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Introduction of English

Literature

Chapter One

Old English PeriodThe National Epic: Beowulf

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A Introduction of the Development

Stages of English Literature

Latin literature

Old English literature

Late medieval (middle English) literature inEngland

Other medieval literatures

Early Modern English literature*Elizabethan and Jacobean eras

*1660 to 1800

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Non English-language literatures from the 16th centuryto the 19th century

19th century English language literature

*Romanticism

*The 19th century novel

*Victorian poets

*Ireland

*Wales

*Scotland English language literature since 1900

Non English language literatures since 1900

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Latin literature in Britain

Chroniclerssuch as Bede, with his Historiaecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, and Gildaswere figuresin the development of indigenous Latin literature,

mostly ecclesiastical, in the centuries following thewithdrawal of the Roman Empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_literature_in_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_ecclesiastica_gentis_Anglorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_ecclesiastica_gentis_Anglorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gildashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gildashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_ecclesiastica_gentis_Anglorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_ecclesiastica_gentis_Anglorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_literature_in_Britain

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Old English literature (Anglo-Saxonliterature)

The earliest form of English literaturedevelopedafter the settlement of the Saxonsand otherGermanic tribes in England after the withdrawalof the Romans and is known as Old Englishor

Anglo-Saxon. The most famous work in OldEnglish is the epic poemBeowulf. The onlysurviving manuscript is the Cotton manuscript.The precise date of the manuscript is debated, but

most estimates place it close to the year 1000.(Theoldest surviving text in English is Cdmon'sHymn)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_manuscripthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A6dmonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_manuscripthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_literature

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Late medieval literature in EnglandLatin literaturecirculated among the educated

classes.Following the Norman Conquest, thedevelopment ofAnglo-Norman literaturein the

Anglo-Norman realm introduced literary trendsfrom Continental Europe.

*Geoffrey Chaucer, father of Englishliterature

In the later medieval period a new form ofEnglish now known as Middle Englishevolved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Norman_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Europehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Norman_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Norman_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Norman_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_literature

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This is theearliest form which is comprehensible tomodern readers and listeners, albeit not easily.

The most significant Middle English author wasthe poet Geoffrey Chaucerwho was active in thelate 14th century. His main works were The

Canterbury Talesand Troilus and Criseyde.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Criseydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troilus_and_Criseydehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer

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Early Modern English literature

Elizabethan literature*Shakespeare's career straddled the change ofTudorand Stuart dynastiesand encompassed

English history and the emerging imperial ideaof the 17th century

*The sonnetform and other Italian literary

influences arrived in English literature. Thesonnet was introduced into English byThomasWyattin the early 16th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_English_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethan_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Stuarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wyatt_(poet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wyatt_(poet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wyatt_(poet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wyatt_(poet)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Stuarthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethan_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_English_literature

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*In the later 16th century English poetry wascharacterised by elaboration of language and

extensive allusion to classical myths. The mostimportant poets of this era include EdmundSpenserand Sir Philip Sidney.

*The most important literary achievements of theEnglish Renaissancewere in drama.WilliamShakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer

in the English language, wrote 37 plays in severalgenres, including tragedy, comedy, and history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Spenserhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Spenserhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sidneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Renaissancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_comedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Renaissancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Sidneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Spenserhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Spenser

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*Other leading playwrights of the time includedBen Jonson, and Christopher Marlowe.

Jacobean era literature

*At the Reformationthe translation of liturgyandBibleinto vernacular languages provided new

literary models. The Anglican Book of CommonPrayerand theAuthorized King James Versionofthe Bible have been influential.

*Major poets of the 17th century includedJohnDonneand other metaphysical poets, andJohnMilton, religious epic Paradise Lost

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1660 to 1800

*Restoration period,Augustan poetry, andAugustan literature

*The position of Poet Laureatewas formalised inthis period.

*Accounts of great events, such as the GreatPlague of London, the Great Fire of London.

*The publication of The Pilgrim's Progressin 1678establishedJohn Bunyanas a notable writer ofEnglish literature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_periodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustan_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustan_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poet_Laureatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim%27s_Progresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim%27s_Progresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poet_Laureatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustan_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustan_poetryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_period

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*The early 18th century is known as the AugustanAge of English literature. The poetry of the time

was highly formal, as exemplified by the works ofAlexander Pope.

