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Period: 450 to 1066
Old English beginning
The term Anglo-Saxon comes from two Germanic tribes: the Angles and the Saxons. This period of literature dates back to their invasion (along with the Jutes) of Celtic England circa 450. The era ends in 1066 when Norman France, under William, conquered England. -
700
Beowulf
The highest achievement of Old English literature. The author of Beowulf is unknown. It is possible that the poem was composed by and transmitted between several different poets before it was preserved in a single manuscript that dates to about 1000. -
871
Alfred the Great
He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. -
975
Exeter Book
The largest extant collection of Old English poetry. The manuscript was given to Exeter Cathedral by Bishop Leofric (died 1072). It begins with some long religious poems: the Christ, in three parts; two poems on St. Guthlac; the fragmentary “Azarius”; and the allegorical Phoenix. -
1000
Junius Manuscript
Given in 1651 to the scholar Franciscus Junius by Archbishop James Ussher of Armagh and now in the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. -
Period: 1066 to 1500
Middle English
The Middle English Period consists of the literature produced in the four and a half centuries between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and about 1500, when the standard literary language, derived from the dialect of the London area, became recognizable as "modern English." -
1200
The Brut
Lawamon, also spelled Layamon or Laghamon, (flourished 12th century), early Middle English poet, author of the romance-chronicle the Brut (c. 1200), one of the most notable English poems of the 12th century. -
1200
Ormulum
Orm, also called Ormin, (flourished c. 1200), Augustinian canon, author of an early Middle English book of metrical homilies on the Gospels, to which he gave the title Ormulum, “because Orm made it.” -
1370
Geoffrey Chaucer
His earliest substantial poems, the Book of the Duchess (c. 1370) and the House of Fame (1370s), were heavily indebted to the fashionable French courtly love poetry of the time. -
1387
Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English. -
Period: 1500 to
The renaissance
The English Renassance began with the ascent of the House of Tudor to the Englsih Throne in 1485, the English Literary Renaissnace began with the Englsih Humanists such as SIr Thomas More and Sir Thomas Wyatt -
1558
ELIZABETHAN
The Elizabethan Age of English Literature coincides with the reign of Elizabeth I. During this time medieval tradition blended with Renaissance optimism. Lyric poetry, prose and drama were major styles of literature that were made in the Elizabethan Age. -
1564
William Shakespeare
English poet, playwright and actor, widely regarded as both the greatest writer in the English language, and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet, and the "Bard of Avon" - Romeo and Juliet -
1580
Thomas Middleton
English Jacobean playwright and poet. Middleton stands with John Fletcher and Ben Jonson among the most successful and prolific of the playwrights who wrote their best plays during the Jacobean period - The Changeling -
Daniel Defoe
An English writer, trader, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. -
Period: to
Neoclassical period
The Neoclassical Period of English was influenced by contemporary French Literature, which was in the midst of its greatest age. This literature is known for use of philosphy, reason, skepticism, wit and refinement. The Neoclassical Period marks that first great age of English Literary critism. -
John Milton
An English poet and intellectual who served as a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under its Council of State and later under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote at a time of religious and political instability, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667). Written in blank verse, Paradise Lost is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever written. -
Jane Austen
An English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. -
Samuel Johnson
An English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. -
Period: to
The romantic period
The Romantic Period of English Literature began in the late 18th century and lasted until about 1832. In a nutshell, Romantic Literature is characterised by it personal nature, its strong use od feeling, its abundant use of symbolism and the exploration of nature and the supernatural. The Romantics were considered innovative based on their belief that literature could be spontanteous, imaginative, personal and free. -
Mary Shelley
An English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. -
Alfred Lord Tennyson
He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his first pieces, "Timbuktu". -
Charlotte Brontë
An English novelist and poet, some publications: The Young Men's Magazine, Number 1 – 3 (August 1830)
The Spell
The Secret
Lily Hart
The Foundling -
Period: to
The victorian period
The Victorian Period of Literature begins with the accession of Queen Victoria onto the throne in 1837 and lasted till her death. As the Victorian period is six decades long 1870 is often used to spilt it into "eraly victorian" and "late victorian". Overall Victorian literature deals with the issues and problems of the day. -
H.G Wells
He was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called the "father of science fiction", along with Jules Verne and the publisher Hugo Gernsback. -
Virginia Woolf
She was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and also a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Some publications: The Voyage out, To the Lighthouse, The years. -
Katherine Mansfield
She was a prominent modernist writer who was born and brought up in New Zealand. She wrote short stories and poetry under the pen name Katherine Mansfield.
In a German Pension (1911),
Bliss and Other Stories (1920)
The Garden Party and Other Stories
The Doves' Nest and Other Stories -
T.S Elliot
He was a poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor.[2] Considered one of the 20th century's major poets, he is a central figure in English-language Modernist poetry.
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
The Waste Land
The Hollow Men
Ash-Wednesday -
Martin Heidegger
He was a German philosopher who is widely regarded as one of the most important philosophers of the 20th century. He is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. -
Period: to
The Edwardian period
The Edwardian Period is named after the King Edward VII and spans from Queen VIctorias death till the beggining of WWI. During this time the British Empire was at its height and lived lives of materialistic luxury. However despite this four firths of the population lived in the squalor. The writigns fromthe Edwardian Period reflect deeply on these social conditions. For example some authors attacked the selfishness of the upperclass. -
Period: to
The modern period
The Modern Period of British Literature applies to British Literature written since the beggining of WWI. The authors of this period experimented with subject matter, form and style. They have produced achievments in all literary genres. -
Period: to
Postmodern
After WWII, the Postmodern of British Literature developed. Postmodernism blends literary genres and styles and attempts to break free of modernist forms. While the British literary scene at the turn of the new millenium is crowded and varied, the authors still fall into the categories of modernism and postmodernism. However, with the passage of time the Modern era may be reorganized and expanded
