Overview of European Literature
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Questions and Answers

What are the two main periods of European literature?

Old English / Anglo-Saxon and Middle English Literature

What does the Latin term 'circa' mean?

  • after
  • before
  • around (correct)
  • approximately (correct)

    • What is the earliest phase of English?

    Old English

    What two tribes invaded England during the 5th century?

    <p>Angles and Saxons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the origin of the word 'England'?

    <p>Angle-land</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of works from the Old English period?

    <p>The Wanderer, riddles, and puzzles through letters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Middle English Literature was written in a single, standardized language.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event significantly influenced Middle English Literature?

    <p>The Norman Conquest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Auchinleck Manuscript known for?

    <p>A large collection of Middle English poetry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The English Renaissance was primarily a literary movement.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of poem was introduced from Italy to England during the English Renaissance?

    <p>Sonnet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of a sonnet?

    <p>Complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many lines are in a sonnet?

    <p>14</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the lines of a sonnet typically structured?

    <p>Four quatrains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean Sonnet?

    <p>ABAB CDCD EFEF GG</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What meter is typically used in a Shakespearean sonnet?

    <p>Iambic Pentameter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the general purpose of the first quatrain in a Shakespearean sonnet?

    <p>Introducing the theme</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the general purpose of the second quatrain in a Shakespearean sonnet?

    <p>Developing the theme and adding complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the general purpose of the last two lines of a Shakespearean sonnet?

    <p>Providing resolution or conclusion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A feminine ending in a Shakespearean sonnet adds two syllables.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with creating the Spenserian stanza?

    <p>Edmund Spenser</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which literary figure is known for writing 108 sonnets primarily focused on love?

    <p>Sir Philip Sidney</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of plays did Christopher Marlowe create?

    <p>Epic stage plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of stage plays did Ben Jonson create?

    <p>Comedy Stage Plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of play did Shakespeare popularize during the Jacobean period?

    <p>Problem plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common form of entertainment during the Jacobean period?

    <p>Plays</p> Signup and view all the answers

    People were not allowed to choose their seats at plays during the Jacobean period.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of metaphysical poetry?

    <p>Complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What literary device is often used in Late Renaissance poetry?

    <p>Allegory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theme of John Milton's epic poem 'Paradise Lost'?

    <p>Religious flux and political upheaval</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major characteristic of the Age of Romanticism?

    <p>Focus on nature and the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is considered one of the prominent 'nature poets' of the Age of Romanticism?

    <p>William Wordsworth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theme of Victorian Literature?

    <p>Vivid characters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is considered the most influential writer of Victorian Literature?

    <p>Charles Dickens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What genre of novel emerged during the Victorian period?

    <p>Detective Novels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which era of literature is recognized as 'modernism'?

    <p>Early twentieth-century</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the most difficult literary genre?

    <p>Poetry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most regular and simplest form of writing?

    <p>Prose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a drama?

    <p>To portray human actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A work can be considered a poem even without figures of speech or literary devices.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'line length' in a poem?

    <p>The way the poem is presented to the reader</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a short line length affect the reading of a poem?

    <p>It is usually read faster</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a longer line length affect the reading of a poem?

    <p>It slows down the reading pace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is 'rhythm' in a poem?

    <p>The beat that the poem follows</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are 'stanzas' in a poem?

    <p>Groups of lines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Stanzas in a poem should be inconsistent in their number of lines to create variety.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Literature Overview

    • Literature encompasses written and oral works, including prose, epic poems, drama, and poetry, considered an art form with significant value.
    • European literature originated in Mesopotamia with the Sumerians and their cuneiform writing, culminating in works like the Epic of Gilgamesh.
    • Key regions include Greece and Rome, often cited as the birthplace of European literature.

    Periods of European Literature

    • Old English/Anglo-Saxon (c. 450-1066): Earliest phase of English literature, originating from Angle and Saxon Germanic tribes who invaded England. Known for works like "The Wanderer" and riddles.
    • Middle English Literature (1066-1500): Influenced by the Norman Conquest, resulting in the use of multiple dialects and the absence of a standard language. Notable examples include the Auchinleck Manuscript.
    • English Renaissance (1500-1660): A cultural and artistic movement that introduced the sonnet to England. This period saw the flourishing of poetic forms and dramatic works.
    • Elizabethan Period (1558-1603): Marked by the rise of poets like Edmund Spenser, Sir Philip Sidney, and, notably, William Shakespeare in poetic and dramatic works. Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson were other prominent figures.
    • Jacobean Period (1603-1625): Shakespeare's "problem plays" and tragedies emerged. The English sonnet style was further popularized.
    • Late Renaissance (1625-1660): A time of significant metaphysical poets focusing on complex themes in poetry, and the emergence of allegory and classical allusions in literature.
    • Restoration Age (1660-1700): Literary criticism emerged as a field; John Milton's epic poem, "Paradise Lost," is representative of this time.
    • Age of Romanticism (1798-1837): An artistic, literary, and intellectual movement characterized by nature and landscape poetry, exemplified by Wordsworth.
    • Victorian Literature (1837-1901): A major period of English literature, marked by the influence of Charles Dickens, the development of detective novels, and the rise of science fiction and realism.
    • Modernism (1901-2000): A period of significant literary evolution, featuring the development of lyric poetry and major novels alongside continued use of conservative elements.

    Literary Genres

    • Prose: A common, accessible form of writing presented in chapters and verses, requiring minimal skill.
    • Drama: A genre that portrays actions through dialogue and scenes, designed for performance on stage.
    • Poetry: A more complex genre, often employing figures of speech and literary devices for artistic impact.

    Poetic Structure

    • Line Length: Short lines typically evoke faster reading and heightened emotion; longer lines create a slower pace.
    • Rhythm: The beat created through the use of meter, an organized pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
    • Stanzas: Groups of lines akin to paragraphs in prose, typically presenting a central idea.
    • Consistency: Maintaining consistency in elements like line length and stanza structure is crucial for effective poetic form.

    The Sonnet

    • A 14-line poem with a significant structure
    • Shakespearean Sonnet: A structure with a particular rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) and iambic pentameter (10 syllables).
    • Quatrains (4 sections) and Rhyme Scheme: Each set of four lines (quatrain) contributes to the sonnet's thematic development; quatrain 1 introduces the theme, quatrain 2 further develops it, quatrain 3 builds tension and perspective, and the last quatrain provides resolution. A Shakespearean sonnet usually includes a rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line, with an alternating pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables).
    • Feminine Ending: Adding a syllable to a line for a more significant impact on mood or theme. A final rhyming couplet.

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    Description

    Explore the rich tapestry of European literature, tracing its origins from the Sumerians through significant periods like Old English, Middle English, and the English Renaissance. Discover key works and transformations that shaped literary traditions across the continent.

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