You will learn about a short history of English Literature.

2. Introduction to English Literature
Literature is the reflection of life. It mirrors the society in which it is
generated. The word literature comes from the Latin word
‘litaritura’ meaning “writing organized with letters”. We classify
literature according to language, origin, historical period, genre,
and subject matter.
English literature, however, emerged with the beginning of
the history of English people. It refers to all the literary
works (novels, short stories, poems, fiction, nonfiction, and
plays) composed in English. The earliest works of English
literature mirror the life lived by the people of that region at
that specific period.

3. A Brief History of English Literature
The introduction and history of English literature go side by side. You can’t get
the complete introduction of English literature without going deep down in its
history.
The history of English literature initiated with the history of the English race and
kept on developing with the social development of the nation. When we analyze
the history of English literature, we discover that it consists of eight (8) major
periods and several ages. Each period or age of English literature is named
after the central literary figure, or the important rulers of England, or certain
literary movements. Moreover each period or phase of English literature has its
distinct characteristics.

4. What are the ‘Eight (8) Major Periods’ in the history of English Literature?
The major eight (8) periods in the history of English literature are:
•The Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period (450–1066)
•The Anglo-Norman or Middle English period (1066–1500)
•The Renaissance Period (1500–1660)
•The Neoclassical Period (1660–1798)
•The Romantic Period (1798–1837)
•The Victorian Period (1837–1901)
•The Modern Period (1901-1945)
•The Contemporary Period (1945–Today)

5. Literary Periods
Major literary Trends, Movements and
Highlights
Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period
(450–1066)
Heroic Tradition: poetry focused on
hero’s bravery
Elegiac Tradition: writers mourned the
passing of earlier, better times.
Anglo-Norman or Middle English Period
(1066–1500)
Popular forms of Writing: Chronicles,
Poetry, Drama, Religious and Didactic
writing.
Renaissance Period or Age of
Shakespeare
(1500–1660)
Trends: Revival of learning, Rediscovery
of classical philosophy, literature and art,
focus on ‘Humanism’ and ‘Puritanism’.
Major Forms of literature: poetry and
drama.
A Brief Overview & Timeline of British Literary Periods

6. Neoclassical Period or the Enlightenment Age
(1660–1798)
Trends: Revival of classical art and culture of ancient
Greece and Rome, focus on order, accuracy, and
structure.
Poetic Trends: Use of allusions, heroic couplet and
strict meter and rhyme.
Chief Contribution: The Modern Novel.
Romantic Period
(1798–1837)
Trends: The Romantic Movement in
Poetry, Gothicism in literature.
Chief Contribution: Romantic Poetry and The Gothic
Novel.
Victorian Period
(1837–1901)
Literary Trends & Movements: Symbolism,
Utilitarianism, Oxford Movement, Romantic
Protestantism. Age of Prose & Novel.
Main Focus: individually, morality note, conflict
between religion and science, human beings than
nature.
Contemporary Period
(1945-Today)
Literary Trends: structuralism, deconstruction,
poststructuralism, postmodernism, postcolonialism,
and magic realism.
Main Focus: horrors of war, genocide, life
experiences, real-life themes, alienation,
transformation, consumption & relativity of truth.