History of English Literature

History of English Literature

English literature refers to all written work created in the English language. Life is reflected through literature. It is a reflection of the society in which it is produced. The word literature is derived from the Latin word ‘litaritura,’ which means “letter-organized writing.” Language, origin, historical time, genre, and topic matter are all used to categorise literature. It only includes works written in English in the British Isles as English literature. Everything else written in English outside of the British Isles is classified as American literature, Canadian literature, and so on. The earliest form of English is Anglo-Saxon, sometimes known as old English. From 600 A.D. to 1100 A.D., Old English was thought to have been spoken. Beowulf is the first English epic, and its author is unknown. Despite the fact that the poetry is of little interest to modern readers, it is a significant piece of poetry from the Old English period. Because it paints a fascinating picture of life and practice at the time.

When we look at the history of English literature, we can see that it is divided into eight (8) major periods and a variety of ages. 

The most important 8 periods of English Literature are:

The Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period (450–1066)

The Anglo-Norman or Middle English period (1066–1500)

The Renaissance Period (1500–1660)

The Neoclassical Period (1660–1798)

The Romantic Period (1798–1837)

The Victorian Period (1837–1901)

The Modern Period (1901-1945)

The Contemporary Period (1945–Today)

History of English Literature Chart and Brief Overview

History of English Literature Summary

If you’re looking for notes on English Literature’s history, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve broken down English Literature’s vast history in its eight distinct periods.

The Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period (450–1066)

Anglo-Saxon is derived from two Germanic tribes: the Angles and the Saxons. This literary period begins around 450 when they invaded Celtic England (together with the Jutes). In 1066, Norman France, led by William, defeated England, bringing the period to a close. The historical events that happened in that period greatly influenced the literature at the time. Though Christianity was present, paganism dominated the literature in this period.

Oral literature dominated the first part of this period—at least until the seventh century. Some writings, such as Beowulf and those by period poets Caedmon and Cynewulf, are notable; but, much of the literature during this time was a translation of something else or otherwise legal, medicinal, or religious.

The Anglo-Norman or Middle English period (1066–1500)

The Middle English period marks a significant shift in England’s language, culture, and way of life, resulting in what we now identify as “modern” (recognisable) English. The period lasts until roughly 1500. Much of the Middle English texts were religious in character, as they were in the Old English period; nevertheless, secular literature began to emerge from 1350. Chaucer, Thomas Malory, and Robert Henryson all lived during this time period. “Piers Plowman” and “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” are two notable works.

Morality plays, miracle plays, and interludes were among the most highly regarded works of the Mediaeval English Literature era. ‘Everyman’ was a popular Morality play at the period, and Miracle plays were commonly presented in churches and were based on the Bible.

The Renaissance Period (1500–1660)

Although critics and literary historians have begun to refer to this time as “Early Modern,” we will continue to refer to it as “Renaissance.” The period includes the Elizabethan Age (1558–1603), the Jacobean Age (1603–1625), the Caroline Age (1625–1649), and the Commonwealth Period (1649–1660) are commonly separated into four parts. 

English play flourished throughout the Elizabethan period. Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, Edmund Spenser, Sir Walter Raleigh, and, of course, William Shakespeare are among its notable personalities. The Jacobean Age is named after the reign of James I. John Donne, Shakespeare, Michael Drayton, John Webster, Elizabeth Cary, Ben Jonson, and Lady Mary Wroth are among the authors represented. During the Jacobean period, the King James Bible was also published. The Caroline Age spans Charles I’s (“Carolus”) reign. Among the famous figures are John Milton, Robert Burton, and George Herbert.

Finally, between the end of the English Civil War and the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, the Commonwealth Period was designated. This was the time when Puritan Oliver Cromwell led Parliament, which dominated the country. To avoid public assembly and combat moral and religious breaches, public theatres were shuttered (for nearly two decades) at this period. Political writings like John Milton and Thomas Hobbes emerged, and prose authors such as Thomas Fuller, Abraham Cowley, and Andrew Marvell produced prolifically.

The Neoclassical Period (1660–1798)

The Restoration (1660–1700), The Augustan Age (1700–1745), and The Age of Sensibility (1745–1785) are all periods within the neoclassical period. The Restoration period sees some response to the puritanical age, especially in the theatre. Restoration comedies (comedies of style) arose during this period, thanks to the work of authors such as William Congreve and John Dryden. As indicated by Samuel Butler’s popularity, satire too became highly popular. Aphra Behn, John Bunyan, and John Locke are among the other renowned writers of the period. The imitation of Virgil and Horace’s writings in English letters are the hallmark of this period. Addison, Steele, Swift, and Alexander Pope are among the best-known English authors. Voltaire was the most well-known French author outside of France.

This time represents the beginning of the move to Romanticism, albeit it is still predominantly Neoclassical. Dr Samuel Johnson, Boswell, and Edward Gibbon are examples of Neoclassical authors, while Robert Burns, Thomas Gray, Cowper, and Crabbe are examples of writers who moved away from the Neoclassical ideal. This time is known in America as the Colonial Period. Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine are among the colonial and revolutionary writers represented.

The Romantic Period (1798–1837)

The beginning of the Romantic period is a point of debate between historians. Some say it’s 1785, right after the Age of Sensibility ended. Others think it began in 1789, when the French Revolution began, while others believe it began in 1798 when William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s book Lyrical Ballads was published. The Romantic Age is basically the age of romance.

The romantic poet takes inspiration from Elizabethan masters- Shakespeare, Spenser and others and also focuses on and chooses the language of common people. The poet of the romantic era proved that poetry based on everyday life could also be interesting if only they are treated in the right way. The Augustan style of writing was likewise rejected by Romantic prose authors. They resorted to Renaissance writing, which was ponderous, poetical, and flowery.

Wordsworth, Coleridge, William Blake, Lord Byron, John Keats, Charles Lamb, Mary Wollstonecraft, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Thomas De Quincey, Jane Austen, and Mary Shelley are among the giants of this age. The Gothic era (from 1786 and 1800) is a smaller but equally popular period. Matthew Lewis, Anne Radcliffe, and William Beckford are notable writers from this time period.

The Victorian Period (1837–1901)

Victorian literature flourished in the period of Queen Victoria. The era saw the unification of romanticism and realism. This age was great for both poetry and prose. Alfred Lord Tennyson was the greatest poet of the Victorian era. Alfred’s poetry was passionate, and it admirably mirrored the era, with its blend of religious confusion and social conviction.

Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Christina Rossetti, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Matthew Arnold are among the poets of this period. At this time, Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, and Walter Pater were moving the essay form forward. Finally, under the tutelage of Charles Dickens, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Samuel Butler, prose fiction found its true home.

The Modern Period (20th Century Literature) 

The modern period is typically referred to as the work written after the start of World War 1. Common themes of the era were bold experimentation with the subject matter, style, narratives, verse and drama. In this era, New Criticism also emerged which was led by the likes of Woolf, Eliot, William Empson and others. 

This period saw a completely different approach to poetry, the poets of the modern era believed that poets should use poetry to project their thought in it and to find themselves through poetry T. S. Eliot is the most famous poet of the twentieth century. He was a renowned poet and critic who used his poetry to support his political beliefs, having a huge effect on modern poetry. Modern drama and novels were one of the greatest contributions to English Literature.

History of English Literature Books

There are many books to study the history of English Literature with a great deal of in-depth descriptions of the literary period and historical times. Listed below are some of the best books on the History of English Literature. 

There are many good books and, in fact, all books are good in a way! Hope this article helps you in understanding the History of English Literature.