English literature is a vast and complex topic that spans from ancient mythology to post-apocalyptic science fiction. Knowing where to start when learning about it can be challenging, but we’re here to help. This article will investigate the various sorts of English literature and what they can teach you about the world around you. From classics such as The Great Gatsby to more contemporary works such as Middlesex, learn everything you need to understand this vast and fascinating field.
What is English Literature?
English literature is a body of written works produced in England from the early Middle Ages until the present. It has been divided into periods, Renaissance, Reformation, and Romantic, although these divisions are flexible. The term “literature” can also refer to works in any other language written in the English language, including Irish and Scottish Literature.
The earliest surviving texts date from before the Norman Conquest of 1066 and include poetry such as Beowulf and The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot. The 12th century sees the start of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, one of the most famous collections of stories in English and a major influence on subsequent literature. The 14th century saw the beginnings of William Shakespeare’s plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. Elizabeth I was a leading figure in English literature during the Tudor period, which saw a flowering of poetry such as John Donne’s sermons and sonnets. After her death, however, literary life in England declined for over 150 years until the Restoration in 1660, led by Charles II. William Shakespeare’s works were rediscovered and published for the first time since his death, giving rise to what is presently known as the Brilliant Age of English Literature. This period also saw the emergence of authors such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Virginia Woolf, still widely read today.
Types of English Literature
English literature can be broadly divided into four types: Classical, Romantic, Victorian, and Modern.
Classical English literature is written in the period from around 1600 to 1800. It is characterized by its high standards of form and grammar and its focus on realism and moral seriousness. Some well-known authors from this period include William Shakespeare, John Milton, and Alexander Pope.
Romantic English literature is written in the period from around 1750 to 1850. It is characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism over realism and formalism and its focus on exploring the human condition. Some well-known authors from this period include Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Mary Shelley.
Victorian English literature is written in the period from around 1837 to 1901. Its emphasis on society and technology characterizes it as factors shaping human behavior and its concern for social reform. Some well-known authors from this period include Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Rudyard Kipling.
Modern English literature is written from around 1920 to the present day. It is characterized by its emphasis on free expression over social reform or conformity and its focus on global themes such as identity politics or post-colonialism. Some well-known authors from this period include Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Margaret Atwood, and Salman Rushdie.
What is a Novel?
A novel is a written work of fiction that typically tells the story of a single character over a period of time. Books can be divided into three subcategories based on the novel’s length: short stories, novellas, and novels. A short story is a type of novel that generally falls between 8,000 and 17,500 words in length. A novella is a type of novel that typically falls between 16,000 and 50,000 words in length. A story is a novel that generally falls between 16,000 and 50,000 words in length.
What is a Short Story?
Short stories are typically about relatively small sets of characters and take place in a limited time. They are often written for an audience of one and often explore the power of storytelling.
What is Poetry?
Poetry is a genre of writing that typically uses rhythm and rhyme to evoke a response in the reader. It may be viewed as an expansion of oral tradition and has been prevalent throughout history. There are many different types of poetry, but the most common type is lyric poetry. Lyric poetry deals with romantic love, loss, or other sensitive subjects. Other types of poetry include epic poetry, which tells a story or makes a political statement, and satire, which aims for society and its institutions.
Famous English Authors
English literature is a body of written works that originated in England. It has been described as the “literature of discourse”, and often reflects the cultural values and expectations of its period. The word “English” in English literature refers to British literature, while “literature” generally refers to all writing in any language.
The history of English literature can be divided into several periods: Classical (up to AD 400), Renaissance (AD Petrarch to Shakespeare), Restoration, and Victorian (AD 1553-1901). English Renaissance writers such as Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton wrote in Middle English, a transitional stage between Old English and Modern English. Early Modern writers such as Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Robert Boyle developed philosophical theories that would inspire later thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and Charles Darwin. Significant figures of Romanticism, such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Edgar Allan Poe, wrote poetry in what is now called Modern English.
During the 20th century, British authors such as Aldous Huxley, E. M. Forster, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis were praised for their work across genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction. More recently, authors from other countries have become internationally recognized, including Kazuo Ishiguro from Japan, who won the Nobel Prize in Writing in 2007, and Hilary Mantel from Britain, who was awarded.
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