*Oliver Goldsmithand Richard Brinsley Sheridan,

who were two of the most successful playwrightson the London stage in the 18th century.

*The English noveldeveloped during the 18thcentury, partly in response to an expansion of themiddle-classreading public.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Popehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Goldsmithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Brinsley_Sheridanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_novelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_novelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Brinsley_Sheridanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Goldsmithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Pope

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*One of the major early works in this genre

was the seminal castawaynovel Robinson

Crusoeby Daniel Defoe. The 18th centurynovel tended to be loosely structured and

semi-comic. Major novelists of the middleand later part of the century included HenryFielding, Laurence Sterne, andTobias

Smollett, who was a great influence onCharles Dickens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castawayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fieldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fieldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Sternehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smolletthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smolletthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smolletthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobias_Smolletthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Sternehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fieldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fieldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Defoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaway

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*Although the epics of Celtic Ireland were writtenin prose and not verse, most people wouldprobably consider that Irish fiction proper beginsin the 18th century with the works ofJonathan

Swift(especially Gulliver's Travels) and OliverGoldsmith (especially The Vicar of Wakefield).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vicar_of_Wakefieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vicar_of_Wakefieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulliver%27s_Travelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Swift

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19th century English language

literature

Major political and social changes at the end of theeighteenth century, particularly the French Revolution,prompted a new breed of writing now known as

Romanticism.William Wordsworthand Samuel TaylorColeridgebegan the trend for bringing emotionalismand introspection to English literature, with a newconcentration on the individual and the common man.

The reaction to urbanism and industrialisationprompted poets to explore nature, for example theLake Poets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Poetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Poetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution

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At around the same time, the iconoclastic printerWilliam Blake, largely disconnected from the

major streams of elite literature of the time, wasconstructing his own highly idiosyncratic poeticcreations, while the Scottish nationalist poetRobert Burnswas collecting and adapting the folksongs of Scotlandinto a body of national poetryfor his homeland.

The major "second generation" Romantic poets

included George Gordon Byron, 6th BaronByron. They flouted social convention and oftenused poetry as a political voice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burnshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burnshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake

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Amongst Lord Byron's best-known works are thebrief poems She Walks in Beauty,When We TwoParted, and So, we'll go no more a roving, inaddition to narrative poems Childe Harold'sPilgrimageand Don Juan. Another key poet of

Romantic movementJohn Keats, his letters,which expound on his aesthetic theory ofnegative capability, are among the most

celebrated by any writer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Walks_in_Beautyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_Two_Partedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_Two_Partedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So,_we%27ll_go_no_more_a_rovinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Harold%27s_Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Harold%27s_Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Juanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_capabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_capabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Juanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Harold%27s_Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Harold%27s_Pilgrimagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So,_we%27ll_go_no_more_a_rovinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_Two_Partedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_We_Two_Partedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Walks_in_Beauty

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Percy Shelleyfamous for his association with JohnKeats and Lord Byron, was the third major

romantic poet of the second generation. Criticallyregarded among the finest lyric poets in theEnglish language, Shelley is most famous for such

classic anthology verse works as Ozymandias, andlong visionary poems which included Prometheus

Unbound. (They three are called Satanic poets)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Bysshe_Shelleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandiashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Unbound_(Shelley)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Unbound_(Shelley)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Unbound_(Shelley)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_Unbound_(Shelley)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandiashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Bysshe_Shelley

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The 19th century novel (Victorian period)

*At the same time,Jane Austenwas writing highly

polished novels about the life of the landed gentry,seen from a woman's point of view, and wrylyfocused on practical social issues, especially

marriage and money, notably with, Pride andPrejudice, Sense and SensibilityMansfield ParkandEmma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansfield_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scotthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scotthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansfield_Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen

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*Walter Scott'snovel-writing career waslaunched in 1814 with Waverley, often called thefirst historical novel, and was followed by Ivanhoe.His popularity in England and further abroad didmuch to form the modern stereotype of Scottish

culture. Other novels by Scott which contributedto the image of him as a patriot include Rob Roy.He was the highest earning and most popular

author up to that time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scotthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_novelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Roy_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Roy_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_novelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scotthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scott

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*From the mid-1820s to mid-1840s, fashionablenovelsdepicting the lives of the upper class

dominated the literature market.*Charles Dickensemerged on the literary scene in the

1830s, confirming the trend for serial publication.Dickens wrote vividly about Londonlife and thestruggles of the poor, but in a good-humouredfashion which was accessible to readers of allclasses. His early works such as The Pickwick Papers

are masterpieces of comedy. Later his worksbecame darker, without losing his genius forcaricature.

