-
Period: 450 to 1066
Old English
the old English era started with the Anglo-Saxon invasions.
The Germanic tribes (Angles, the Saxos and the Jutes) invaded Britain when the Romans left the country unprotected. Also with the reintroduction of Christianity, Pope Gregory wanted to convert the invaders' tribes to Christianity starting with the Jutes. -
597
Reestablishment of Christianity
Pope Gregory sent a monk to England to convert the tribes that invade this country, in order to reestablish Christianity. -
663
king of northumbria declare himself in favor of the roman approche
he also declared the Celtic church heretical making it easier for Rome to extend his authority over all Christians. -
700
Riddles
this kind of secular poetry started to appear between the 7th and 8th century, the riddles were the amusement of the time mainly for the aristocracy. -
731
The venerable Bede finished his book
The story of the English church and people is a chronology of English History from the time of the Romans until Bede's days. -
750
Religious Poetry
Caedmon and Cynewulf the two more representative authors of this poetry wrote the first poems of this gender, which had a heroic style but based on characters or subjects of the bibble. -
799
Widsith was written
it is a poem about Wonderings and conquests, the exact date is unknown but it was written at the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th -
800
Beowolf was written
it is one of the three heroic poetry surviving of this era, an epic and narrative poem that gives a picture of the culture and society of the Germanic people. -
800
Elegiac poetry
this kind of poetry was considered pagan Germanic narrative because the main topic was self-pity and loss of happiness, the two representative poems of this kind of poetry are the wanderer and the seafarer, which are believed were written in the 8th century. -
950
the eddas was taking shape
in iceland, the Eddas started taking shape from earlier sources in Norway Britain and Burgundy. -
1000
Aelfric wrote homilies
Also, he was the first who translated one of the seventh books of the old testimony into a West Saxon form of English. -
1066
William the conqueror was crowned
with his coronation norman dynasty was established in England -
Period: 1066 to 1500
Middle English
Christian values and practices were already established, also the Norman conquest was the last of a series of migrations that put an end to a roman empire, also literature adjusted to the change, on the other hand, the heroic age was replaced by a feudal society. -
1095
Begining of the crusades
crusades were campaigns organized for the Christian church, in order to retake the holy land invade by the Mussulmans -
1200
Geoffrey Monmouth wrote Historia Regum Britanniae
It gives a picture of the Anglo-Saxon invasions as seen through the eyes of the retreating Celts, and it is full of characters that were to become famous in English literature. It is here that the stories of Lear and Cymbeline appeared for the first time; we also find for the first time the full story of the exploits of King Arthur. -
1215
The Great Charter was issued
The king Jhon issued the Great Charter, it establishes for the first time that everybody was subjected to the law even the king, it was a solution for the political crisis of the time. -
1230
Ancrene Wisse was written
it was one of the most remarkable prose, in it the author's used proverbs, anecdotes, character sketches and realistic details of all kinds, to describe the different aspects of the daily life and also he added some interest to it. -
1250
The Upper Classes began to use English
thanks to this fact variety of literature started to be written in English -
1250
Wace translated Historia Regum Britanniae
the translation of this book was named roman de Brut it mentioned the knights of the round table for the first time. -
1300
Layamon Translated Roman de Brut
he translated into English verse and this is how Arthurian legends appeared in English literature. -
1350
English literature reach a climax
Because English started to be used for everyone, it was a golden age for the English literature -
1360
Piers Plowman appears for the first time
the author of this book is uncertain but is attributed to william Langland, Piers Plowman expresses the nonconformism with the Christian church, three versions of this poem exist and this was the first one. -
1386
Geoffrey Chaucer write Troilus and Criseyde
this was the first of many great books he wrote, it was written between 1380 and 1386, a poem of Tragic love in Ancient Times. -
1387
Canterbury tales
Chaucer began the Canterbury tales, he could only write 24 until his death in 1.400 -
1485
Le morte d'Arthur was pulished
A compilation of tales about king Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin, and the knights of the round table, written by Thomas Malory -
1490
sr Gawain and the green knight was published
the exact date is unknown but according to different sources it was publushed at the end of the 14th century -
Period: 1500 to
The Renaissance
Renaissance means rebirth, the name is due to the re-discovery of the ancient Greece and Rome culture, literature, and Arts among others, this age allowed man to discover himself and the importance and beauty of life on the earth.
Writers of the Renaissance were freer and more critical in their writings, this idea of the human as the focus of interest was called humanism. -
1515
Thomas More Writes Utopia
he was a precursor of humanism in England, under the reigns of Henry VIII -
1526
William Tyndale published his version of the translation of the new testament.
