Overview of English Language Development

Overview of English Language Development

• English language conventionally divided into three periods: Old English, Middle English, and Modern English.
• Old English period spans from the 5th century AD to the end of the 11th century/early 12th century.
• Old English diverged significantly from its Germanic roots by the time of the Anglo-Saxon settlement.
• Middle English period (around 1150) marked significant grammatical and vocabulary shifts, including increased borrowing from French and Scandinavian languages.
• These shifts were gradual and varied regionally, making the dividing point somewhat arbitrary.
• Indo-European language family traces back 5000 years to Proto-Indo-European language spoken in southeastern Europe.
• Germanic branch of Indo-European includes languages like German and Dutch.
• Scandinavian influence started in the late 8th century with Viking raids and settlements.
• Latin influence became prominent following the Norman invasion in 1066, embedding Latin-derived French words into English.

American Literature Development

• American literature emerged during the colonial period, influenced by British traditions.
• Distinct American voice evolved as colonies gained independence.
• English literature often reflects social norms and cultural values of England.
• American literature focuses on the American experience, including race, identity and the American Dream.
• Literary movements (e.g., Romanticism, Modernism, and Postmodernism) manifest differently in American literature due to cultural contexts.
• American English evolved with unique dialects, slang, and expressions influenced by diverse populations, impacting literary style and storytelling.
• Critical perspectives in academia allow for in-depth study of distinct qualities and contributions of each body of work.

Medieval Era Literature

• Medieval literature reflects the values, beliefs and social structures of the Middle Ages (5th to late 15th centuries), a period of transition between classical civilization and the Renaissance.
• Key characteristics of medieval literature influenced heavily by religious ideas (Christianity).
• Common themes of medieval literature include chivalry, courtly love, religious devotion, and heroic quests.
• Common literary genres including epic poems (like Beowulf), allegories (like Dante's The Divine Comedy), and romances (like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).
• Key works provide insight into the evolution of storytelling and thought in the West.
• These works reflect the ideas of chivalry, faith, heroism, and human nature, which influence contemporary literature.

Romantic Period Literature

• Romantic Period (late 1700s) emerged out of Enlightenment rationalism and the French Revolution.
• Writers (e.g. Blake, Coleridge, Wordsworth) emphasized passion, individualism, and nature.
• Romantic writers focused on themes of emotion, nature, and individualism.
• Key Romantic writers and types of works explored include William Blake and his satirical pieces (e.g. An Island in the Moon), and William Wordsworth and his explorations of childhood and nature (Ode: Intimations of Immortality, The Prelude).

American Literature (continued)

• Native American period consisted of oral traditions of songs and stories, creation stories, myths, and totems.
• Colonial period (1620-1750) witnessed Puritan influence; literature characterized by religious themes and prose forms (diaries, sermons, and personal narratives).
• Themes of faith, predestination, and the belief in a divinely ordained path for individuals.
• Revolutionary period saw emphasis on reason, a reaction against Puritan values.
• Important authors include Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson.
• Rise of the novel emerged in the late 18th century.

Realism and Naturalism

• Realism (1850-1900) reflected everyday life, characterized by objective narrators, depicting realistic characters and complex events rather than idealized ones.
• Subjects like war, slavery, and women's suffrage were central.
• Naturalism (1880-1940) expanded on realism, introducing determinism (fate and external forces), and highlighting the grim realities of life.
• Key figures like Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman.

Modernism

• Modernism (1900-1950) reacted against traditional literary conventions and embraced experimentation with style, form, and content.
• Themes included alienation, disconnection, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
• Key authors/writers include T.S. Eliot, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway.

Postmodernism

• Postmodernism (mid-20th century onwards) often reacted to the perceived senselessness of World War II, embracing a diverse range of styles and themes.
• Key figures may include Samuel Beckett (e.g., Waiting for Godot), and Jorge Luis Borges.

Multicultural and European Literature

• Multicultural literature explores diverse cultural experiences, including Jewish, African-American, Latino-American and Asian-American literature.
• European literature spans multiple centuries, including classical works from ancient Greece and Rome, through various movements from the Renaissance to Modernism.
• Key figures and works vary by era and country but include figures like William Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert, Henrik Ibsen and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Epic Journeys and Heroic Legacies

• The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid are epic poems recounting the stories of heroes and their journeys.
• These works are significant for their lasting influence on Western literature.
• Features of these epics include narrative techniques (like foreshadowing, flashbacks, and epic similes) and themes (like fate, heroism, and homecoming).

Explore the evolution of the English language through its three key periods: Old English, Middle English, and Modern English. This quiz covers historical influences, regional variations, and significant shifts in grammar and vocabulary. Test your knowledge of how these stages interrelate and the impact of other languages on English.