History of English Literature by Valentina Cárdenas Villero

Old English period (Anglo-Saxon)

1450

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 around 450. The era ends in 1066 when Norman France, under William, conquered England.

Middle English period

1500

The Middle English period sees a great transition in the language, culture and lifestyle of England and results in what we can recognize today as a "modern" (recognizable) form of English. The era extends to about 1500. As with the Old English period, much of the Middle English writing was religious in nature; however, from about 1350 onward, secular literature began to grow.

The Renaissance

1500

Recently, critics and literary historians have begun to call this the "Early Modern Age" period, but here we retain the historically familiar term "Renaissance." This period is often subdivided into four parts, including the Elizabethan Age (1558-1603), the Jacobean Age (1603-1625), the Carolina Age (1625-1649), and the Commonwealth Period (1649-1660).

the neoclassical period

1600

The neoclassical period is also subdivided into ages, which include The Restoration (1660-1700), The Age of Augustus (1700-1745), and The Age of Sensitivity (1745-1785). The Restoration period sees some response to the Puritan age, especially in the theater. Restorative comedies (fashion comedies) were developed during this time under the talents of playwrights such as William Congreve and John Dryden. Satire also became very popular, as demonstrated by the success of Samuel Butler.

the romatc period

1785

The start date of the romantic period is often debated. Some claim it is 1785, immediately after the Age of Sensitivity. Others say that it began in 1789 with the start of the French Revolution, and others believe that 1798, the year of publication of the book Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is its true beginning.

The victorian period

1901

This period is named after the reign of Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne in 1837, and lasts until her death in 1901. It was a time of great social, religious, intellectual and economic problems, heralded by the passage of the Reform Project , which expanded voting rights.

The Edwardian period

1914

This period is named after King Edward VII and covers the period between Victoria's death and the outbreak of the First World War. Although it is a short period (and a short reign for Edward VII), the era includes incredible classic novelists such as Joseph Conrad, Ford Madox. Ford, Rudyard Kipling, HG Wells, and Henry James (who was born in America but spent most of his writing career in England);

The modern period

1914

The modern period is traditionally applied to works written after the start of the First World War. Common characteristics include bold experimentation with theme, style, and form, encompassing narrative, verse, and drama. Words by WB Yeats, “Things are falling apart; the center cannot stand, ”they are often mentioned when describing the basic principle or“ feeling ”of modernist concerns.

The Georgian period

1936

The Georgian period generally refers to the reign of George V (1910-1936), but sometimes also includes the reigns of the four successive Georges from 1714-1830. Here, we refer to the above description as it applies chronologically and covers, for example, Georgian poets, such as Ralph Hodgson, John Masefield, WH Davies, and Rupert Brooke.

The postmodern period

1945

The postmodern period begins around the time that World War II ended. Many believe that it is a direct response to modernism. Some say the period ended around 1990, but it is likely too early to declare it closed. Poststructuralist literary theory and criticism developed during this time.