After he proposed to translate the holy scripts, the king turned down his proposal and he was sent to exile, but the translation of the book was well received for everyone. -
1527
Thomas Wyatt began a Diplomatic Career
in his job as a Diplomatic he was sent to France and Rome, this allowed him to explore the humanistic ideas, he introduced into English poetry a new poetic pattern called the sonnet, which
he imported from Italy. -
1533
the Play of the weather was presented
John Heywood one of the most important Tudor drama writers presented his play to the court for the first time and it was well received until the Elizabethan period. -
1558
the elizabethan Period started
it was a period of religious tolerance, a period of a full monarchy, but at least some laws in favour of poor people where created.
lyrical poetry reached a climax, Queen Elizabeth made possible to explore new land, it was a good age for architecture, and music as well. -
1564
William Shakespeare and Marlow were born
the two more influence artist and writers of the age -
1568
the church published Bishop's Bible
this book is the official translation approved for the church of the new testament. -
1576
the first theatre was build
-
Tamburlaine the Great was performed for the first time
this play was written by Christopher Marlowe, this literary piece was written in black verse -
The Faerie Queen was Published
Edmund Spencer is the author of this poem, as a complement to the Queen Elizabeth -
Astrophel and Stella was written
After Shakespeare’s sonnets, Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella is considered the finest Elizabethan sonnet cycle, sr. Philip Sidney was the author of this sonnet. -
Shakespeare uses Realism and Romance
in the comedy, Twelfth Night reached a Perfect reconciliation of realism and romance. -
Hamlet the first of Shakespeare's complex tragedies was written
shakespeare explored the problem of action and the reflective mind -
Jacobean edge started
during this period, the first colonies established in the new land, The unification of England and Scotland under one ruler was a big step to shape their existence to the present day. -
Shakespeare wrote Othello
othello together with Macbeth and king lear, were the most important Shakespeare's tragedies of the era, he expressed his thinking about the interesting forms of evil. -
the first version of the king jame's bible appeared
-
The Poet Ben Jonson becomes England's first poet
-
Robert Burton wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy
it becomes one of the most popular books of the edge. -
John Heminge and Henry Condell publish thirty-six Shakespeare plays in the First Folio
-
Caroline era started
-
The temple by George Herbert was Published
it has become the best known religious English poem in the English literature. -
L'Allegro was published
the author of this book is Jhon Milton, it was published in London as a part of the collection. -
The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America was Published
the Author Anne Bradstreet was the first woman poet to be recognized as an accomplished new poet, her book was a best seller 8 years after its publication in London. -
Period: to
Puritan Age
It is marked by the decadence of the Renaissance the literature of this age was characterized for the tales about the new land and the struggle of daily life. The main genres of writing included religious sermons, historical narrative, personal journals, and poetry. -
Jhon Dryden moved to England to start his career as a professional writter
he was one of the most important poets of the restoration age, some of his most representative works are, the Indian Queen, The Hind and the Panther, Absalom and Achitophel. -
The theatres were reopened
-
Period: to
Restoration Age
Monarchy was restored in England, King Charles II demanded that English poetry and drama should follow the style of French Writers; the interests in science began to grow. there was a social transformation with the beginning of gaiety and cheerfulness. -
The foundation of the Royal Society for the Advancement of Science
It was the beginning of the scientific age, The Royal Society was supported not only by scientists but also by poets, such as Cowley, Dryden, Waller, and by the diarists Evelyn and Pepys. -
Aphra Behn was employee for the king charles II
Aphra was imprisoned for debts and his job didn't reward her so he started to write to support herself, her first playThe Forc’d Marriage, was produced in 1670. -
John Bunyan With his Pilgrim's Progress reached distinction
Bunyan was the only English writer of prose fiction in this
period to achieve permanent distinction and fame. -
Aphra Behn's novel Oroonoko is published
it makes an early protest against the inhumanity of the African slave trade -
The Bill of Rights and The Act of tolerance were signed
King William III of Holland and the queen had to sign these documents to put an and to the struggle between the Stuart kings and the English people and Parliament. England became the first constitutional monarchy in Europa. -
John Locke published his Essay
his essay "Concerning Human Understanding", he argues that all knowledge is based on experience. -
Samuel Pepys ended his diary
this text is unique because he kept it away from public eyes, so what he wrote with complete candour and objectivity -
Period: to
18th century literature
this era was characterized for reason and passion, it was an age of balance, It preserved
the Restoration love of rational simplification in life, thought and art. There was the same confidence in common sense, the same trust in empirical thinking rather than in the forms of a priori reasoning leading to some metaphysical truth. -
Augustan age started
Marked by civil peace and prosperity, the age reached its highest literary expression in poetry, a polished and sophisticated verse generally addressed to a patron or to the emperor Augustus and dealing with themes of patriotism, love, and nature. -
the Tatler opened its doors.
