English Literature: Old English and Middle English Periods

Old English Literature (c. 450-1100)

• Epic Poetry: Characterized by long, narrative poems celebrating heroic deeds, such as Beowulf.
• Caedmon: Considered the first English poet, known for his hymns and biblical poems.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A collection of annals recording English history from the 5th to 11th centuries.

Middle English Literature (c. 1100-1500)

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: An Arthurian romance poem exploring chivalry and morality.
• The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer's collection of stories showcasing medieval life and society.
• William Langland's Piers Plowman: A dream vision poem critiquing medieval society and politics.

Renaissance English Literature (c. 1500-1660)

• William Shakespeare: Playwright and poet, known for works like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Sonnets.
• Christopher Marlowe: Playwright and poet, known for works like Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great.
• The Metaphysical Poets: A group of poets, including John Donne and George Herbert, characterized by complex metaphors and intellectual themes.

18th and 19th Century English Literature

• The Romantic Movement: Emphasizing emotion, nature, and individualism, with poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Keats.
• The Victorian Era: Characterized by social realism, industrialization, and the rise of the novel, with authors like Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters.
• The Gothic Revival: A genre of fiction exploring horror, mystery, and the supernatural, with authors like Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker.

20th Century English Literature

• Modernism: A movement rejecting traditional forms, with authors like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and T.S. Eliot.
• Postmodernism: A movement questioning reality, identity, and narrative, with authors like Samuel Beckett and Thomas Pynchon.
• Contemporary English Literature: Diverse and eclectic, with authors like Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, and Ian McEwan.

Old English Literature (c. 450-1100)

• Epic poems characterized by long narratives celebrating heroic deeds, with Beowulf as a prime example.
• Caedmon, considered the first English poet, is known for his hymns and biblical poems.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals recording English history from the 5th to 11th centuries.

Middle English Literature (c. 1100-1500)

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian romance poem exploring chivalry and morality.
• The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a collection of stories showcasing medieval life and society.
• William Langland's Piers Plowman is a dream vision poem critiquing medieval society and politics.

Renaissance English Literature (c. 1500-1660)

• William Shakespeare is a renowned playwright and poet, known for works like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Sonnets.
• Christopher Marlowe is a playwright and poet, known for works like Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great.
• The Metaphysical Poets, including John Donne and George Herbert, are characterized by complex metaphors and intellectual themes.

18th and 19th Century English Literature

• The Romantic Movement emphasizes emotion, nature, and individualism, with poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Keats.
• The Victorian Era is characterized by social realism, industrialization, and the rise of the novel, with authors like Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters.
• The Gothic Revival is a genre of fiction exploring horror, mystery, and the supernatural, with authors like Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker.

20th Century English Literature

• Modernism is a movement rejecting traditional forms, with authors like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and T.S.Eliot.
• Postmodernism is a movement questioning reality, identity, and narrative, with authors like Samuel Beckett and Thomas Pynchon.
• Contemporary English Literature is diverse and eclectic, with authors like Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, and Ian McEwan.