British LiteratureBritish Literature

Influences of “history of Influences of “history of invasion” on British invasion” on British

literatureliterature The RomansThe Romans

The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxons

Germanic language and cultureGermanic language and culture

The NormansThe Normans

Mediterranean civilizationMediterranean civilization

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Considered the primary source for English history between the 10th and 12th centuries, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle also contains earlier examples of prose. This page depicts Charlemagne, king of the Franks in the late 8th century, killing the heathen Saxons.

beginnings of beginnings of EnglishEnglish literatureliterature appe appeared in the 7th or 8th century ADared in the 7th or 8th century AD

Bede the Venerable: a monk, the greatBede the Venerable: a monk, the greatest Anglo-Saxon scholarest Anglo-Saxon scholar

Historia ecclesiastica gentis AnglorumHistoria ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the (Ecclesiastical History of the EnglishEnglish P People)eople)

Bede translating the Bible

Bede’s tomb in Durham Cathedral

Early WritingsEarly Writings(Old English Literature)(Old English Literature)

Old English PoetryOld English Poetry Beowulf, Beowulf, the most notable example of the most notable example of

the earliest English poetrythe earliest English poetry

the language of the language of BeowulfBeowulf—the source of —the source of modern English (Old English)modern English (Old English)

national epicnational epic

oral formoral form

an odd blend of Christianity and an odd blend of Christianity and paganismpaganism

Medieval period in English Medieval period in English literatureliterature

The Norman conquest greatly changed English life.

Old English language--“unlettered” people

the language of the nobility and of the lawcourts-- Norman-French

the language of the scholars--Latin

Education flourished, and the first Education flourished, and the first universities, Oxford and Cambridge, universities, Oxford and Cambridge, were founded in the 12th century.were founded in the 12th century.

During these 300 years there was During these 300 years there was little literature in the changing little literature in the changing English language.English language.

mystery and miracle plays, morality mystery and miracle plays, morality playsplays

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales the Pearl Poet the Pearl Poet Sir Gawain and the Sir Gawain and the

Green KnightGreen Knight William Langland William Langland The Vision of The Vision of

Piers PlowmanPiers Plowman

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

his influence on Shakespearehis influence on Shakespeare

Canterbury Pilgrims English writer Geoffrey Chaucer devised the framework of a pilgrimage to Canterbury to create the 12 narratives of differing literary styles that make up his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. The Tales are a masterful combination of such medieval genres as courtly love, allegory, and exemplary story, and are related in a dramatic and vivid manner, using both prose and verse forms. This 15th-century illustration shows the pilgrims en route to Canterbury.

Legends and BalladsLegends and Ballads

Sir Thomas Malory Sir Thomas Malory Le Morte d'Arthur Le Morte d'Arthur (the main source for later retellings of (the main source for later retellings of the stories)the stories)

the creation of the great English and Sthe creation of the great English and Scottish balladscottish ballads

sung by people at social gatheringssung by people at social gatherings

Elizabethan DramaElizabethan Drama

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

originorigin

effects on British literatureeffects on British literature

humanismhumanism

Elizabethan drama Elizabethan drama ─ mainstream in ─ mainstream in British Renaissance British Renaissance periodperiod

The Renaissance in English The Renaissance in English

LiteratureLiterature Renaissance (“rebirth”): intellectual Renaissance (“rebirth”): intellectual

movement in 15th century Western Eumovement in 15th century Western Europe, referring especially to the revival rope, referring especially to the revival of ancient Greek learning.of ancient Greek learning.

For centuries scholars in Italy, Spain, aFor centuries scholars in Italy, Spain, and elsewhere had been translating the nd elsewhere had been translating the ancient works into Latin. This spread oancient works into Latin. This spread of ancient learning kindled a new spirit f ancient learning kindled a new spirit of inquiry and hastened the overthrow of inquiry and hastened the overthrow of feudal institutions.of feudal institutions.

In England the Renaissance In England the Renaissance coincided roughly with the reigns of coincided roughly with the reigns of the Tudor rulers Henry VIII, Edward the Tudor rulers Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Under VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. Under Elizabeth's brilliant rule England Elizabeth's brilliant rule England became a world power.became a world power.

English Renaissance PoetsEnglish Renaissance Poets

Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Christopher Marlowe, Edmund Spenser, and William ShakespeareSpenser, and William Shakespeare

Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)(1564-1593)

Detail of a portrait thought to be of Christopher Marlowe, dated 1585.

Personal experiences Personal experiences

TamburlaineTamburlaine (1587?); (1587?);

Doctor FaustusDoctor Faustus (1588?) (1588?)