it first its avowed intention was to present accounts of gallantry, pleasure, and entertainment, of poetry, and of foreign and domestic news but In time The Tatler began to investigate manners and society, establishing its principles of ideal behavior, its concepts of a perfect gentleman and gentlewoman, and its standards of good taste -
George Berkeley made an antithesis of lock ideas
in his book "A treatise concerning the principle of human knowledge", he attacks locks idea about the nature of human perception. -
Pope started to write the rape of the lock
this was the first Pope's masterpieces, Pope uses classical epic devices to deal with a trivial subject. These devices are burlesque without vulgarity. In fact, Pope mocks the fashionable society of his time but at the same time reveals his passionate attachment to its elegance. -
Alexander pope formed the lively Scriblerus Club
he associated with Swift, Gay, Arbuthnot, and Congreve to created this club, whose object was to "ridicule all false tastes in learning”. Together they wrote the memoirs of a fictional German scholar, Martinus Scriblerus. -
Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe
it is generally seen as a contender for the first English novel, it is one of the most famous books of adventure, -
Jonathan Swift published his more famous book
Gulliver’s Travels combines adventure with savage satire, mocking English customs and the politics of the day. -
David Hume published "Treatise of Human Nature"
Hume argues that passion rather than reason governs human behavior -
the Longest novel Written in English literature was published
Clarissa is a masterpiece written by Samuel Richardson, it belongs to the romance gender and after its publication was a success. -
Tom Jones was first Published
This novel By Henry Fielding described the life and journey of Tom a Young boy, through his adulthood and marriage. -
Age of sensibility started
-
The first English Dictionary was Published
After nine years of hard work Samuel Johnson Published the first dictionary of English, the Oxford dictionary was not written until 190 years after its publication. -
Laurence Sterne published the first two volumes of Tristram Shandy
it is composed of nine volumes. -
The Publication of the Encyclopedia Britannica began
it has only three volumes, nowadays this encyclopedia still exist -
The decline and fall of the roman empire was published
by the English historian Edward Gibbon. It traces Western civilization from the height of the Roman Empire to the fall of Byzantium as well as the Islamic and Mongolian conquests: -
A collection of Poet's biographies was written
Before his death, Samuel Jhonson wrote lives of the most eminent English Poets, a collection of biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets. -
The most representative Author of the age died
after many contributions to the English Literature, Samuel Johnson died in London at the age of 75. -
Mary Wollstonecraft started working as translator
She worked in London publisher James Johnson, later he would help her with the publication of some of her books. -
William Blake published Songs of innocence
is a collection of illustrated lyrical poetry, William Blake create the illustrations himself. -
The First feminist text was published
Mary Wollstonecraft is the author of the work "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman work" she argued that the educational system of her time deliberately trained women to be frivolous and incapable. She posited that an educational system that allowed girls the same advantages as boys would result in women who would be not only exceptional wives and mothers but also capable workers in many professions. -
The age of reason was published
written by Thomas Pine, he was a Political Activist who in this book attacks Christianity -
Jane Austen started to write her master piece
Pride And Prejudice was published as anonymous in 1813 -
The era of the Romanticism started to showing up.
Lyrical Ballads is a collection of poems, Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, -
Period: to
Romanticism
this Period was Inspired by the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution, author of this age gave a lot of importance to human feelings and emotions. -
Tales of Shakespeare was published
it is an English Children book, written by Charles and Mary Lamb -
Brothers Grimm published their most famous book
Grimm's FairyTales, Despite the title, the stories serve as a collection of traditional folktales that are often dark and not meant for children. -
Mary Shelley published Frankenstein
-
Percy Bysshe Shelley published the sonnet Ozymandias
it is probably one of his most-known Poems -
Percy Bysshe Shelley Published Prometheus Unbound
it is a Four-act lyrical drama, based on the torments of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus, who defies the gods and gives fire to humanity, for which he is subjected to eternal punishment and suffering at the hands of Zeus -
English author Thomas De Quincey publishes Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
it is an autobiographical text. -
William Cobbett begins his journeys round England
later, he published his book Rural Rides in 1830 -
The First American language Dictionary was published
Noah Webster is the author -
Victor Hugo published the hunchback of Notre Dame
-
slavery is abolished in Britain
In July 1833, a Bill to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire passed in the House of Commons, followed by the House of Lords on 1st August. -
Queen Victoria Tooke the Throne
On 20 June 1837, King William IV died at the age of 71, and 18 years old Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom. -
Period: to
Victorian Age
happened under the reign of Queen Victoria, the literature of this age is a hybrid between romanticism and realistic style of writing. The reclaiming of the past was a major part of Victorian literature and was to be found in both classical literature and also the medieval literature of England. The Victorians loved the heroic, chivalrous stories of knights of old and they hoped to regain some of that noble, courtly behavior and impress it upon the people both at home and in the wider empire. -
The second novel of Charles Dickens was Published
Oliver Twist was very popular when it was first published, partially because of its scandalous subject matter. It depicted crime and murder without holding back—causing it, in Victorian London, to be classed as a “Newgate novel” (named after Newgate Prison in London). -
Edward Lear published his Book of Nonsense
Published under the pseudonym ‘Derry down Derry, The limericks and illustrations (which Lear himself drew) were adapted from those Lear produced to amuse the children of Lord Stanley while he was staying with the family at Knowsley. -
Alfred Lord Tenysson named poet Laurete of Great Britain
-
Peter Mark Roget published his dictionary of synonyms,
The Author was from London he as a physician the dictionary was published under the name of Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases -
Charles Darwin placed his 20 years of research in On the Origin of Species
is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. Darwin's book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. -
Ellen Wood publishes her first novel, East Lynne.
