Comprehensive Academic Study Guide on English Literary Eras

Overview of Major Literary Eras

• Literary history is categorized across major historical eras, including:

  • The Old English Period

  • The Renaissance Period (also known as the Early Modern Period)

  • The Romantic Period

  • The Modern Period

The Old English Period (450–1066)

• Timeline and Historical Origins:

  • Spans from 450 AD (5th Century) to 1066 AD.

  • Originated with the invasion of Britain by three Germanic tribes: the Angles (Anglo), Saxons, and Jutes.

  • The era officially concluded in the year 1066.

• Religious and Cultural Context:

  • Christianity was introduced during the Old English Period in the 6th Century.

  • Literary works during this era were recorded and preserved in writing by monks and scribes.

• Literary Characteristics, Genres, and Themes:

  • Poetry was the most popular genre during the Old English Period.

  • The central theme in Old English literature is "Heroism and Bravery in Battle".

• Key Literary Figures and Characters:

  • The antagonist in the epic Beowulf is known as Grendel.

The Renaissance Period / Early Modern Period (1500–1660)

• General Context and Characteristics:

  • The Renaissance Period is also known as the Early Modern Period.

  • The broader Renaissance movement began in the 14th Century, while in England, the Renaissance Period is dated from 1500 to 1660.

  • The major defining characteristic of the Renaissance Period is Humanism.

  • Three major literary genres flourished in England during the Renaissance: Poetry, Drama, and Prose.

  • The Renaissance Period in England spanned the main reigns of four monarchs, including King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.

• Sub-Divisions of the Renaissance Period:

  • The English Renaissance encompasses four main sub-periods:

    • Elizabethan Period (1558–1603):

      • Dates from 1558 to 1603.

      • Witnessed a significant rise in the development and popularity of poetry and books/drama.

      • Prominent author: William Shakespeare, who authored famous poetry such as Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?.

    • Jacobean Age:

      • Named after King James I (James the First).

    • Caroline Age:

      • Distinguished by a notable refinement of literature.

      • The main literary theme of the Caroline Age is loyalty to the monarchy.

    • Commonwealth Period:

      • Marked by the major historical event and governance of Oliver Cromwell ruling as Lord Protector.

The Romantic Period / Romanticism (1798 Onward)

• Timeline:

  • The Romantic or Romanticism Period started in 1798.

• Core Defining Features:

  • Emotions

  • Imagination

  • Love of nature

• Key Authors and Works:

  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge (S. T. Coleridge).

  • William Wordsworth.

  • Ode to a Nightingale was written during the Romantic Period.

The Modern Period (1914–1945)

• Timeline and Historical Events:

  • Spans from 1914 to 1945.

  • Major historical catalysts and influences of the Modern Period were World War I (First World War) and World War II (Second World War).

• Key Literary Characteristics and Themes:

  • The major characteristic of the Modern Period was a deliberate break away from tradition, freeing literature from classicism.

  • The key literary genre under the Modern Period was Poetry.

  • The major central theme of the Modern Period is disillusionment.

• Major Authors, Figures, and Works:

  • T. S. Eliot: The major writer of the Modern Period.

    • Wrote the drama Murder in the Cathedral during the Modern Period.

    • The main character in Murder in the Cathedral is Thomas Becket, who serves as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

  • W. B. Yeats: Authored influential modern poems, including The Second Coming.

Summary of Notable Works and Writers Across Eras

• William Shakespeare:

  • Era: Renaissance (Elizabethan Period).

  • Notable Work: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?.

• Thomas Gray:

  • Notable Work: Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.

• Samuel Taylor Coleridge:

  • Era: Romantic Period.

• William Wordsworth:

  • Era: Romantic Period.

• Ode to a Nightingale:

  • Era: Romantic Period.

• T. S. Eliot:

  • Era: Modern Period.

  • Notable Work: Murder in the Cathedral.

  • Key Character: Thomas Becket (Archbishop of Canterbury).

• W. B. Yeats:

  • Era: Modern Period.

  • Notable Work: The Second Coming.