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare (1564-1616)(1564-1616)

Personal experiencesPersonal experiences

April 23April 23

Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon

familiesfamilies

actor & playwrightactor & playwright

William Shakespeare, detail of an oil painting attributed to John Taylor, c. 1610. The portrait is called the “Chandos Shakespeare” because it once belonged to the duke of Chandos

Birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

William Shakespeare, great genius of William Shakespeare, great genius of the Elizabethan Agethe Elizabethan Age

35 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 narrative 35 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 narrative poemspoems

Shakespeare had a genius for telling a Shakespeare had a genius for telling a story.story.

Shakespeare surpassed even Chaucer Shakespeare surpassed even Chaucer in creating character.in creating character.

Shakespeare was able to use words Shakespeare was able to use words brilliantly. brilliantly.

WritingsWritings

1591-1611 1591-1611 ─ the prime of his ─ the prime of his dramatic careerdramatic career

The Comedy of ErrorsThe Comedy of Errors

The Two Gentleman of VeronaThe Two Gentleman of Verona

The Taming of the ShrewThe Taming of the Shrew

Love’s Labor’s LostLove’s Labor’s Lost

The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice

A Midsummer Night’s DreamA Midsummer Night’s Dream

As You Like ItAs You Like It

The Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merry Wives of Windsor

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

All’s Well that Ends WellAll’s Well that Ends Well

Measure for MeasureMeasure for Measure

Four Great TragediesFour Great Tragedies

HamletHamlet

OthelloOthello

King LearKing Lear

MacbethMacbeth

““To be or not to be,” from To be or not to be,” from HamletHamlet; ; ““All the world's a stage,” from All the world's a stage,” from As You LAs You L

ike Itike It; ; ““The quality of mercy is not strained,” fThe quality of mercy is not strained,” f

rom rom The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice..

No one in all history has had a greater cNo one in all history has had a greater command of the right word, the unforgetommand of the right word, the unforgettable phrase, or the sentence that striketable phrase, or the sentence that strikes straight to the heart of the truth.s straight to the heart of the truth.

Globe Theater, London

The 17th CenturyThe 17th Century

The King James BibleThe King James Bible

published in 1611, known as the published in 1611, known as the Authorized VersionAuthorized Version

the most influential book in the the most influential book in the history of English civilization, a history of English civilization, a model of writing for generations of model of writing for generations of EnglishEnglish-speaking people-speaking people

Changing Mood in the 17th CenturyChanging Mood in the 17th Century age of transition / age of revolutionage of transition / age of revolution glowing enthusiasm gave way to a glowing enthusiasm gave way to a

cool, scientific attitude, to a spirit that cool, scientific attitude, to a spirit that studied small details rather than large studied small details rather than large generalizations and looked to the world generalizations and looked to the world of fact more than to that of the of fact more than to that of the imagination. Exploration on the grand imagination. Exploration on the grand scale gave way to exploitation of the scale gave way to exploitation of the discoveries and to colonization and discoveries and to colonization and trade, activities that helped the trade, activities that helped the mercantile class to wealth and power mercantile class to wealth and power late in the century.late in the century.

17th-Century Prose17th-Century Prose Sir Francis Bacon: Sir Francis Bacon: EssaysEssays The Novum OrganumThe Novum Organum The New AtlantisThe New Atlantis John Bunyan: John Bunyan: The Pilgrim's ProgressThe Pilgrim's Progress (1 (1

678) prose masterpiece of the century678) prose masterpiece of the century

Milton—Puritan PoetMilton—Puritan Poet John Milton, a Puritan who served CroJohn Milton, a Puritan who served Cro

mwell as Latin secretarymwell as Latin secretary L'AllegroL'Allegro (1645) and (1645) and Il PenserosoIl Penseroso (164 (164

5)5) Paradise LostParadise Lost (1667) (1667) Paradise RegainedParadise Regained (1671) (sequel to (1671) (sequel to PaPa

radise Lostradise Lost)) Samson AgonistesSamson Agonistes (1671) Milton's alleg (1671) Milton's alleg

orical description of himselforical description of himself

The 18th Century—Age of The 18th Century—Age of ReasonReason

most striking quality of the 18th most striking quality of the 18th century: its optimismcentury: its optimism

the period in the period in literatureliterature often described often described as neoclassicas neoclassic

Age of EnlightenmentAge of Enlightenment Daniel Defoe: Daniel Defoe: Robinson CrusoeRobinson Crusoe (1719) (1719)

The ReviewThe Review (1704–13) (1704–13) (newspaper)(newspaper)

Moll FlandersMoll Flanders (1722) (1722)

Jonathan Swift

Swift—Scornful Prose GeniusSwift—Scornful Prose Genius

one of the great prose writers of all one of the great prose writers of all timetime

A Modest ProposalA Modest Proposal (1729) (1729)

Gulliver's TravelsGulliver's Travels (1726) a satire on (1726) a satire on human folly and stupidityhuman folly and stupidity

His literary style has all the 18th-His literary style has all the 18th-century virtues at their best.century virtues at their best.

