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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