Summary of British Literature Periods PDF

British literature is divided into three main periods: Old English, Middle English, and Modern English, each with its own unique features, important authors, and writing styles. key Authors in Old English Literature  Caedmon: Recognized as the earliest English poet whose name is known. His on...

British literature is divided into three main periods: Old English, Middle English, and Modern English, each with its own unique features, important authors, and writing styles. key Authors in Old English Literature  Caedmon: Recognized as the earliest English poet whose name is known. His only surviving work is "Caedmon's Hymn," composed between 658 and 680, and it is one of the earliest examples of Old English poetry. Themes in Caedmon's Hymn  Praise of Creation: Caedmon's Hymn celebrates the creation of the world, highlighting the beauty and majesty of God's work. This theme reflects the importance of nature and divine creation in Old English literature.  Divine Inspiration: The hymn emphasizes the role of divine inspiration in the act of creation and in the poet's ability to compose. Caedmon's transformation from a humble shepherd to a poet is a testament to the power of divine influence.  Religious Faith: The poem conveys a strong sense of faith and devotion to God. It serves as a reflection of the Christian beliefs that were central to Anglo-Saxon culture during Caedmon's time.  Human Experience: The hymn connects the divine with human experience, illustrating how God's creation impacts humanity. It invites readers to reflect on their relationship with the divine and the world around them. Overview of Old English Literature and Beowulf  Old English literature includes works from around 450 to 1100-1150, after the Saxons settled in England, featuring genres like epic poetry, sermons, and riddles.  There are about 400 surviving manuscripts, with Caedmon's Hymn being the earliest known work, likely composed between 658 and 680.  Oral tradition was important, and many poems, including Beowulf, were meant to be performed, often adapted from earlier Germanic poems.  Old English poetry has two main styles: heroic Germanic and Christian, with alliterative verse being the most popular form.  Beowulf, the most famous Old English epic, has 3182 lines and tells the story of a hero who fights monsters, becoming king and later dying in battle against a dragon.  The only surviving manuscript of Beowulf is the Nowell Codex, dated around the year 1000, and its author is unknown, referred to as the "Beowulf poet."  Notable Anglo-Saxon authors include Caedmon, Bede, Alfred the Great, and Cynewulf, with Caedmon being the earliest known poet. Prominent Themes in Beowulf   Heroism and Valor: Beowulf exemplifies bravery and strength in his battles against evil forces, reflecting the ideals of heroism in Anglo-Saxon culture.  Good vs. Evil: The narrative presents a clear conflict between good, represented by Beowulf, and evil, embodied by monsters like Grendel.  Fate and Destiny: The theme of fate, or "wyrd," suggests that characters' destinies are predetermined, influencing their actions and choices.  Loyalty and Friendship: The importance of loyalty among warriors is emphasized, showcasing the value of camaraderie and trust in battle.  Mortality and Legacy: The poem explores themes of mortality and how heroes are remembered, prompting reflections on life and death. Overview of Middle English Literature  After the Norman conquest in 1066, Anglo-Saxon language faded, and Law French became the main language in courts and society, leading to the development of Middle English from various regional dialects.  Religious writings were popular, with notable works like The Life of Saint Audrey and Layamon's Brut, which was the first English work on Arthurian legends.  Geoffrey Chaucer emerged as a key writer, known for The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by pilgrims, showcasing different styles and narratives.  The 12th century saw a rise in alliterative poetry, with works like Pearl and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, highlighting the era's literary richness.  John Wycliffe translated the first complete English Bible, and other poets like William Langland and Sir Thomas Malory also contributed to this vibrant literary period.  Middle English literature reflects various dialects due to the loss of political power in England.  Religious literature thrived, with notable works like Hagiographies and The Life of Saint Audrey.  Layamon's Brut is the first English work discussing Arthurian legends.  The Canterbury Tales, by Chaucer, features a frame narrative of pilgrims telling stories.  Shakespeare's troupe built The Globe Theatre after losing their previous venue.  Shakespeare entertained audiences until a fire destroyed The Globe in 1613. Summary of Modern English Literature  The Renaissance means revival and marks a major artistic movement in Europe, aided by the printing press, which made literature accessible to more people and stabilized the English language.  Key events include the end of the War of Roses in 1485 and a shift from farming to international trade, leading to a flourishing of literature.   William Shakespeare is the most famous writer of this time, known for his plays and sonnets that are still popular today, exploring themes of love and human potential.  The literature style includes poetry and drama, with commoners attending plays, while some conservative groups opposed theaters for promoting inappropriate behavior. (thời phục hưng và thời phục hồi- 2 thời kỳ trong giai đoạn mordern) Summary of Shakespeare's Biography and Works  William Shakespeare, known as "The Bard of Avon," was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon- Avon and died in 1616. He wrote 154 sonnets and many famous plays, including "Hamlet."  