The document summarizes British literature through different historical periods, including the Old English period from 449-1066 CE, the Middle English period from 1066-1485 CE, the Renaissance period from 1485-1660 CE, and the Neoclassical period from 1660-1798 CE. It outlines the defining characteristics of each period such as dominant genres, historical contexts, and key authors that exemplified each style of literature.

1. BRITISH LITERATURE THROUGH TIME

2. OLD ENGLISH ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD 449 – 1066

3. CONTENT Strong belief in fate Juxtaposition of the church and pagan worlds Admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle Express religious faith and give moral instruction through literature URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

4. EFFECT Christianity helps literacy to spread Introduces Roman alphabet to Britain Oral tradition helps unite diverse people and their myths URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

5. Style / Genres Oral tradition of literature Poetry is the dominant genre Unique forms includes: Caesura Alliteration Repetition 4 beat rhythm URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

6. Historical Context Life centered around ancestral tribes/clans that ruled themselves At first the people were warriors from invading outlying areas: Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Danes Later they became primarily agricultural URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

7. Key Literature: Authors Beowulf Exeter Book The Venerable Bede URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

8. MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD (The MEDIEVAL Period) 1066 – 1485 URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

9. CONTENT Plays that instruct the illiterate masses in morals and religion Chivalric code of honor Religous devotion Romances URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

10. STYLE / GENRE Oral tradition continues Folk ballads Mystery and miracle plays Morality plays Stock epithets Kennings Moral tales Frame stories URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

11. EFFECT Church instructs its people through the morality and miracle plays An illiterate population is able to hear and see the literature URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

12. Historical Context Crusades bring the development of a money economy for the first time in Britain Trading increases deamatically as a result of the Crusades William the Conquerer crowned king in 1066 Henry III crowned king in 1154, brings a judicial system, royal courts, juries, and chivaly to Britain URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

13. Key Literature: authors Domesday Book L’Morte de Arthur Geoffrey Chaucer URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

14. The Renaissance 1485 – 1660 URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

15. CONTENT World view shifts from religion and afterlife to one stressing the human life on earth Popular them: development of human potential Popular theme: exploding the many aspects of love: Unrequited love Constant love Timeless love URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE Courtly love Love subject to change

16. STYLE / GENRES Poetry sonnet Dramma : Written in verse Supported by royalty Tragedies, comedies, historics Methaphysical poetry : Elaborate unexpected metaphors called conceits URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

17. Historical Context War of Roses ends in 1485 and political stability arrives Printing press helps stabilize English as a language and allows more people to read a variety of literature Economy chages from farm-based to one of international trade URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

18. Key Literature: authors William Shakespeare John Donne Cavalier poets Metaphysical poets Christopher Marlowe Andrew Marvel URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

19. Neoclassical Period (The Restoration) 1660 – 1798 URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

20. CONTENT Emphasis on reason and logic Stresses harmony, stability and wisdom Locke: a social contract exists between the government and the people. The government governs guaranteeing «natural rights» of life, liberty, and property URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

21. STYLE / GENRE Satire: uses irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior Poetry Essays Letters, diaries, biographies Novels URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

22. EFFECT Emphasis on the individual Belief that man was basically evil Approach to life «the world as it should be» URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

23. Historical Context 50% of men are functionally literate (a dramatic rise) Fenced enclosure of land cause the demise of traditional village life Factories begin to spring up as the industrial revolution starts Impoverished masses begin to grow as farming life declines and factories build Coffe houses – where educated men spend evenings with literary and political associates URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

24. Key Literature: authors Alexander Pope John Dryden Jonathan Swift Daniel Dafoe Samuel Johnson John Bunyan URSULA HUANCAS DONAYRE

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