Overview of European Literature

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.