BRITISH LITERATURE

Timelines

ANGLO-SAXONS449 - 1066

England, a land of invasions: Iberians, Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Normans

Animists – spirits found in nature Druids, guardians of the culture and beliefs Mythology Life influenced by magical religion Tribal structure, small kingdoms

Strict social structure Loyalty tantamount Honor price & blood feuds Warm hall – cold world Fate/wyrd Anglo-Saxon religion more concerned w/ ethics Bards/scops Fame = immortality

Romans brought government, roads, cities, and Christianity

Monasteries – monks preserved Anglo-Saxon cultural and literary traditions

MIDDLE AGES1066 - 1485

Normans & William, the Conqueror England now connected to Europe Feudalism, based on religious concept

& military system Focus on the afterlife Chivalry & courtly love Ballads, mystery & miracle plays Crusades, murder of Thomas A’

Becket, Magna Carta, Hundred Years War, the Black Death

THE RENAISSANCE1485 - 1660

Rebirth Changes of people’s beliefs, values,

and behavior Carpe diem The Cavaliers Humanism Focus on the now Reformation The printing press

Henry the VIII & the Church of England Protestants vs. Catholics England a world power Flood of literature – poetry, drama, essays King James Bible allegory

THE RESTORATION & THE 18TH C.

Neoclassical, Enlightenment, Age of Reason

Calm order after an era of political turmoil

Why? to How? Less frightened and superstitious Reason over intuition/feelings Deism “Whatever is, is right.” Satire to expose moral corruption and

crass commercialism

Journalism Form emphasized 1st English novels (“new”) Industrialism mushroomed & writers turned to

nature & folk themes

ROMANTIC PERIOD1798 - 1832 Blake, Wordsworth, and Coleridge; Byron,

Shelley, and Keats An agricultural nation to an industrial nation Large, restless working class Some of the most radical changes in human

life Revolution Laissez faire

Appalling conditions Focus – nature, imagination Simple, unadorned language Personal experiences & emotions More psychological & mysterious aspects of

human experience Fascination w/ youth & innocence Questioning of tradition & authority Idealism The Gothic

VICTORIAN PERIOD1832 - 1901 A time of great change A period of relatively political and social stability The Industrial Revolution of the 18th century greatly

expanded Steady growth of British interests outside the country Political power extended to the middle and working

classes Gradual political reforms Middle-class Victorians prided themselves on the material

advances of the 19th century and on their ability to solve human problems

In the mid-century depression hits England Widespread unemployment Famine in Ireland Deplorable living and working conditions

Child labor without safeguards Overcrowding and poor sanitation brought on by rapid

urbanization People retained optimism as reforms and

improvement followed Voting extended to the working class, except

agricultural workers Limits to child labor State-supported compulsory education led to

increased literacy Obsession with gentility or decorum especially among

the middle class Discouraged to discuss birth, sex, and death in open,

polite conversation Women subject to male authority Advances in science and technology demonstrate to

the people that human efforts could overcome all material problems

The period filled with voices asking questions and raising doubts

Materialism, secularism, vulgarity, and sheer waste that accompanied Victorian progress led some writers to wonder if their culture was really advancing

By the end of the century, skepticism and denial had become pervasive in many literary works

Uncertainty, pessimism, and spiritual doubt creep in Victorian writing reflects the dangers and benefits of

rapid industrialization, while encouraging readers to examine their own understanding of the era’s progress

MODERN1900 - 1950 Rejection of the traditional Loss of innocence (The Great War) Darwin, Marx, Freud Loss of faith in the American Dream Rejection of the ideal hero Introspection Stream of consciousness Questioning of authority Cynicism, skepticism, pessimism

CONTEMPORARY1950 - PRESENT Loss of individualism Rapid development in science &

technology Cultural diversity Nontraditional forms Overlap of fiction & nonfiction More personal approach that

challenged complacency & convention Futuristic & speculative