-
420
Old English
The language of the Anglo-Saxons. Old English is now known as foreighn and dead. -
Jan 1, 1066
Middle English
In Middle English ideas and themes from French and Celtic literature appeared. Chaucer was the first great name in this period of English literature. He introduces the iambic pentameter line, rhyming couplet and other rhymes. -
1500
Tudor Lyric Poetry 1500's - 1600's
Lyric poetry in English begins in the 16th century with the work the great poets such as Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, -
1520
Renaissance Drama 1520-1625
The introduction of theater with writers such as Marlowe and Shakespeare. -
1572
Elizabethan Lyric Poetry 1572-1700's
Elizabethan Lyric Poetry metaphysical poetry.The greatest of Elizabethan lyric poets is John Donne whose short love poems are involve wit and irony. Many poets of this era were preoccupied with the big questions of love, death and religious faith. -
Epic Poetry 1600's - 1700's
Epic Poetry were long poems that told about heroic events. These poets include Homer and John Milton. -
Prose Fiction 1600's - 1700's
Writers such as Johnathon Swift wrote satires and prose. The most popular was "Gulliver's Travels". -
Romanticism 1785-1830
-
Reaslism 1860-1890
Beginning in the 19th century, Realism focuses on the actual rather than the abstract. -
Modern Literature 1865-present
Realism is still part of today's modern literature. Of course there are many differences, however, between 19th century, 20th century, and 21st century writers.
