Week 1 Introduction to English Literature
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Questions and Answers

Which significant work was published first by William Blake?

  • Songs of Experience
  • Original Stories from Real Life
  • A Collection of Engravings
  • Songs of Innocence (correct)

    • What was a primary focus of the Romantic Period?

  • Emphasis on rationalism and Enlightenment values
  • Development of urban life in cities
  • Rejection of scientific progress
  • Increased interest in antiquarian texts and philosophy (correct)

    • What change did the Industrial Revolution bring about in society?

  • The rise of factory-based labor (correct)
  • A shift from urban to rural living
  • Increased leisure time for families
  • A focus on agrarian lifestyles

    • How did Immanuel Kant view David Hume's skepticism about causation?

    <p>He sought to overcome the skepticism by separating intuitions and categories. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of conditions did the Industrial Revolution lead to for workers?

    <p>Deteriorating working and living conditions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized English literature prior to the 18th century?

    <p>Emphasis on moral teachings (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT a feature of literature before the turn of the 18th century?

    <p>Wide accessibility of literature (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What societal influences guided western society before the late 17th century?

    <p>Religion and superstition (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the long 18th century, what cultural shift began to emerge?

    <p>Transition towards romanticism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately reflects the poetry of the early literary culture?

    <p>Poetry was primarily written by male authors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a characteristic of the heroic characters in literature before the 18th century?

    <p>Flat or non-complex portrayals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which cultural aspect did NOT reflect the socio-economic issues of the time?

    <p>Romance in literature (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common literary theme during the early literary culture?

    <p>Dramatic scandals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary shift in western society from prior to the late 17th century to the Long 18th Century?

    <p>Guidance by reason and rational thought (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which philosopher is associated with the idea of Tabula Rasa, or 'blank slate'?

    <p>John Locke (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the Enlightenment period?

    <p>Trust in reason and personal experience over religion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a significant development in philosophy during the Late 17th Century?

    <p>The emergence of questioning traditional authority (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the view of evidence change during the period of Rationalism?

    <p>Observation and logical reasoning began to dominate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one outcome of the questioning of traditional authorities during the Long 18th Century?

    <p>The occurrence of revolutions such as the American and French Revolutions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did people’s perspectives on knowledge evolve during this period?

    <p>Knowledge was understood through direct observation and experience (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notable effect did Jonathan Swift have on literature during this time?

    <p>He significantly changed literary forms and styles (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    William Blake

    An artist and poet known for engraving and hand-painting his works.

    Songs of Innocence

    A collection of poems published in 1789, reflecting a child's perspective.

    Songs of Experience

    A collection of poems published in 1795, contrasting 'Songs of Innocence'.

    Romantic Period

    A literary movement in the late 18th century, reacting against Enlightenment rationalism.

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    Kant's Philosophy

    A framework explaining causation and the division of intuition and concepts in understanding.

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    The Long 18th Century

    Period from 1690 to 1780 that leads into the Romantic period.

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    Rationalism

    A mode of thought focusing on observation and logical reasoning rather than belief without evidence.

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    Empiricism

    Philosophical approach emphasizing knowledge through sensory experience and evidence.

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    Tabula Rasa

    John Locke's idea that the mind is a blank slate at birth, shaped by experience.

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    Enlightenment

    European cultural period emphasizing reason, skepticism of authority, and individualism.

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    Scientific Revolution

    Significant developments in science during the late 17th century transforming philosophical thought.

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    Authority Figures

    Individuals like kings, monarchs, and the Church that were questioned during revolutions.

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    Social Norms and Religious Beliefs

    Cultural values guiding behavior, often challenged during the Enlightenment.

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    Literature pre-18th Century

    Characterized by religious themes, male authors, and oral culture with low literacy rates.

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    Characteristics of Poetry

    Dominated earlier literature with emphasis on form, dramatic content, and morality.

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    Shift to Rationality

    Transition from a faith-based worldview influenced by religion and superstition to one guided by reason.

