English Literature: Old and Middle English

• English literature encompasses texts written in the English language from various countries and time periods.
• It includes a wide range of genres, such as poetry, drama, prose, and literary criticism.
• Its history spans from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day, reflecting evolving social, political, and cultural contexts.

Old English (c. 450-1066)

• Also known as Anglo-Saxon literature, it is characterized by oral tradition and alliterative verse.
• Key works include "Beowulf," an epic poem, and religious writings by Cædmon and Cynewulf.
• The literature reflects a Germanic heroic culture and the influence of Christianity.
• Focus on themes of heroism, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil.

Middle English (c. 1066-1485)

• The Norman Conquest (1066) brought French influence, transforming the English language and literature.
• Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a central work, offering a diverse portrait of medieval society.
• Other important works include "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," a chivalric romance.
• Increased focus on romance, religious devotion, and social commentary.
• Development of new literary forms, such as the ballad.

The Renaissance (c. 1485-1660)

• Marked by a renewed interest in classical learning and a flourishing of the arts and sciences.
• William Shakespeare is the period's most prominent playwright, known for tragedies, comedies, and histories.
• Other major figures include Edmund Spenser ("The Faerie Queene") and Christopher Marlowe (Doctor Faustus).
• English Renaissance literature reflects humanism, individualism, and exploration.
• Development of the sonnet, dramatic blank verse, and prose essays.

The Early Modern Period

• Comprises the Jacobean, Caroline, Commonwealth and Restoration periods.
• Key Jacobean writers include John Webster, Ben Jonson, and John Donne
• Caroline writers include Robert Burton, George Herbert, John Milton

The Restoration (1660-1700)

• Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II led to a new era in literature and theatre.
• John Dryden was a dominant literary figure, known for his poetry, drama, and criticism.
• Comedy of manners became popular, satirizing the upper classes (e.g., William Wycherley, William Congreve).
• Emphasis on wit, reason, and social decorum.
• Development of the heroic couplet and formal verse satire.

The 18th Century

• Often divided into the Augustan Age and the Age of Sensibility.
• Major authors include Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson, and Jane Austen.
• The rise of the novel as a dominant literary form (e.g., Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding).
• Emphasis on reason, order, and classical ideals in the early part of the century.
• Growing interest in emotion, sentiment, and the individual in the later part of the century.

The Romantic Period (c. 1785-1832)

• Characterized by a focus on emotion, imagination, and the individual.
• Key poets include William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats.
• The rise of Gothic literature (e.g., Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein").
• Emphasis on nature, the sublime, and the exotic.
• Revolution against social and political norms.

The Victorian Period (1837-1901)

• Named after Queen Victoria, a period of significant social, economic, and technological change.
• Major novelists include Charles Dickens, George Eliot, the Brontë sisters, and Thomas Hardy.
• Important poets include Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
• Literature often addressed social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and the impact of industrialization.
• Realism and naturalism became prominent literary styles.
• Increased interest in science, psychology, and moral questions.

The Early 20th Century

• Characterized by experimentation, modernism, and reaction to Victorianism.
• Key figures include Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and T.S. Eliot.
• Stream-of-consciousness narrative and free verse become more common.
• Explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the fragmentation of modern life.
• Impact of World War I and changing social norms on literary themes and styles.

The Modernist Period

• Influenced by Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche.
• Explored themes of alienation and identity.
• Noteworthy authors include T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce

Late 20th and 21st Century Literature

• Diversity of voices and perspectives, reflecting globalization and multiculturalism.
• Postmodernism challenges traditional literary conventions and explores metafiction.
• Continued exploration of identity, social justice, and environmental concerns.
• Prominent authors include Salman Rushdie, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, and Kazuo Ishiguro.
• Blurring of genre boundaries and experimentation with form are common.
• Rise of postcolonial literature, exploring the legacies of colonialism and imperialism.

Overview of English literature including Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Middle English periods. Key works such as Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales are included. Covers the themes, culture, and historical context of the literature.