Anglo-Saxon to Medieval Literature Quiz

Anglo-Saxon Period (7th Century – 1066)

• English literature began with the Anglo-Saxon invasion (449 AD), transitioning from paganism to Christianity.
• Monks preserved manuscripts, showcasing this transition.
• Beowulf is an epic poem blending pagan heroism with Christian themes, featuring battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon.
• Other notable works include The Seafarer and The Wanderer, reflecting Viking life and emerging Christian influence.
• Bede the Venerable is considered the "Father of English History."
• King Alfred the Great promoted education and translated Latin works into Old English.
• Poetry used alliteration and oral traditions, often codified with kennings (e.g., "whale-road" for the sea).

Medieval Literature to Chaucer (1066–1400)

• Norman Conquest (1066) brought Norman French dominance to the literary scene.
• Old English transitioned into Middle English.
• Anglo-Norman literature influenced English writings with lais, romances, and allegories, including Arthurian legends.
• Key topics included courtly love and Arthurian legends.
• The Alliterative Revival (14th century) saw poets like William Langland return to Old English styles (e.g., Piers Plowman).
• Arthurian Romance, blended English and French styles, featured chivalry themes.
• Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales depicted 14th-century society through diverse tales.

From Chaucer to the Renaissance (1400–1560)

• Transition from Middle English to Early Modern English.
• The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) and printing press (1476) shaped the cultural landscape.
• Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory consolidated Arthurian legends into prose.
• Utopia by Sir Thomas More was a visionary work of humanist thought.
• Renaissance Poetry: Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard introduced the sonnet and blank verse, elevating English poetry.

The Elizabethan and Jacobean Age (1560–1625)

• Literary achievements flourished in poetry, prose, and drama.
• Notable writers included Spenser, Marlowe, and Bacon.
• The Golden Age of Poetry saw masterpieces like Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
• Playwrights like Marlowe and Jonson laid the groundwork for modern drama.
• Shakespeare's plays became renowned.

Shakespeare (1564-1616)

• Shakespeare's plays reflected universal human experiences.
• Comedies, histories, and tragedies showcased his mastery of language and character.
• His sonnets explored themes of love, beauty, and mortality.
• Shakespeare's work heavily influenced later drama.

Caroline and Commonwealth Literature (1625–1660)

• English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period under Cromwell.
• Cavalier Poets celebrated beauty, love, and carpe diem themes.
• Metaphysical Poets delved into spiritual and philosophical themes.
• John Milton's Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained were highly influential.

The Restoration Age (1660-1700)

• Restoration of monarchy under Charles II after Cromwell's death.
• Political stability despite religious divides.
• Key events included the Great Plague (1665) and Great Fire of London (1666).
• Glorious Revolution (1688) established a constitutional monarchy.
• Restoration comedies reflected court decadence and wit.
• All for Love and Absalom and Achitophel reflected a focus on political satire.

The Age of Pope (1700-1750)

• Known as the Augustan Age, marked by intellectual stability, classical inspiration, and dominance of Anglicanism.
• Political calm overshadowed by Whig-Tory rivalries and Jacobite uprisings.
• Alexander Pope, a central figure, wrote Essay on Criticism and Rape of the Lock.
• Satirical works used mock epics to criticize mediocrity.
• Defoe pioneered the English novel (e.g., Robinson Crusoe).

The Age of Transition (1750-1798)

• Transition between Augustan rationalism and Romanticism.
• Marked by the Industrial Revolution and revolutionary fervor.
• Dr. Johnson emphasized historical awareness in his works.
• Sentimental and Gothic novels emerged, featuring supernatural elements.
• Early Romantic tendencies appeared in poetry.
• Revival of medieval aesthetics (e.g., Percy's Reliques).
• Growing importance of individual sentiment and imagination.