The English Literature

The first works in English, written in Old English, appeared in the early Middle Ages (the oldest surviving text is Cadman's Hymn). These first works were written in Latin and belong to representatives of priesthood.

- Epic poems were very popular. The beautiful Saxon poem

called “Beowulf” tells us of the times long before the Anglo- Saxons came to Britain. There is no mention of England. The poem was compiled in the 10th century by an unknown scribe.

-In the 12th century, a new form of English now known as Middle English evolved. This is the earliest form of English literature which is comprehensible to modern readers and listeners, albeit not easily. Middle English Bible translations, notably Wycliffe's Bible, helped to establish English as a literary language.

- There are three main categories of Middle English Literature: Religious, Courtly love, and Arthurian. It is also the first allusion to a literary tradition of the legendary English archer, swordsman, and outlaw Robin Hood.

The most significant Middle English author was Geoffrey Chaucer who was active in the late 14th century. Often regarded as the father of English literature, Chaucer is widely credited as the first author to demonstrate the artistic legitimacy of the vernacular English language, rather than French or Latin. The Canterbury Tales was Chaucer's magnum opus, and a towering achievement of Western culture. The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Chaucer's Parlement of Foules 1382.

-The Reformation inspired the production of vernacular liturgy which led to the Book of Common Prayer, a lasting influence on literary English language. The poetry, drama, and prose produced under both Queen Elizabeth I and King James I constitute what is today labeled as Early modern (or Renaissance).

The Elizabethan era saw a great flourishing of literature, especially in the field of drama. The Italian Renaissance had rediscovered the ancient Greek and Roman theatre, and this was instrumental in the development of the new drama, which was then beginning to evolve apart from the old mystery and miracle plays of the Middle Ages.

- One can hardly come across any other name in world literature that to be compared with the name of William

Shakespeare. His main greatest plays: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra,

and The Tempest. Shakespeare also popularized the English sonnet which made significant changes to Petrarch's model.

- After Shakespeare's death, the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson was the leading literary figure of the Jacobean era (The reign of James I). Jonson is a master of style, and a brilliant satirist. His Volpone shows how a group of scammers are fooled by a top con-artist, vice being punished by vice, virtue meting out its reward.

-At the beginning of 17th century there were 2 most important literature works: «The Utopia» of Thomas Mor и «Novum Organum» of Fransis Bacon.

Thomas Mor F. Bacon

- The King James Bible, one of the most massive translation projects in the history of English up to this time, was started in 1604 and completed in 1611. It represents the culmination of a tradition of Bible translation into English that began with the work of William Tyndale. It became the standard Bible of the Church of England, and some consider it one of the greatest literary works of all time.

- The turbulent years of the mid-17th century, during the reign of Charles I and the subsequent Commonwealth and Protectorate, saw a flourishing of political literature in English. The great English writer this time is Daniel Defoe, who wrote numerous pamphlets, novels, and historical works. One of his most famous novels- Robinson Crusoe.

-Jonathan Swift was the greatest satirical writer of his time. Everybody knows his famous book” Gulliver’s Travels”.

-During the end of the 18th century, Horace Walpole's 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, created the Gothic fiction genre, that combines elements of horror and romance. The pioneering gothic novelist Ann Radcliffe introduced the brooding figure of the gothic villain which developed into the Byronic hero. Her most popular and influential work The Mysteries of Udolpho 1794, is frequently cited as the archetypal Gothic novel. Vathek 1786 by William Beckford, and The Monk 1796 by Matthew Lewis, were further notable early works in both the gothic and horror literary genres.

Romanticism as a literature current came into being at the end oft he 18th century. England was full of contradictions. The social struggle was sharpened by the influence of the French Revolution. Romantic writers centre their attention upon the wealth of the inner life of man. Nature plays an important part in the pages of their work. Romanticism in England is represented by poets William Wordworth, Samuel Taylor, Robert Southey( the so called Lake school), Percy Busshe Shelly, George Gordon Byron and John Keats.

It was in the Victorian era (1837–1901) that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were now more concerned to meet the tastes of a large middle class reading public than to please aristocratic patrons. The best known works of the era include the emotionally powerful works of the Bronte sisters; the satire Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray; the realist novels of George Eliot; and Anthony Trollope's insightful portrayals of the lives of the landowning and professional classes.

Critical realism in England in 19th century introduce to us with a famous writer Charles Dickens. His main works: “Oliver Twist”, “Dombey and Son”, “David Copperfield.”

Literature for children developed as a separate genre. Some works become globally well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, both of whom used nonsense verse.

The most widely popular writer of the early years of the 20th century was arguably Rudyard Kipling, a highly versatile writer of novels, short stories and poems. To date the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Kipling's novels include The Jungle Book, The Man Who Would Be King and Kim, while his inspirational poem If— is a national favorite

- Oscar Wilde is an important writer of 20th century, the author of some poetical tales, such as: “ The happy prince”, The devoted Friend” and so on. He is also the author of the novel “ The picture of Dorian Gray”

-Important novelists between the World Wars included Virginia Woolf, E. M. Forster, Evelyn Waugh, P.G. Wodehouse and D. H. Lawrence.

Agatha Christie was a crime writer of novels, short stories and plays, best remembered for her 80 detective novels and her successful West End theatre plays. Christie's works, particularly featuring the detectives Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, have given her the title the 'Queen of Crime' and made her one of the most important and innovative writers in the development of the genre.

An informal literary discussion group associated with the English faculty at the University of Oxford, were the "Inklings". Its leading members were the major fantasy novelists; C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Lewis is known for his fiction, especially The Chronicles of Narnia, while Tolkien is best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

. The most important phenomenon post- war periods were works of English realistic writer Charles Persy Snow.

In thriller writing, Ian Fleming created the character James Bond 007 in January 1952, while on holiday at his Jamaican estate, Golden eye. Fleming chronicled Bond's adventures in twelve novels, including Casino Royale 1953, Live and Let Die 1954, Dr. No 1958, Gold finger 1959, Thunderball 1961, and nine short story works.

. In post- war time went on developing the creature of the most brilliant satirist of the 20th century Ivlin Wo, his works belong to modern literature.. In this time arises” worker novel”. The most famous representatives of this genre are Sillitow and Sid Chaplin.

Golding is reputed as writer of mythical literature. His most famous novel is “Sovereign of flies”John Fowles is the modern English writer; he is reputed as a wizard and miracle- worker of mystical novels. His novels as “ The Collector “ or “The Magus” are well- known, some of them are screen.

Выполнил: Орлов Н.9кл.Проверил: Тянтова О.М.

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