1. English and Americal Literary Periods (3)

Page 1

Introduction to Anglo-American Literary Periods

An overview of the literary periods in Anglo-American literature; this sets the foundation for understanding the evolution of literature over time.

Page 2

What is the Point of Literature?

This page introduces the fundamental question regarding the significance of literature and sets the stage for deeper discussions on its various roles and impacts.

Page 3

The Point of Literature

  • Point 1: Literature explores vast expanses of reality that lie beyond conventional statements. Key quotes:

    • J. Keats: "The holiness of the heart’s affections and the truth of the imagination."

    • W. Wordsworth: "...the soul, remembering how she felt but what she felt remembering not."

    • B. Pascal: "The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."

Page 4

The Point of Literature

  • Point 2: Literature showcases the variety of human experiences. It illustrates characters acting courageously, thus embodying human values, emotions, actions, and ideas in story form. Through literature, readers can vicariously experience diverse stories, observing characters' decisions and struggles in inhumane circumstances.

Page 5

The Point of Literature

  • Point 3: Texts serve as social documents that reflect and respond to their historical and cultural contexts. Each piece of literature can be seen as a response to the societal factors surrounding its creation, highlighting an interaction between text and culture (Greenblatt, 2013).

Page 6

Defining Literary Periods

Literary periods can be defined as distinct times and places characterized by interconnected cultural, societal, and historical trends where groups of authors produced their work.

Page 7

Periods of English Literature

Key periods include:

  • Old English Period (450 – 1066)

  • Middle English Period (1066 – 1500)

  • Renaissance (1500 – 1660)

  • Enlightenment (1600 – 1785)

  • Romantic Period (1785– 1832)

  • Victorian Period (1832 – 1901)

  • Modern Period (1914 – ~)

  • Postmodern Period (1945 - ~)

Page 8

Old English Period

This period spans from 450 to 1066, beginning with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Celtic England and concluding with the Norman conquest. Notable for early advancements in written literature stemming from oral traditions.

Page 9

Middle English Period

Covering the period from 1066 to about 1500, this era saw the emergence of a recognizable