it becomes the basis of the most popular of all Victorian melodramas -
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was Published
The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. -
Lewis Carroll publishes Through the Looking Glass,
the second story of Alice's adventures. -
H.G. Wells publishes The Time Machine
a story about a Time Traveller whose first stop on his journey is the year 802701 -
Oscar Wilde's most brilliant comedy was performed
it was performed in London's St. James Theatre under the name of The Importance of Being Earnest -
English author Bram Stoker publishes Dracula
his gothic tale of vampirism in Transylvania -
Queen Victoria Dies
-
Period: to
Modern Literature Age
This Age main characteristic was the wondering of the future, people began to write fiction about the future, Modernist fiction spoke of the inner self and consciousness. Instead of progress, the Modernist writer saw a decline in civilization. Instead of new technology, the Modernist writer saw cold machinery and increased capitalism, which alienated the individual and led to loneliness. -
Joseph Conrad PublishednThe Heart of Darkness
most of Conrad's tales and stories are inspired on his many years of traveling and sailing. -
Peter pan by J.M Barrier presented on stage
after its performance in London, it was a total success; Audiences were drawn into the fantastical tale of the flying boy who never grew up and his adventures in Neverland with the Darling children -
If by Ruyard kipling was published
-
Ludwig Wittgenstein moves to Cambridge to study philosophy under Bertrand Russell
Regarded by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century. Wittgenstein’s two major works, Logisch-philosophische Abhandlung (1921; Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, 1922) and Philosophische Untersuchungen (published posthumously in 1953; Philosophical Investigations), have inspired a vast secondary literature and have done much to shape subsequent developments in philosophy, especially within the analytic tradition. -
Rebecca West published her first novel, The Return of the Soldier
The novel recounts the return of the shell shocked Captain Chris Baldry from the trenches of the First World War from the perspective of his cousin Jenny. The novel grapples with the soldier's return from World War I with mental trauma and its effects on the family, and the light it sheds on their fraught relationships. -
The gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey makes his first appearance in Dorothy Sayers' Whose Body?
-
Radclyffe Hall's novel The Well of Loneliness
it is the first to deal openly with a lesbian subject. -
The Devil and the Lady was published
this collection of poems was written in the youth of Alfred Lord, and published after his death. -
George Orwell Spanish described his Experienced in Spanish Civil War
-
Period: to
1940 to 2000 Age
Four main trends define the evolution of post-war English Literature the intensive commercialization of the book market, the expansion of literary criticism and literary theory, brought about by the
departments of English of the universities, old and new, the popularisation of audio-visual narrative media, which is often said to
be a direct cause of the alleged decline of Literature, and the growth of English Literature written by women and by post-colonial
writers. -
Fowles Graduated from oxford university
After his graduation, he wrote his first novel the collector, it was adapted to a film two years after its publication. -
Michael Holroyd left the army
After leaving the army he dedicated his life to writing, he is known for three biographies: two-volume work Lytton Strachey A Critical Biography, Holroyd's two-volume Augustus John and his four-volume biography of Shaw. -
Paul Scott traveled to india
this Trip inspired his most recognized work The Raj Quartet, a series of novels. -
Nicholas Kaldor published his last book
Economics without equilibrium -
Stephen Hawking publishedA Brief History of Time: from the Big Bang to Black Holes
In his book he explained basic concepts of physics and universe, it was taught for common readers without knowledge of scientific theories. -
Louis de Bernières published his first bookThe War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
his experience as a teacher in Colombia was important to determinate the style and setting of his first three novels. -
Phillip Pullman published the last book of the trilogy
The Amber Spyglass was named Children's Book of the Year at the 2001 British Book Awards and was the first children's book to be longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.[2] -
Period: to
Contemporary Age
literature that is writing right now, there is no official ideas of the characteristics of the literature of this age, only some concepts made of scholarships, it started after the end of the war, so many ideas for writing come from the concept or perception of this event.
