-
450
Historical Event-Famine and Civil War
From about 440-450, Britain endured civil war, invasion, and famine, leaving many cities in ruin. http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/romanbritain/a/timeromanbrit.htm -
Period: 450 to Dec 31, 1066
Old English
Old English literature consisted of poetry, prose, riddles, proverbs and displayed Pagan and Christian influences. http://www.bsu.by/Cache/pdf/209613.pdf -
Period: 450 to
British Literature
-
Jan 1, 600
Major Poet-Caedmon
Caedmon was a poet of the 7th century, the earliest known poet of British literature. His works were religious, focused entirely on the Old Testament. http://www.bsu.by/Cache/pdf/209613.pdf -
Jan 1, 600
Historical Event-Introduction of Christianity
Around 600, Christianity is introduced to the Anglo-Saxons by St. Augustine. http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words/chron.html -
Jan 1, 1000
Major Work-Beowulf
Beowulf was originally an oral story, but it was written into an epic around the 11th century by an unknown transcriber. Beowulf is considered the first written work of British literature. http://www.bsu.by/Cache/pdf/209613.pdf
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/englit/beowulf/ -
Jan 1, 1066
Historical Event-William of Normandy invades Britain
In 1066, William of Normandy invaded and conquered Britain, becoming the first Norman King of England, http://www.britannia.com/history/time2.html -
Period: Jan 1, 1066 to Dec 31, 1485
Middle English
Middle English literature reflected the Medieval culture and consisted of dramas, short poems, as well as religious texts. https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/Q200-146 -
May 21, 1265
Major Writer-Dante
Dante was a philosopher and writer who wrote The Divine Comedy, an epic poem that explores the three levels of Christian afterlife-Purgatory, Heaven, and Hell. http://www.biography.com/people/dante-9265912 -
Jan 1, 1380
Major Writer-Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer penned several works around 1380. He is most well known for The Canterbury Tales. http://www.biography.com/people/geoffrey-chaucer-9245691 -
Jan 1, 1390
Major Work-Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a medieval romance following the quests of Sir Gawain. It was written by a mysterious poet known as the Pearl Poet. http://metro.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k15189&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup84669
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Jan 1, 1440
Historical Event-Printing Press
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Jan 1, 1470
Major Author-Sir Thomas Malory
Although the true identity of Sir Thomas Malory is unknown, Sir Thomas Malory is the author of the first English prose about King Arthur. The Arthurian legend was titled Le Morte d'Arthur. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/360463/Sir-Thomas-Malory
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Jan 1, 1485
Historical Events-Battle of Bosworth Field
In the Battle of Bosworth Field, Henry Tudor defeated Richard III. This was a decisive victory in the War of the Roses. http://www.britannia.com/history/time2.html -
Period: Jan 1, 1485 to
Renaissance
Renaissance literature focused on imitating Classical literature and values as well as the spirit of exploration. -
Oct 31, 1517
Historical Event-95 Theses
Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the doors of the Catholic church, sparking the Protestant Reformation. http://www.britannia.com/history/time3.html
http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses -
Apr 23, 1564
Major Author-William Shakespeare
One of the most quoted writers of all time, William Shakespeare was a playwright and poet who wrote tragedies, comedies, historical plays, dramas, and sonnets. http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323#establishing-himself
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Jan 1, 1572
Major Poet-John Donne
John Donne was a leader of metaphysical poetry. His poems included "The Flea," "Holy Sonnet: Death, be not proud," and "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning." http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/donnebib.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/john-donne-9277090
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Major Work-The Faerie Queene
Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene, a series of books of poetry. The Faerie Queene represents Queen Elizabeth. Each book was meant to discuss a moral value, including holiness, temperance, and chastity. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/559324/Edmund-Spenser/6823/The-Faerie-Queene-and-last-years
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Historical Event-King James Bible
The King James Version of the Bible was published. http://www.britannia.com/history/time3.html -
Period: to
Neo-Classicism
The Neo-Classic literature emphasized logic and reason through parody, essays, satires, and fables. http://study.com/academy/lesson/neoclassical-literature-definition-characteristics-movement.html -
Historical Event-The Bubonic Plague
In March of 1665, the Bubonic Plague had reached Britain, killing over 100,000 people by December. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/civilwars_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Major Writer-Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an author and essayist best known for his novel, Gulliver's Travels, and the satirical essay, A Modest Proposal. http://www.biography.com/people/jonathan-swift-9500342 -
Major Work-Two Treatises of Government
John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government in 1690, proposing a social contract between government and its citizens. Locke's ideas in this work would have a major influence on Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence. http://www.history.com/topics/john-locke
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Major Work-Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe in 1719. It is an adventure story of a man shipwrecked on an island. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crusoe/summary.html
http://ai.stanford.edu/~csewell/culture/britishlit.htm -
Period: to
Romanticism