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*It was in theVictorian era(1837-1901) that thenovel became the leading form of literature in

English. Most writers were now more concerned tomeet the tastes of a large middle-class readingpublic than to please aristocratic patrons. The bestknown works of the era include the emotionally

powerful works of the Brontsisters; Charlotte'sJane Eyre, Emily'sWuthering Heightsand Anne'sAgnes Greywere released in 1847 after their longsearch to secure publishers; the satire Vanity FairbyWilliam Makepeace ThackerayandAnthonyTrollope'sinsightful portrayals of the lives of thelandowning and professional classes of Victorian

England.

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George Eliot's novels are frequently held in thehighest regard for their combination of high

Victorian literary detail combined with anintellectual breadth that removes them from thenarrow confines they often depict. An alternative

to mainstream works, Penny Dreadfulpublicationswere aimed at working class adolescents, one suchseries introduced the infamous Sweeney Todd

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An interest in rural matters and the changingsocial and economic situation of the countryside

may be seen in the novels ofThomas Hardyandothers.Wilkie CollinsnovelThe Moonstone, isgenerally considered the first detective novel in

the English language.Victorian poets

*Leading poetic figures of the Victorian era

includedAlfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson,Robert Browning(and his wife, Elizabeth BarrettBrowning), and Matthew Arnold,

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whilst multi-disciplinary talents such asJohnRuskinand Dante Gabriel Rossettiwere alsofamous for their poetry. The poetry of this periodwas heavily influenced by the Romantics, but alsowent off in its own directions. Particularly notable

was the development of the dramatic monologue,a form used by many poets in this period, butperfected by Browning, most of his poems were in

the form of dramatic monologues.

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*Towards the end of the century, English poetsbegan to take an interest in French symbolismand Victorian poetry entered a decadent phase.Two groups of poets emerged, the Yellow Bookpoets who adhered to the tenets ofAestheticism,

includingAlgernon Charles Swinburne, OscarWildeandArthur Symonsand the Rhymer'sClubgroup that included Ernest Dowson,

Lionel JohnsonandWilliam Butler Yeats.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aestheticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Charles_Swinburnehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wildehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wildehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Symonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhymer%27s_Clubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhymer%27s_Clubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Dowsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Johnsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Johnsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Dowsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhymer%27s_Clubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhymer%27s_Clubhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Symonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wildehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wildehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Charles_Swinburnehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aestheticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Bookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism

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English language literature since

1900

The major lyric poet of the first decades of the20th century wasThomas Hardy, whoconcentrated on poetry after the harsh response

to his last novel,Jude the Obscure.

From around 1910, the Modernist Movementbegan to influence English literature. Whereas

their Victorian predecessors had usually beenhappy to cater to mainstream middle-class

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taste, 20th century writers often felt alienated

from it, and responded by writing more

intellectually challenging works or bypushing the boundaries of acceptable

content.

Major poets of this period in Britainincluded American-bornT. S. Eliot, Ezra

Pound, and IrishmanWilliam Butler Yeats.Free verseand other stylistic innovationscame to the forefront in this era.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Eliothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Poundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Poundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeatshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Poundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Poundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Eliot

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*The experiences of the First World Warwerereflected in the work ofwar poetssuch asWilfred

Owen.etc.. Many writers turned away frompatriotic and imperialist themes as a result of thewar, notably Kipling.

*Important novelists between the two World Wars

included the Irish writerJames Joyce, as well as D.H. Lawrence, C. S. Forester, Enid Blyton, P. G.Wodehouse, E. M. ForsterandVirginia Woolf.

