Chronological Overview_ English Literature

Old English (Anglo-Saxon Period): 450–1066

450

The history of English Literature begins with the Germanic tradition of the Anglo-Saxon settlers. Beowulf is the earliest and most popular work in Old English Literature. As the Normans conquested England, Middle English replaced the Old English and was used by the father of English Literature, Geoffrey Chaucer in his famous work, The Canterbury Tales. William Shakespeare came to be considered as the most iconic and greatest writer in the history of English Literature.

The Middle English Period: 1066-1500

1066

This period started with the Norman Conquest in1066 and ended with the end of fifteenth century. There are two ages in this period. The span from 1066 to 1340 is called Anglos-Norman Period because the literature of that period was written mainly in Anglo-Norman, the French dialect spoken by the new ruling class of England. The period from 1340 to 1400 is called the Age of Chaucer because Chaucer, the great poet, dominated this period. The time from 1066 to 1500 is also called the Middle Ages.

The Renaissance: 1500-1600

1500

This period is often subdivided into four parts, including the Elizabethan Age (1558–1603), the Jacobean Age (1603–1625), the Caroline Age (1625–1649), and the Commonwealth Period (1649–1660). The "Early Modern Age" period, but here we retain the historically familiar term "Renaissance".Some of its notable figures include Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Edmund Spenser, Sir Walter Raleigh, and, of course, William Shakespeare.

The Neoclassical Period: 1600-1785

1600

This period was divided into:
*The Restoration (1660–1700), period sees some response to the puritanical age, especially in the theater. Restoration comedies (comedies of manner) developed during this time under the talent of playwrights such as William Congreve and John Dryden.
*The Augustan Age (1700–1745)
*The Age of Sensibility (1745–1785).

The Romantic Period: 1785-1832

1785

Politics and economics were influential in this period, and many writers were inspired by the French Revolution. There were social changes during this period, calls for the abolition of slavery grew stronger during this time, with more open writings about their objections. The writers of this time were not considered romantic, the Victorian writers cataloged them in this way for their ability to capture the emotion and tenderness of man.

The Victorian Age: 1832-1901

1832

The many changes that make the Victorian era the most progressive in English history, three trends can be discovered that have profoundly affected contemporary life and literature; political and democratic; "scientific" and imperialism". People of this period who were important Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, Charles Dickens, William Makepeace among others.

The Edwardian Period: 1901-1914

1901

Because of the era's short length in time, there is an overlap between Victorian and Edwardian literature. Renowned authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Conrad were prolific in both periods and could be considered either Victorian or Edwardian. For that reason, we will primarily look at individual texts written between 1901 and 1914. The writers George Bernard Shaw and E.M. Forster are much more closely associated with the era and helped bring forward a dramatic shift in storytelling.

The Georgian Period: 1910-1936

1910

Named after the reigns of Georges I–IV (1714–1830), was a period of major economic, social, and cultural upheavals, during which Britain became a modern, global superpower, thereby setting the stage for the world we live in.
To better understand and debate these issues, we shall read comedies, poems, essays, and novels by such authors as Susanna Centlivre, Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Eliza Haywood, Samuel Richardson, William Blake, and Mary Shelley, including "Frankenstein."

Modern Period: Early 20th century (1914-1945)

1914

Modernism is a period in literary history which started around the early 1914s and continued until the early 1945s. Modernist writers in general rebelled against clear-cut storytelling and formulaic verse from the 19th century. Many Modernists wrote in free verse and they included many countries and cultures in their poems. Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman are thought to be the mother and father of the movement because they had the most direct influence on early Modernists.

Postmodern Period: Mid-20th century (1945 – 2000)

1945

Postmodern literature’s precursor, emphasized a quest for meaning, suggesting the author as an enlightenment-style creator of order and mourning the chaotic world—examples include James Joyce, T.S. Eliot, and Virginia Woolf. Characteristics of Postmodern; embrace of randomness, playfulness, fragmentation, metafiction, and titertextuality. Notable Postmodern Authors; John Barth, Samuel Beckett, Italo Calvino, Don DeLillo, John Fowles, Joseph Heller, among others.

The contemporary period: 2000 - onwards

2000

Is a period that is hard to define because it is so vast. It includes everything written after World War II till the present day. It includes novels written in all genres styles and with many different intentions. Writers over the last 70 years have done a great deal of experimentation. They often utilize strong, memorable characters, experiment with new styles of poetry, and challenge the reader to reconsider their contemporary world.