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    Social Norms in Literature

    Literature generally conformed to social norms and portrayed the socio-economic class structure.

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    Popular Themes Before Novels

    Included romance, politics, morality, and often had a supernatural element.

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    Literacy and Oral Culture

    Low literacy rates meant a reliance on oral storytelling rather than written texts.

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    Influence of the Church

    Religion played a significant role in guiding literature, often reflected in themes and formats.

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    Study Notes

    Week 1 Introduction to English Literature

    • English literature around 18th century was largely influenced by religion and superstition.
    • Literature was less accessible.
    • Emphasis on poetic form, theatre, and socio-economic issues.
    • Male-dominated authors, no novels, dominant poetry.
    • Oral culture was prevalent due to lower literacy rates.
    • Religious themes, heroic characters, simplistic and fantastical plots were common.
    • Social norms and religious beliefs, as well as death and nobility/honour, were common themes.
    • The Long 18th Century (1690-1780) bridged the period before and after the 18th century.
    • Western society was more influenced by religion and superstition.
    • Significant scientific and philosophical developments in the late 17th century, such as Locke's influence.

    Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

    • Locke rejected innate ideas, suggesting knowledge comes from experience.
    • Humans are born with a "blank slate" (tabula rasa).
    • Knowledge originates through sensory experience (empiricism).
    • Critique of traditional ideas.
    • Emphasis on learning through experience and observation.
    • Believed that people are not born believing in God, but learn about God through experience.

    Defoe and the Rise of the Novel

    • Novel emerged as a significant extended fictional prose narrative form.
    • Novella is a shorter (75 pages) story, while a novel is longer (360+ pages).
    • Realism in novels featured more complex and psychologically developed characters.
    • Early novels had a variety of subgenres, such as first example being Cervantes's Don Quixote.
    • The novel gained prominence in the 19th century.
    • Realist novels provided and reflected life more comprehensively.
    • Characteristics of the Enlightenment present in the novel include: Emphasis on education, rejecting superstition, and depicting flawed characters.

    Equiano and Slave Narratives

    • Olaudah Equiano's narrative provided an important account of the experience of slavery.
    • This narrative was influential in the abolitionist movement.
    • Narrative strategies included presenting the horrors of slavery and challenging European justifications for it.
    • Slave narratives are a genre in literature that emerged in the 18th century, and continued into the 19th.
    • Narratives typically focused on the life of a fugitive or formerly enslaved person.
    • Autobiographical elements of the narrative highlighted experiences of physical and mental struggle.
    • They often contained elements of conversion narratives, travel narratives, and slave narratives.

    Abolitionism and Romantic Poetry

    • Equiano's work played a key role in the abolitionist movement.
    • The narrative challenged societal norms and justifications for slavery.
    • Characteristics of Enlightenment thought are apparent in the narrative.
    • Issues of the 18th-century included slavery, social class differences, and traditional authority.
    • 18th-century texts were often published at significant moments during the slave trade and abolitionist movements.

    The Romantic Period

    • This period emerged in the late 18th century, particularly in Britain (circa 1790).
    • Reacting against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason.
    • Romanticism emphasized emotion, imagination, individual expression, nature, and personal experience.
    • The Industrial Revolution was influential, with rapid urbanization and increased need for cheap labor.
    • Concepts such as Kant's Critique of Pure Reason influenced philosophical thought.
    • Romantic poets like William Blake and William Wordsworth reflected themes of individuality and emotion.

    Additional Detail (Tips for Academic Writing)

    • Use active voice and strong verbs.
    • Vary sentence lengths for better readability.
    • Use parallel structures for clarity.
    • Use visual language and examples to illustrate your points

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    History of Lit II 2251 PDF

    Description

    Explore the foundational aspects of English literature during the 18th century, focusing on its religious influences, social norms, and poetic forms. This quiz delves into the characteristics of literature from 1690-1780, examining major themes and significant philosophical developments of the time, particularly John Locke's contributions. Test your knowledge on the interplay between literature and societal changes in this rich historical context.

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