.

  • Major Writers: Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte, Oscar Wilde.

  • Literary Features:

    • Balance between romanticism and realism.

    • Dominated by novels that reflect complex moral and social issues.

7. The Modern Period (1901-1939) and Postmodern Period (1939-present)

  • Modern Period:

    • Characterized by novels reflecting inner psychological difficulties.

    • Notable authors: Virginia Woolf, T.S. Eliot, George Orwell.

  • Postmodern Features:

    • Absurdity, fragmentation, and 'meaninglessness' prevalent in literature and drama.

    • Diverse stylistic forms including free verse and stream of consciousness.

Oscar Wilde (1856-1900): A poet, novelist, and dramatist known for works like Lady Windermere's Fan (1892), A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).

Virginia Woolf (1882-1941): A novelist recognized for her exploration of inner realities in works such as The Voyage Out (1915), Mrs. Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927), The Waves (1931), Flush (1933), and The Years (1937).

T.S. Eliot (1888-1965): A poet, dramatist, and critic known for his theory of 'objective co-relative' with major works including Prufrock and Other Observations (1917), The Waste Land (1922), Ash Wednesday (1930), and Four Quartets (1944).

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): A psychologist known for his psycho-analytical theories, notable writings include Interpretation of Dreams (1913) and Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1914).

George Orwell (Eric Hugh Blair) (1903-1950): Known for his influential novels like Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989): A French dramatist best known for Waiting for Godot (1952) and Endgame (1955).