*Joyce's increasingly complex works included Ulysses,an interpretation of the Odysseyset in Dublin.Lawrence wrote with understanding

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Joycehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Foresterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_Blytonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._G._Wodehousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._G._Wodehousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._M._Forsterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Woolfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odysseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_(novel)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Woolfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._M._Forsterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._G._Wodehousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._G._Wodehousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_Blytonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Foresterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Joycehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_poethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

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about the social life of the lower and middleclasses, and the personal life of those who could

not adapt to the social norms of his time. Heattempted to explore human emotions moredeeply than his contemporaries and challenged the

boundaries of the acceptable treatment of sexualissues in works such as Lady Chatterley's Lover.Virginia Woolf was an influential feminist, and amajor stylistic innovator associated with the

stream-of-consciousnesstechnique. Her novelsincluded To the Lighthouse,Mrs Dalloway, and TheWaves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Chatterley%27s_Loverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_the_Lighthousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Dallowayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Waveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Dallowayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_the_Lighthousehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Chatterley%27s_Lover

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*Novelists who wrote in a more traditional style,such asJohn GalsworthyandArnold Bennett

continued to receive great acclaim in the interwarperiod. At the same time the Georgian poetsmaintained a more conservative approach to

poetry. George Orwell

One of the most significant English writers of this

period was George Orwell. An acclaimed essayistand novelist, Orwell's works are consideredamong the most important social and

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political commentaries of the 20th century.Dealing with issues such as poverty in The Road toWigan Pierand Down and Out in Paris and London,totalitarianism inNineteen Eighty-Fourandcolonialism in Burmese Days. Orwell's works were

often semi-autobiographical and in the case ofHomage to Catalonia, wholly autobiographical.

*Agatha Christiewas an English crime writer of

novels, short stories and plays, best remembered

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Fourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_Dayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Cataloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Cataloniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_Dayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Fourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Fourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Fourhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pier

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for her 80 detective novels and her successful

West End theatre plays. Her works, particularlyfeaturing detectives Hercule Poirotor Miss JaneMarple, have given her the title the 'Queen ofCrime' and made her one of the most important

and innovative writers in the development of thegenre, with some of her most famous works beingMurder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Jane_Marplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Jane_Marplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_on_the_Orient_Expresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_on_the_Nilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_on_the_Nilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_on_the_Orient_Expresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Jane_Marplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Jane_Marplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot

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The leading poets of the middle and later 20thcentury included the traditionalistJohn Betjeman,

Philip Larkin,Ted Hughesand the Northern IrishCatholic Seamus Heaney, who lived in theRepublic of Irelandfor much of his later life.

Major British novelists of the middle and later20th century included satiristEvelyn Waugh,Henry Green,Anthony Powell,William Golding,

Anthony Burgess, Kingsley Amis,V. S. Naipaul,Graham Greene, Frederick Forsyth, Roald Dahl,Arthur C Clarke,JGBallardand Iris Murdoch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Betjemanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Larkinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Hugheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Waughhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Powellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Burgesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Amishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Greenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Forsythhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C_Clarkehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JG_Ballardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JG_Ballardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Murdochhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Murdochhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JG_Ballardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JG_Ballardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C_Clarkehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Forsythhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Greenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Amishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Burgesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goldinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Powellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Waughhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaneyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Irelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Hugheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Larkinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Betjeman

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On the turn of the 21st century, some of the majorwriters include Philip Pullman, Salman Rushdie,

Neil Gaiman, Ian McEwan,Alan Moore,TerryPratchettandJK Rowling

In drama, the drawing room playsof the post war

period were challenged in the 1950s by theAngryYoung Men, exemplified by asJohn Osborne'siconic play Look Back in Anger. Also in the 1950s,

the bleak absurdistplay Waiting for Godot, by theIrish playwright Samuel Beckettprofoundlyaffected British drama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullmanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaimanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_McEwanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchetthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchetthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JK_Rowlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_room_playhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Young_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Young_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Osbornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_Back_in_Angerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Becketthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Becketthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_Back_in_Angerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Osbornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Young_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Young_Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_room_playhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JK_Rowlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchetthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchetthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moorehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_McEwanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaimanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Rushdiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman

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Chapter 1

The old English period

The National Epic: Beowulf

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CONTENTS

I. The old English period

*Historical background

*Literature in this periodII. The National Epic: Beowulf

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The old English (Anglo-Saxon)

period

I. Historical background

1. The Celts or the Britons

2. The Roman Conquest

3. The English (Anglo-Saxon) Conquest4. The influence of Anglo-Saxonsreligious beliefs

and Christianity on English literature

II. Literature in this period

1. Representatives

2. Literary masterwork in this period: Beowulf

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Historical background

The Celts or the Britons:

1.The earliest settlers of the British Isles ;

2.About 600 B.C. About 400 B.C., a branch ofCelts, the Brythons (Bretons/Britons);

3.The island got its name Britain, the land ofBritons

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The Roman conquest

1. About 55B.C, Britain was invaded by Julius Caesar, the

great Roman conqueror2. In 43 A.D. Claudius, another Roman conqueror

conquered it and stayed there till the beginning of the5th century.

