Literature is defined as any printed works that explore ideas and feelings, whether factual or imaginary. It artistically represents varied human experiences through different forms of expression like prose, poetry, and drama. The history of English literature spans from the 7th century to present day and mirrors the lives of British inhabitants over time. It has gone through periods like the Anglo-Saxon period known for heroic poetry, the Renaissance period of Shakespeare focused on humanism, and the Victorian period of prose, novels, and conflicts between religion and science.

2. DEFINITION OF LITERATURE
Literature is anything that printed, as long as it is related to
the ideas and feelings of people, whether it is true or just
product of one’s imagination. – Webster
Literature consist of those writing which interpret the
meanings of mature and life, in words of charm and power,
touched with the personality of the author, in artistic form of
permanent interest. – Henry Van Dyke
Literature is an artistic representation of life, that is of varied
human experiences in different forms of expressions

3. TYPE OF LITERATURE
PROSE : literary works in the form of stories that
are conveyed using narration. It is combines
monologue and dialogue forms.
POETRY: an imaginative awareness of experience
expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic
language choices as to evoke emotional response

4. DRAMA: the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional
events through the performance of written dialog.

5. ENGLISH LITERATURE
The body of written work produced in the English
language by inhabitants of British isles from the
7th century to the present day.
English literature appear with the beginning of
the history of English people. It refers to all
literary works composed in English.
It mirror the life lived by the people of that region
at that specific period.

6. PERIODS’ IN HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
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.

7. 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.
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.

8. 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, Movement, Romantic Protestantism.
Age of Prose & Novel.
Main Focus: individually, morality note, conflict
between religion and
science, human beings than nature