Understanding
English Literature
01
The Origins ....
It emerged as a form of entertainment for the people, reflecting experiences in different aspects of life as individuals and society.
The word literature comes from the Latin word ‘litaritura’ meaning “writing organized with letters”.
We classify literature according to language, origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.
02
Why Study Literature?
Literature provides readers with a whole new world of knowledge in multiple areas, specifically in language learning, It helps increase grammar, spelling, syntax, vocabulary, cultural expressions, besides historical, geographical, political, awareness that enrich people's minds and souls.
As an expression of art, literature should be considered as a clear reflection of society. It is a vivid expression that can sometimes claim freedom, show the culture and the human thoughts, beliefs, and spirit of a nation.
It can also serve as a complaint against injustice. Based on that, providing geographical and historical reference is needed to put readers in a context that might bring up a better understanding of the purposes and surroundings on the reasons of the writer's thoughts, experiences, or composing where those were created.
03
The Styles and Genres
Genres in literature are defined by various factors like literary technique, tone, content, and length, especially in fiction. They range from broad, abstract categories to more specific ones, with flexible and loosely defined distinctions. Rules governing genres evolve over time and can be unstable.
Genres categorize literary material, a concept originating from Aristotle's classification of literary "species." These classifications, outlined in his works like Rhetoric and Poetics, include epic, tragedy, comedy, dithyrambic poetry (poems to Dionysus the God of festivity and wine), and phallic songs (early forms of the comedy).
According to Oxford Research Encyclopedias, genre describes a “grouping of texts related within the system of literature by their sharing recognizably functionalized features of form and content.” Essentially, genres help categorize literary works that share similar traits.
Many bookstores organize large quantities of books according to literary genres, such as classics, mysteries, and fantasy. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, and prose are the five main genres of literature. Writers can then further categorize their literature into subgenres. Subgenres are smaller and more specific versions of a genre. Various genres possess their own features and functions, and understanding what major genre a work of literature belongs to can enable a deeper understanding of the work.
Main Genres
Poetry
Drama
Prose
Fiction
Non-fiction
04
Literary Periods
02
01
The Anglo-Norman or Middle English Period (1066–1500):
The Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period (450–1066):
04
03
The Neoclassical Period (1660–1798):
The Renaissance Period (1500–1660):
07
The Modern Period (1901–1945):
05
The Romantic Period (1798–1837):
06
08
The Contemporary Period (1945–Today)
The Victorian Period (1837–1901):
Thanks
By, Prof Jessica García C - UNAD
Marked by rapid technological advancements, urbanization, and two world wars, the Modern Period saw experimentation with narrative techniques and themes of disillusionment, alienation, and existentialism, with writers like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce pushing the boundaries of literature.
Marked by the Norman Conquest, this era saw the emergence of Middle English literature, including Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," which reflected a blend of French and English influences.
This period is characterized by epic poetry like "Beowulf" and a focus on heroic ideals, pagan traditions, and oral storytelling.
Characterized by diverse voices, globalization, and the digital age, contemporary literature reflects a wide range of styles, themes, and perspectives, with authors exploring issues such as identity, multiculturalism, and the impact of technology on society.
Named after Queen Victoria, this era saw a focus on morality, social issues, and the rise of the novel as a dominant literary form, with authors such as Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters addressing themes of industrialization, class conflict, and gender roles.
A time of intellectual and artistic rebirth, the Renaissance witnessed a revival of classical learning, humanism, and the exploration of new literary forms, such as Shakespeare's plays and the poetry of John Milton.
Characterized by a return to classical ideals, reason, order, and restraint, neoclassical literature emphasized wit, satire, and moral instruction, with notable authors including Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Also the colonozation of the New Lands ( America)
Reacting against the rationalism of the Neoclassical period, Romanticism celebrated emotion, imagination, nature, and the individual, producing works like Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."