The English (Anglo-Saxon) Conquest

1. About 450 A.D., the tribes of Angles, Saxons and Jutes(later known simply as Anglo-Saxons) migrated from

the continent, established many small kingdoms.2. By the 7th century, there were 3 larger kingdoms

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3.They themselves into a united kingdom called Tosettle down constant wars, the kingdoms England,

or, the land of Angles, because the Angles were themost numerous of the three.

4.These three tribes mixed into a whole people calledEnglish. And the language they used was called

Anglo-Saxon, or, Old English.

The influence of Anglo-Saxonsreligious

beliefs and Christianity on English literature

1.The Anglo-Saxons were heathen people (pagan).They believed in the old mythology of NorthernEurope.

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2.The Anglo-Saxons were heathen people (pagan). Paganpoetry and pagan spirit remained dominant in the poetic

scene.3.Form of literature is orally passed on.

4.In 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine toconvert the Anglo-Saxons.

5. England was Christianized. With the fast spread ofChristian influence and classic learning, heathen poetry wasslowly and steadily maneuvered out of the scene.

6.The earliest English books were written down by monks inmonasteries. They wrote down works passed on orally,they tinged them with some Christian color.

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Literature in this periodThere was a highlight in the development of the

Anglo-Saxon literature, the Northumbrian School. Itscentre was the monasteries and abbeys (Anglo-Saxonliterature) in the kingdom of Northumbria.

Representatives

1. The Venerable Bede (673-735) A monk wrote inLatin and his work The Ecclesiastical History of Englandearned him for the title of father of English history

2. Caedmon (670 AD_. )He turned the stories in the

Bible into verse form. The title of the work isParaphrase, for which he is called Father of EnglishSong.His other nine-line poem is called Hymn.

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Literary masterwork in this period: Beowulf

1. Brief introduction of the epic:It probably existed inits oral form as early as the 6th century and was writtendown in the 7th or 8th century, though the manuscriptof it now extant dated back to the 10th century. Itcontains altogether 3182 lines and the story in it basedon partly historical and partly legendary materials.The

story takes place in Scandinavia rather than in England.2. The literary style:It is an Epic, or the Heroic.

*An epic (a term)is a long narrative poem, composed inan elevated style, dealing with the trials andachievements of a great hero or heroes. The epiccelebrates virtues of national, military, religious, cultural,political, or historical significance.

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3. The literary position:It is the national epicofAnglo-Saxons and the English people.

4. Poetic features (device)

This poem is a mixture of paganism and Christianelement.

The use of alliteration

The use of assonance

The use of kenning5. Language used:Anglo-Saxon or Old English,

very different from modern English

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http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGky.lt1JK8CcBlMhXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBsZDdmM2M5BHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkAw--/SIG=1m4jc0nra/EXP=1247021349/**http%3a//images.search.yahoo.com/images/view%3fback=http%253A%252F%252Fsearch.yahoo.com%252Fsearch%253Fei%253DUTF-8%2526p%253Dbeowlf%252B%252Bcover%252Bimages%2526fp_ip%253DCN%26w=229%26h=330%26imgurl=www.neilgaimania.it%252Fimmagini%252Farticoli%252Finterna%252Fbeowulf-dvd-cover.jpg%26size=22.2kB%26name=beowulf%2bdvd%2bcover%2bjpg%26rcurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.neilgaimania.it%252Fview.php%253Fmode%253Darticoli%2526id_doc%253D116%26rurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.neilgaimania.it%252Fview.php%253Fmode%253Darticoli%2526id_doc%253D116%26p=beowulf%2bcover%26type=jpeg%26no=3%26tt=434%26oid=b1f0ec062433cb64%26tit=beowulf%2bdvd%2bcover%2bjpg%26sigr=11sp8lvmo%26sigi=123vfg6lr%26sigb=127f1g97v

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Assignments

Written work

1. Famous authors, their title and theirmasterworks

2. The poetic features of Beowulf

3. Beowulfsliterary position

4. Define the term: Epic

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Doublestream of waterfall

It is just like what we have

learned today, a mixtureof several different cultures.

THE END

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