BRITISH LITERATURE

THROUGH TIME

OLD ENGLISH
ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD 449 1066

Strong

belief in fate Juxtaposition of the church and pagan worlds Admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle Express religious faith and give moral instruction through literature
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CONTENT

EFFECT
Christianity helps literacy to

spread Introduces Roman alphabet to Britain Oral tradition helps unite diverse people and their myths

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Style / Genres
Oral

tradition of literature Poetry is the dominant genre Unique forms includes: o Caesura o Alliteration o Repetition o 4 beat rhythm

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Historical Context

Life centered around ancestral tribes/clans that ruled themselves At first the people were warriors from invading outlying areas: Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Danes Later they became primarily agricultural

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Key Literature: Authors

Beowulf Exeter

Book The Venerable Bede

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MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

(The MEDIEVAL Period) 1066 1485

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CONTENT
Plays that instruct the illiterate

masses in morals and religion Chivalric code of honor Religous devotion Romances

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STYLE / GENRE
Oral tradition continues
Folk ballads Mystery and miracle plays

Morality plays
Stock epithets Kennings Moral tales Frame stories
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EFFECT
Church

instructs its people through the morality and miracle plays An illiterate population is able to hear and see the literature
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Historical Context
Crusades bring the development of a money economy for the first time in Britain Trading increases deamatically as a result of the Crusades William the Conquerer crowned king in 1066 Henry III crowned king in 1154, brings a judicial system, royal courts, juries, and chivaly to Britain

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Key Literature: authors

Domesday Book LMorte de Arthur Geoffrey Chaucer

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The Renaissance
1485 1660

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CONTENT
World view shifts from religion and afterlife to

one stressing the human life on earth Popular them: development of human potential Popular theme: exploding the many aspects of love: Unrequited love Courtly love Love subject to Constant love change Timeless love URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

STYLE / GENRES
Poetry

sonnet Dramma: o Written in verse o Supported by royalty o Tragedies, comedies, historics Methaphysical poetry: o Elaborate unexpected metaphors called conceits
o
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Historical Context
War

of Roses ends in 1485 and political stability arrives Printing press helps stabilize English as a language and allows more people to read a variety of literature Economy chages from farm-based to one of international trade

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Key Literature: authors

William

Shakespeare John Donne Cavalier poets Metaphysical poets Christopher Marlowe Andrew Marvel

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Neoclassical Period
(The Restoration) 1660 1798

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CONTENT
Emphasis on reason and logic Stresses harmony, stability and wisdom Locke: a social contract exists between the government and the people. The government governs guaranteeing natural rights of life, liberty, and property

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STYLE / GENRE
Satire: uses irony and exaggeration to

poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior Poetry Essays Letters, diaries, biographies Novels
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EFFECT
Emphasis on the individual Belief that man was basically evil

Approach to life the world as it

should be

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Historical Context
50% of men are functionally literate (a

dramatic rise) Fenced enclosure of land cause the demise of traditional village life Factories begin to spring up as the industrial revolution starts Impoverished masses begin to grow as farming life declines and factories build Coffe houses where educated men spend evenings with literary and political associates
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Key Literature: authors

Alexander

Pope John Dryden Jonathan Swift Daniel Dafoe Samuel Johnson John Bunyan
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