Romantic literature focused on faith in the senses and employed themes of individuality, imagination,and intuition. http://www.odessa.edu/dept/english/dsmith/rom.lit.char.pdf -
Historical Event-French Revolution
The French Revolution began in 1789 when angry French stormed Bastille to overthrow the government. http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution -
Major Writer-Jane Austen
Jane Austen published her first work, Love and Friendship, in 1790, and later wrote Pride and Prejudice as well as Sense and Sensibility. http://www.biography.com/people/jane-austen-9192819#literary-works -
Historical Event-War With France
Britain joined the Anti-French coalition in efforts to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte following the execution of King Louis XVI. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/empireseapower_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Major Work-Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," was published in 1798. http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/samuel-taylor-coleridge -
Major Writer-John Keats
John Keats published his first volume of poems in 1817. He became a well known romantic poet. -
Major Work-Frankenstein
Mary Shelley wrote the romantic gothic novel Frankenstein in 1818. http://www.biography.com/people/mary-shelley-9481497#love-and-horror -
Major Writer-Charles Dickens
In 1836, Dickens published the Pickwick Papers, beginning his fame as a writer. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and Hard Times. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/dickens_charles.shtml -
Period: to
Victorian
Novels became very popular in the Victorian era. Much of the literature focused on the newly emerging middle-class. http://classroom.synonym.com/characteristics-early-victorian-literature-4428.html -
Historical Event-Victoria Comes to Throne
Following the death of her uncle, William IV, Victoria inherited the crown at 18 years old. Under her rule, Britain changed greatly socially, politically, and economically. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/victorianbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Major Work-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll's classic novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865. -
Period: to
Modern
Modern literature employs self-consciousness and several narrators in one story, challenging the traditional methods of literature. http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/terms/M/modernism.htm -
Historical Event-Queen Victoria's Death
Queen Victoria died January 22, 1901. She was succeeded by Edward VII. Victoria had the longest reign of any British monarch. -
Historical Event-Britain Enters WWI
Britain entered WWI, joining France and Russia to create the Triple Entente. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/greatwar/g2/backgroundcs1.htm
http://myweb.fsu.edu/cupchurch/Resources/Timeline_ModBrit.html -
Major Writer-Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf published her first novel, The Voyage Out, in 1915. http://www.biography.com/people/virginia-woolf-9536773#writings -
Major Work-Ulysses
James Joyce's novel, Ulysses, was written in 1922. -
Historical Event-WWII
Britain declared war on Germany, beginnng Britain's involvement in WWII. http://myweb.fsu.edu/cupchurch/Resources/Timeline_ModBrit.html -
Major Writer-George Orwell
Orwell wrote Animal Farm in 1945 and the novel, 1984, in 1949. http://www.biography.com/people/george-orwell-9429833 -
Period: to
Post-Modern
Post-modern literature differs from previous works in that it practices intertextuality between the text and texts from the past. It also introduced magical realism. http://study.com/academy/lesson/postmodernism-in-literature-definition-lesson-quiz.html -
Historical Event-WWII Ends
WWII ended in Europe with Germany's surrender. http://myweb.fsu.edu/cupchurch/Resources/Timeline_ModBrit.html -
Major Work-The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia was published in 1950. http://www.biography.com/people/cs-lewis-9380969#teaching-career-and-wartime-broadcasts -
Historical Event-British in Korea
British troops were sent to aid Americans in the Korean War. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/present_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Major Work-Lord of the Flies
William Golding's Lord of the Flies was published in 1954. http://www.shmoop.com/lord-of-the-flies/ -
Major Work-The Fellowship of the Ring
JRR Tolkien published The Fellowship of the Ring in 1954. http://www.biography.com/people/jrr-tolkien-9508428#career-as-a-scholar-and-writer -
Major Writer-Ian McEwan
McEwan has earned international acclaim with his novels such as Atonement and Saturday. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2408.Ian_McEwan -
Period: to
Contemporary
Contemporary literature often deals with breaking down old boundaries and the struggle to find meaning in the world. It also questions human perception of the world. Contemporary works often shift from elevated language to lower level language. http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/literature/21l-488-contemporary-literature-british-novels-now-spring-2007/lecture-notes/contemp_lit.pdf -
Major Writer-Helen Fielding
Helen Fielding is the author of Bridget Jones's Diary. -
Major Writer-JK Rowling
Best known for her Harry Potter series, JK Rowling is a famous author whose books began a trend of young adult fiction. -
Historical Event-Princess Diana Dies
Princess Diana of Wales died in a car crash in Paris. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/present_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Historical Event-9/11
Islamic terrorists hijacked planes and crashed into the Twin Towers and Pentagon killing 3,000 people. This began the War on Terrorism. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/present_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Historical Event-Britain Backs the US
Britain gave military support to the US in their invasion of Iraq. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/present_timeline_noflash.shtml -
Major Author-King Alfred the Great
King Alfred the Great translated many works from Latin. These works included several religious works such as The Pastor's Book and Baede's Church HIstory. http://www.bsu.by/Cache/pdf/209613.pdf