Shakespeare's father was a successful alderman, and he likely attended Stratford Grammar School. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and had three children.  By 1592, Shakespeare gained recognition as a playwright. He joined "The Lord Chamberlain’s Men," a leading acting group in London, and helped build "The Globe" theatre in 1599.  The Globe theatre burned down in 1613 during a performance, but it was rebuilt the following year. Shakespeare retired to Stratford, where he continued to write.  His complete works include comedies, histories, tragedies, and poetry, with notable titles like "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," and "Macbeth."  A sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, with a specific rhyme scheme. The two main types are the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.  The Petrarchan sonnet has an octave and a sestet, with various rhyme patterns. It was introduced to English poetry by Sir Thomas Wyatt in the 16th century.  Shakespeare's sonnets were published in 1609 and are known for their emotional depth and exploration of themes like love and time.  Shakespeare's influence on literature and the English language remains significant, making him one of the most celebrated writers in history. Themes in Shakespeare's Sonnets  Love and Desire: Many of Shakespeare's sonnets explore the complexities of love, including romantic longing and the pain of unrequited affection.  Time and Mortality: The passage of time and its effects on beauty and life are recurring themes, prompting reflections on aging and the inevitability of death.  Beauty and Art: Shakespeare often contemplates the nature of beauty, its transience, and the role of art in preserving it, as seen in the sonnets' rich imagery.  Friendship and Loyalty: The bonds of friendship and the importance of loyalty are highlighted, particularly in the context of the poet's relationships with others.  Nature and Change: The natural world serves as a backdrop for many themes, illustrating the cycles of life and the changes that come with time. Understanding the Sonnet Form  A sonnet is a 14-line poem written in a specific rhythm called iambic pentameter, with a set rhyme pattern. The two main types are the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.  The Petrarchan sonnet has an octave with a rhyme scheme like abbaabba and a sestet that can vary. It was introduced to English poetry by Sir Thomas Wyatt.   The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three quatrains and a final couplet, following the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg. It features a turn that signals a shift in the poem's message.  Both sonnet types are important in English literature, showcasing the skill of poets like Petrarch and Shakespeare in expressing complex ideas and emotions. Understanding Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 is a beautiful poem that compares a person to a summer day. Let's break down the poem and its elements step by step. Overview of the Poem:  The poem starts with a question: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" This means the speaker is asking if they should compare the person they admire to a warm, sunny day in summer.  The speaker quickly answers that the person is "more lovely and more temperate." This means the person is even more beautiful and pleasant than a summer day. Quatrains Explained:  The poem has three quatrains, which are groups of four lines. Each quatrain talks about different aspects of summer and beauty.  First Quatrain: The speaker mentions that summer can be rough, with "rough winds" shaking the flowers. Summer is also short, meaning it doesn’t last long.  Second Quatrain: Here, the speaker notes that sometimes the sun shines too hot, and sometimes it is covered by clouds. This shows that summer can be unpredictable.  Third Quatrain: The speaker says that beauty can fade over time due to chance or nature. This means that people can lose their beauty as they age or due to circumstances. The Couplets:  The poem ends with a couplet, which is two lines that rhyme. In these lines, the speaker promises that the person’s beauty will not fade. They say that as long as people can see and breathe, this poem will keep the person's beauty alive. Key Vocabulary:  Thee: This means "you."  Thou: Another way to say "you," but used in a different part of a sentence.  Hath: This means "has."   Dimm'd: This means "made less bright."  Untrimm'd: This means "not well-kept" or "not neat."  Thou ow’st: This means "you have."  Thou wan’rest: This means "you wander."  Thou grow’st: This means "you grow." Discussion Questions:  The three quatrains express the beauty of the person compared to summer, while the couplet emphasizes the lasting nature of that beauty.  The friend is "lovelier and more temperate" because they are more beautiful and stable than the changing summer weather.  Shakespeare reacts to decay by saying that while nature changes and beauty fades, the beauty of the person will live on through the poem.  The poem uses figures of speech like metaphors (comparing the person to summer) and personification (giving human qualities to nature).  The theme of the poem is the eternal nature of beauty and how art can preserve it forever. This sonnet is a celebration of beauty and the power of poetry to keep that beauty alive, even as time passes.