Alexander Pope: the most quoted Alexander Pope: the most quoted poet in English literature except for poet in English literature except for ShakespeareShakespeare Alexander Pope

English poet Alexander Pope is known for the brilliant verse and stinging satire he wrote during the early and mid-18th century. Pope emulated the classical style of the poets of antiquity and further developed the poetic form known as the heroic couplet. He first earned fame with the work An Essay on Criticism (1711), in which he wrote the now famous line, “To err is human, to forgive divine.”

The Romantic Movement in The Romantic Movement in EnglandEngland

the 1st third of the 19th centurythe 1st third of the 19th century The forerunners of the Romanticists argued that The forerunners of the Romanticists argued that

humans are naturally good; society makes them humans are naturally good; society makes them bad. If the social world could be changed, all bad. If the social world could be changed, all men might be happier. The Romanticists men might be happier. The Romanticists believed that all people are kin and deserve the believed that all people are kin and deserve the treatment to which human beings are by nature treatment to which human beings are by nature entitled. Every person has a right to life, liberty, entitled. Every person has a right to life, liberty, and equal opportunity. These ideas had been and equal opportunity. These ideas had been well stated in the American Declaration of well stated in the American Declaration of Independence. They believed in democracy, Independence. They believed in democracy, humanity, and the possibility of achieving a humanity, and the possibility of achieving a better world.better world.

William Wordsworth & William Wordsworth: William Wordsworth & William Wordsworth: Lyrical BalladsLyrical Ballads (1798) (1798)

Samuel Coleridge: Samuel Coleridge: Biographia Literaria Biographia Literaria The Rime of the Ancient MarinerThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) (1798) George Gordon Byron: George Gordon Byron: ManfredManfred, 1817; , 1817; CainCain, 1, 1

821821 Don JuanDon Juan, 1819–24, 1819–24 Percy Bysshe Shelley: Percy Bysshe Shelley: The CloudThe Cloud, , To a SkylarkTo a Skylark Ode to the West WindOde to the West Wind John Keats: John Keats: Ode on a Grecian UrnOde on a Grecian Urn, 1819, 1819 Ode to a NightingaleOde to a Nightingale, 1819, 1819

English Literature of the English Literature of the Victorian AgeVictorian Age

poetry, novel, etcpoetry, novel, etc

Mary Shelley: Mary Shelley: FrankensteinFrankenstein (1818) (1818)

Sir Walter Scott: Sir Walter Scott: Waverley, Rob Waverley, Rob Roy; Roy;

The Heart of The Heart of Midlothian; IvanhoeMidlothian; Ivanhoe

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Sir Walter Scott, detail of an oil painting by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, 1824

The 19th century novelsThe 19th century novels

Romanticism in the 19th centuryRomanticism in the 19th century Poetry Poetry ─ George Gordon Byron (1788-1─ George Gordon Byron (1788-1

824)824) Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-182Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-182

2)2) John Keats (1792-1821)John Keats (1792-1821)

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Lord George Gordon, detail of an engraving from a drawing by R. Bran, 1780

Keats, detail of an oil painting by Joseph Severn, 1821

Major novelistMajor novelist Walter Scott Walter Scott Rob RoyRob Roy IvanhoeIvanhoe Jane AustenJane Austen

Gothic novelGothic novel Mary Shelley Mary Shelley FrankensteinFrankenstein

Jane AustenJane Austen

Personal experiencesPersonal experiences WorksWorks

Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice

Realism in the 19th Realism in the 19th centurycentury

Definition of realismDefinition of realism RepresentativesRepresentatives

The Bronte SistersThe Bronte Sisters

Charlotte BronteCharlotte Bronte

Jane EyreJane Eyre Emily BronteEmily Bronte

The Wuthering HeightsThe Wuthering Heights Anne BronteAnne Bronte

Agnes GreyAgnes Grey

Charlotte Brontë

Emily Brontë

Charles DickensCharles Dickens

Critical realistCritical realist Personal experiencesPersonal experiences WritingsWritings Hard TimesHard Times A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations Oliver TwistOliver Twist

Virginia WoolfVirginia Woolf

Personal experiencesPersonal experiences WritingsWritings

ThemeTheme

English writer Virginia Woolf contributed a great deal to modern literature during the early and mid-20th century by abandoning traditional narrative style and pioneering the use of stream of consciousness. A fervent supporter of women’s rights, Woolf considers the difficulties of the woman artist in A Room Of One’s Own (1929).