English Literature History Lecture Notes PDF

Lecture 1: The Anglo-Saxon Period (7th Century – 1066)【10†source】 Historical Context: English literature begins with the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons (449 AD) and evolves from their Germanic language (Old English). The era is marked by a transition from paganism (Norse mythology)...

Lecture 1: The Anglo-Saxon Period (7th Century – 1066)【10†source】 Historical Context: English literature begins with the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons (449 AD) and evolves from their Germanic language (Old English). The era is marked by a transition from paganism (Norse mythology) to Christianity, with monks preserving manuscripts. Literature: ○ Beowulf: An epic poem blending pagan heroism and Christian themes, featuring battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. ○ Other notable works: The Seafarer and The Wanderer reflect both Viking life and emerging Christian influences. Key Figures: ○ Bede the Venerable: "Father of English History" (Ecclesiastical History of the English People). ○ King Alfred the Great: Promoted education and translated key Latin works into Old English. Style: Poetry relied on alliteration and oral traditions, often codified with kennings (e.g., “whale-road” for the sea). Lecture 2: Mediaeval Literature to Chaucer (1066–1400)【11†source】 Norman Conquest: Post-1066, Norman French dominated the literary scene. Old English transitioned into Middle English. Anglo-Norman Literature: French literary traditions like lais, romances, and allegories influenced English literature. Key topics included courtly love and Arthurian legends (Brut by Layamon blended alliterative verse with Norman rhymes). Key Movements: ○ The Alliterative Revival (14th century): Poets like William Langland (Piers Plowman) returned to Old English styles. ○ Arthurian Romance: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight showcased a blend of English and French styles with themes of chivalry. Geoffrey Chaucer: Master of synthesis between English and French traditions. ○ The Canterbury Tales: A landmark collection depicting 14th-century society through diverse tales. Lecture 3: From Chaucer to the Renaissance (1400–1560)【12†source】 Key Developments: Transition from Middle English to Early Modern English. The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) and the printing press (1476) shaped the cultural landscape. Major Works:  ○ Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory: Consolidated Arthurian legends into prose. ○ Utopia by Sir Thomas More: A visionary work of humanist thought. Renaissance Poetry: ○ Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard introduced the sonnet and blank verse, elevating English poetry. Drama: ○ Early morality and mystery plays (e.g., Everyman) evolved into secular comedy and foreshadowed the Elizabethan stage. Lecture 4: The Elizabethan and Jacobean Age (1560–1625)【7†source】 Literary Development: Transition to Modern English; literature flourished with notable achievements in poetry, prose, and drama. Writers like Spenser, Marlowe, and Bacon showcased the era's creative diversity. Golden Age of Poetry: Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene epitomized allegorical and stylistic mastery. Poets like Sidney and Donne emphasized intricate language and wit. Drama: Playwrights like Marlowe and Jonson laid the groundwork for modern drama, with Shakespeare as the pinnacle of innovation. Public theatres like the Globe became cultural landmarks. Cultural Impact: The fusion of Renaissance ideals, national pride, and religious tension shaped artistic expression. Lecture 5: Shakespeare (1564–1616)【8†source】 Life and Legacy: Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare became both playwright and actor with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. His work reflects universal human experiences. Dramatic Works: ○ Early: Comedies (The Taming of the Shrew), histories (Richard III), and Romeo and Juliet. ○ Mature: Great tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth) explore existential themes like ambition and morality. ○ Late: Serene works (The Tempest, Cymbeline) emphasize redemption. Sonnets: His 154 sonnets delve into themes of love, beauty, and mortality, showcasing his poetic brilliance. Influence: Renowned for character depth, genre flexibility, and transformative borrowing from historical and literary sources. Lecture 6: Caroline and Commonwealth Literature (1625–1660)【9†source】  Historical Context: Political and religious tensions during Charles I's reign led to the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period under Cromwell. Cavalier Poets: Writers like Herrick and Lovelace celebrated beauty, love, and carpe diem themes, often linked to royalist ideals. Metaphysical Poets: Donne, Herbert, and Vaughan explored profound spiritual and philosophical themes, employing striking metaphors (conceits). John Milton: His Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained reflect Puritan ideals while reaching epic literary heights. Essays and Philosophy: Figures like Sir Thomas Browne used wit and subtlety to navigate the contentious intellectual climate. These summaries highlight key themes and contributions for quick revision. Let me know if you'd like more details or explanations! Here’s a concise summary of the key points from your lecture notes, focusing on the Restoration Age, the Age of Pope, and the Age of Transition. These highlights should help for your midterm: Lecture 7 : The Restoration Age (1660-1700) 1. Historical Context: ○ Charles II restored monarchy in 1660 after Cromwell’s death; era marked by political stability despite religious divides. ○ Key events: Great Plague (1665) and Great Fire of London (1666). ○ Glorious Revolution (1688) replaced James II with William and Mary, establishing constitutional monarchy with the Bill of Rights (1689). 2. Literature: ○ Drama: Restoration comedies (e.g., The Country Wife by William Wycherley) reflected court decadence and wit. Heroic tragedies (e.g., Dryden's All for Love) imitated French models. ○ Poetry: Dominated by John Dryden’s satirical and formal works (Absalom and Achitophel). Heroic couplets became the norm. ○ Prose: Prose style emphasized clarity. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress was influential in allegorical storytelling. 3. Cultural Shifts: Rise of pleasure gardens, coffee houses, and public spaces. Rationalism and scientific inquiry flourished (e.g., Royal Society founded in 1660). Lecture 8 :The Age of Pope (1700-1750)  1. Historical Context: ○ Known as the Augustan Age; marked by intellectual stability, classical inspiration, and dominance of Anglicanism. ○ Political calm overshadowed by Whig-Tory rivalries and Jacobite uprisings. 2. Literature: ○ Poetry: Alexander Pope, central figure. His Essay on Criticism (1711) and The Rape of the Lock (1712) showcased wit and polished heroic couplets. Mock epics like The Dunciad satirized mediocrity. ○ Prose and Journalism: Journalism flourished with Addison and Steele’s The Tatler and The Spectator, blending wit and morality. Defoe pioneered the English novel (Robinson Crusoe, 1719; Moll Flanders, 1722). ○ Drama: Sentimental comedies (e.g., Steele’s The Conscious Lovers) emphasized morality and middle-class concerns. 3. Philosophy and Science: Newtonian physics underpinned faith in reason and order. Lecture 9 :The Age of Transition (1750-1798) 1. Historical Context: ○ Transition between Augustan rationalism and Romanticism. ○ Key developments: rise of historical consciousness, the Industrial Revolution, and revolutionary fervor inspired by the American and French Revolutions. 2. Literature: ○ Dr. Johnson: Central literary figure; his Dictionary of the English Language (1755) and Lives of the Poets emphasized historical awareness of literature. ○ Novels: Sentimental and Gothic novels emerged. Sterne’s Tristram Shandy (1759) subverted narrative conventions. Gothic fiction (e.g., Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, 1764) introduced supernatural elements. ○ Poetry: Early Romantic tendencies in Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard (1751) and Thomson’s The Seasons. 3. Cultural Shifts: ○ Revival of medieval aesthetics (e.g., Percy’s Reliques of Ancient English Poetry). ○ Growing importance of individual sentiment and imagination, signaling the rise of Romantic ideals.