English literature Overview
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Transcript
Understanding
English Literature
01
The Origins ....
It emerged as a form of entertainment for the people, reflecting experiences in different aspects of life as individuals and society. The word literature comes from the Latin word ‘litaritura’ meaning “writing organized with letters”. We classify literature according to language, origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.
02
Why Study Literature?
Literature provides readers with a whole new world of knowledge in multiple areas, specifically in language learning, It helps increase grammar, spelling, syntax, vocabulary, cultural expressions, besides historical, geographical, political, awareness that enrich people's minds and souls. As an expression of art, literature should be considered as a clear reflection of society. It is a vivid expression that can sometimes claim freedom, show the culture and the human thoughts, beliefs, and spirit of a nation.
It can also serve as a complaint against injustice. Based on that, providing geographical and historical reference is needed to put readers in a context that might bring up a better understanding of the purposes and surroundings on the reasons of the writer's thoughts, experiences, or composing where those were created.
03
The Styles and Genres
Genres in literature are defined by various factors like literary technique, tone, content, and length, especially in fiction. They range from broad, abstract categories to more specific ones, with flexible and loosely defined distinctions. Rules governing genres evolve over time and can be unstable.
Genres categorize literary material, a concept originating from Aristotle's classification of literary "species." These classifications, outlined in his works like Rhetoric and Poetics, include epic, tragedy, comedy, dithyrambic poetry (poems to Dionysus the God of festivity and wine), and phallic songs (early forms of the comedy).
According to Oxford Research Encyclopedias, genre describes a “grouping of texts related within the system of literature by their sharing recognizably functionalized features of form and content.” Essentially, genres help categorize literary works that share similar traits.
Many bookstores organize large quantities of books according to literary genres, such as classics, mysteries, and fantasy. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, and prose are the five main genres of literature. Writers can then further categorize their literature into subgenres. Subgenres are smaller and more specific versions of a genre. Various genres possess their own features and functions, and understanding what major genre a work of literature belongs to can enable a deeper understanding of the work.
Main Genres
Poetry
Drama
Prose
Fiction
Non-fiction
04
Literary Periods
02
01
The Anglo-Norman or Middle English Period (1066–1500):
The Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period (450–1066):
04
03
The Neoclassical Period (1660–1798):
The Renaissance Period (1500–1660):
07
The Modern Period (1901–1945):
05
The Romantic Period (1798–1837):
06
08
The Contemporary Period (1945–Today)
The Victorian Period (1837–1901):
Thanks
By, Prof Jessica García C - UNAD
Marked by rapid technological advancements, urbanization, and two world wars, the Modern Period saw experimentation with narrative techniques and themes of disillusionment, alienation, and existentialism, with writers like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce pushing the boundaries of literature.
Marked by the Norman Conquest, this era saw the emergence of Middle English literature, including Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," which reflected a blend of French and English influences.
This period is characterized by epic poetry like "Beowulf" and a focus on heroic ideals, pagan traditions, and oral storytelling.
Characterized by diverse voices, globalization, and the digital age, contemporary literature reflects a wide range of styles, themes, and perspectives, with authors exploring issues such as identity, multiculturalism, and the impact of technology on society.
Named after Queen Victoria, this era saw a focus on morality, social issues, and the rise of the novel as a dominant literary form, with authors such as Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters addressing themes of industrialization, class conflict, and gender roles.
A time of intellectual and artistic rebirth, the Renaissance witnessed a revival of classical learning, humanism, and the exploration of new literary forms, such as Shakespeare's plays and the poetry of John Milton.
Characterized by a return to classical ideals, reason, order, and restraint, neoclassical literature emphasized wit, satire, and moral instruction, with notable authors including Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Also the colonozation of the New Lands ( America)
Reacting against the rationalism of the Neoclassical period, Romanticism celebrated emotion, imagination, nature, and the individual, producing works like Wordsworth's "Lyrical Ballads" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."