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450 BCE
Old English (Anglo Saxon) Period (450-1066)
Caedmon's Anthem
where they say it is because of the oral tradition that part of English literature begins, naming some of the past like Northumbriam, Kentish. The first written texts were located in the seventh century. Writers from the Old English period Ælfric (955?-1020?) [Dark Ages] A monk of the late Old English period who wrote prolifically, often on linguistic matters. -
1066
Middle English period (1066-1500)
which shows the time when cultural life was influenced by the church which spread throughout Asia and Europe, also the time where there were anonymous writers, there was the allegorical fable, secular letters, verse.
Further reading on Middle English Simon Horobin and Jeremy Smith, An Introduction to Middle English (2002)
Roger Lass, ‘Phonology and morphology’, in Norman Blake, ed. The Cambridge History of the English Language, vol. ii: 1066–1476 (1992), 23–155. -
1500
The Renaissance period (1500-1660)
Highlights the faith in the nobility of humanism, a positive disposition to learn and explore, it was believed that it was the rebirth of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, it was also the birth of comedy, drama and exceptions. In 1476, William Caxton introduced the printing press to England. From that moment, vernacular literature began to flourish. -
The Neoclassical period (1600 -1785),
which is characterized by order, precision and structure, the classical art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome were also inspired, the dominance of materialism and empirical science began, and the drama restoration. -
The Romantic period (1785-1832)
when the French revolution begins, the Gothic era, the glorification of nature, begins with the awareness and recognition of emotions, artistic creativity and imagination is celebrated, preference begins to be in aesthetic beauty, they talk about more issues about society, search for spiritual and supernatural elements, sensory descriptions are made, and there are poetic writings where we show the lyrics and verse. -
The Edwardian period (1901-1914) Georgian Period (1910-1936)
when luxury could be noticed between the rich and the powerful, there was the first world war, some revolutionary movements such as cubism, post-impressionism, expressionism and futurism, as well as constructivism and Dadaism. Also found the use of metaphor in the writings and symbolism. This is how the beginning of the word tithe was known. -
The Post-Modernisnm period (1914-2000)
The most prominent novelists of the interwar period were D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, the latter a member of the Bloomsbury group. The most important writers of popular literature were P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie.
Where individualism, experimentation, symbolism, formalism and relativism product of wars and past experiences are perceived, the theory of psychoanalysis and irrational philosophy is born, period also known as the lost generation. -
The Contemporany period (2000- Present)
At this time, free expression stands out, where the narrative is the one that best adapts to the market. is characterized by lack of prevailing trends, we can find many styles and each author has his own way of language.
Writers of the Old English period
J.R.R. Tolkien
Known for being the author of classic fantasy novels. One of his greatest works known worldwide is "The Lord of the Rings".