Features of Anglo-American Literature PDF

Features of Anglo-American Literature Ancient Times (before 5th century AD) Key Features Genres Stories are passed down Epics from one generation to Religious poems another through oral tradition. Poems written are laden with biblical and religious th...

Features of Anglo-American Literature Ancient Times (before 5th century AD) Key Features Genres Stories are passed down Epics from one generation to Religious poems another through oral tradition. Poems written are laden with biblical and religious themes.  Features of Anglo-American Literature The Middle Ages/Medieval Times (5th–15th Century) Key Features Genres Works were written in what Heroic tales and was called as “Modern English” romances that tackle and not in Latin anymore. chivalry and adventures of Vernacular literature, religious knights writings, and secular texts Anthology of tales emerged.  Features of Anglo-American Literature The Renaissance Period (1300s–1500s) Key Features Genres Texts show more optimism Lyric poetry despite staying true to the Prose or essays written by medieval tradition. Francis Bacon, Benjamin Texts became sophisticated, Franklin, and Cotton Mather serious, and concerned with Tragedies and comedies of social abuse and rivalry among William Shakespeare and groups. Christopher Marlowe  Features of Anglo-American Literature The Renaissance Period (1300s–1500s) Key Features Genres Texts are centered on religious, Lyric poetry practical, or historical themes. Prose or essays written by Theaters were closed due to Francis Bacon, Benjamin moral and religious reasons. Franklin, and Cotton Mather Tragedies and comedies of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe  Features of Anglo-American Literature Age of Enlightenment/Reason/The Restoration (1685–1815) Key Features Genres Literary works are known for their Comedy of manners use of philosophy, reason, Epic skepticism towards Play institutions/authorities, wit, and Essay refinement. Satire Writers wrote with clarity and Novel balance of judgement.  Features of Anglo-American Literature Romantic to Realistic Period (around 1770–1890) Key Features Genres Focused on the true, Gothic fiction the good, and the beautiful, as Lyric poems well as the expansion of imagination. Portrayed societal problems accurately.  Features of Anglo-American Literature Romantic to Realistic Period (around 1770–1890) Key Features Genres Produced one of the most Political documents important documents of American Novels history. Satirical novels American writers produced original and high-quality pieces that make them unique from English writers.  Features of Anglo-American Literature Modern to Contemporary (1900–Present) Key Features Genres Writers make commentaries on Novels the social injustice and the selfishness of upper class society. Naturalist works portrayed a darker yet more realistic view of life.  Features of Anglo-American Literature Modern to Contemporary (1900–Present) Key Features Genres Writers experimented with Novels subject matter, form, and style. The Lost Generation writers fled to Europe and wrote about their moral crisis and disillusionment after the world wars.  Features of Anglo-American Literature Modern to Contemporary (1900–Present) Key Features Genres Juxtaposing genres and Poems styles characterize Harlem Renaissance postmodern literature poems Drama  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Example Rhythm The Seafarer (excerpt) from The Exeter: - contains lines with regular rhythms, This tale is true, and mine. It tells. usually four strong How the sea took me, swept me back. And forth in sorrow and fear and pain, beats (or stresses). Showed me suffering in a hundred ships.  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Alliteration - the repetition of Example stressed sounds in This tale is true, and mine. It tells. words. They are How the sea took me, swept me back. usually consonants And forth in sorrow and fear and pain, Showed me suffering in a hundred ships. from the beginning of words.  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Example Caesura The opening line of Beowulf, reads: - a sound break in the Hwæt! We Gardena || in gear-dagum, middle of a poetic þeodcyninga, || þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas || ellen fremedon. line, and is usually (So! The Spear-Danes in days gone by) symbolized by a (and the kings who ruled them had punctuation mark in courage and greatness.) the middle of that (We have heard of these princes' heroic particular line. campaigns.)  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Compounding - combining two words Example The word feorhseoc consists of two to create a new word words, foerh which means life, and seoc - Compounding was which means sick. Feorhseoc literally very common in means lifesick, translated as wounded. Anglo-Saxon poetry.  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Kenning Example O whale’s road means the sea. - a two-word O bone’s house refers to a body. metaphorical name The sky’s candle refers to the sun.  Noun phrases - A noun phrase is a group of words, usually a noun in Example A beautiful girl … addition to a The man over there … modifier—such as an That yellow thing … adjective, adverb, or The feisty girl … article—that functions just A cute penguin … as a noun would.  Elements Common to Early Anglo-Saxon Literature Examples Beowulf (lines 1408 – 1411): Variation The nobleman's son then passed the - a technique used to steep rocky cliffs, the narrow path, the narrow single-file path, an unknown restate a concept or way, precipitous headland, the homes of term using a different many water-monsters. set of words Beowulf (line 429): Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetho.  Compare and contrast the two poems It can be about its features, purpose, message, audience, etc.  Synthesis Literature changes over time but its means as a catalyst to discover oneself has permanence.