English literature Timeline

Renaissance (c. 1500 - 1660)

Themes: Humanism, Individualism, Reformation, Politics

Romantic Literature (1798-1832)

Themes: Imagination, Nature, Revolution, Individualism

Modernist Literature (1901-1950)

Themes: Fragmentation, Alienation, Identity, Psychology

Middle English Literature (1066-1500)

Themes: Courtly Love, Chivalry, Allegory, Morality

Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Literature (1660-1798)

Themes: Satire, Reason, Enlightenment, Social Criticism

Victorian Literature (1832-1901)

Themes: Social Realism, Industrialization, Morality, Gender Roles

Postmodern Literature (1950-Present)

Themes: Metafiction, Intertextuality, Globalization, Postcolonialism

English literature

Felipe Cuartas Villa

Anglo-Saxon Literature (450-1066)

Themes: Paganism, Christianity, Heroism, Fate

Bibliography

• Boas, R.P. (1913). The Introduction to English Literature. The English Journal, 2(10), 630 – 636. https://www.jstor.org/stable/801519
• Kampf, D. (n.d.). An Introduction to English Literature. The Classroom. https://www.theclassroom.com/introduction-english-literature-2150.html
• Leverage Edu. (2021, December 18). History of English Literature PDF, Outline, Notes, Books. https://leverageedu.com/blog/history-of-english-literature/. (2021, November 9). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHXFMc-c_Nc
• Muñoz, M. (2020). A Chronological View into English Literature. [Infographic]. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia. https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/36808
• Muñoz, M. (2018). History of English Literature. [Video File]. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia.https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/20315
• Stevenson, S. (n.d.). How to Study English Literature. The Classroom. https://bulldog2.redlands.edu/fac/priya_jha/resources/Study_Tips_Literature.pdf

• Boas, R.P. (1913). The Introduction to English Literature. The English Journal, 2(10), 630 – 636. https://www.jstor.org/stable/801519
• Kampf, D. (n.d.). An Introduction to English Literature. The Classroom. https://www.theclassroom.com/introduction-english-literature-2150.html
• Leverage Edu. (2021, December 18). History of English Literature PDF, Outline, Notes, Books. https://leverageedu.com/blog/history-of-english-literature/. (2021, November 9). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHXFMc-c_Nc
• Muñoz, M. (2020). A Chronological View into English Literature. [Infographic]. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia. https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/36808
• Muñoz, M. (2018). History of English Literature. [Video File]. Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia.https://repository.unad.edu.co/handle/10596/20315
• Stevenson, S. (n.d.). How to Study English Literature. The Classroom. https://bulldog2.redlands.edu/fac/priya_jha/resources/Study_Tips_Literature.pdf

This period includes works written in Anglo-Saxon or Old English, such as Beowulf, which is one of the earliest and most famous epic poems in English literature. Other texts are:

• The Dream of the Rood (anonymous)
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
• The Battle of Maldon (anonymous)

Anglo-Saxon society was organized into tribal units, and the culture was characterized by warrior values, a strong oral tradition, and a polytheistic religion. The period also saw the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity by the end of the 7th century, which brought new literary and cultural influences.

This period marks the transition from Old English to Early Modern English. It includes works such as The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, which is written in Middle English and is considered a masterpiece of English literature. Other famous texts are:

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (anonymous)
• Everyman (anonymous)
• The Pearl (anonymous)

This period saw significant changes in English society, including the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the emergence of feudalism. The influence of the Catholic Church was also prominent, and the period saw the rise of chivalric and courtly values.

It includes works by writers such as William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and John Donne. Famous texts:

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare
• Paradise Lost by John Milton
• The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
• The Sonnets by William Shakespeare

The Renaissance was a period of significant cultural and intellectual change in Europe, characterized by a renewed interest in classical learning, humanism, and scientific exploration. In England, this period saw the emergence of the Tudor dynasty and the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, which had a significant impact on the literary output of the time.

This period marks the restoration of the monarchy in England after the Commonwealth period. It includes works by writers such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, and Samuel Pepys. Some famous texts are:

• Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
• The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
• The Beggar's Opera by John Gay

The Restoration period was marked by the restoration of the monarchy and a return to a more secular, pleasure-seeking society. This period saw the emergence of new genres, such as the novel, and a renewed interest in drama and theater.

This period is also known as the Age of Enlightenment and is characterized by a focus on reason, science, and progress. It includes works by writers such as Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson. Some texts of renown are:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats
• Don Juan by Lord Byron

This period saw the rise of the novel as a dominant literary form, as well as the development of literary criticism and literary societies.

This period is named after Queen Victoria and is characterized by a focus on realism, social reform, and the expansion of the British Empire. It includes works by writers such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Oscar Wilde.

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

The Victorian era was a period of significant social, cultural, and technological change in England, characterized by industrialization, urbanization, and imperial expansion. This period saw the emergence of the novel as a dominant literary form, as well as the development of new literary genres, such as the detective novel and science fiction.

This period is characterized by a focus on experimentation, fragmentation, and disillusionment with traditional values. It includes works by writers such as T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and James Joyce.

• Ulysses by James Joyce
• The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot
• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
• Dubliners by James Joyce

The modernist period was marked by a rejection of traditional literary forms and a focus on experimentation and individualism. This period saw the emergence of new literary movements, such as imagism and surrealism, as well as the development of literary criticism and theory.

This period is characterized by a rejection of grand narratives and a focus on the fragmentation of meaning and identity. It includes works by writers such as Salman Rushdie, Angela Carter, and Zadie Smith.

• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

The post-war period was marked by significant political, social, and cultural changes, including the rise of feminism, civil rights movements, and globalization. This period saw the emergence of new literary forms, such as postcolonial literature and graphic novels, as well as the continued development of literary criticism and theory.

Conclusions The timeline of English literature presented here provides a chronological overview of the major literary periods, from the Anglo-Saxon period to the contemporary period. While this timeline provides a useful framework for understanding the progression of English literature, it is important to note that each period was shaped by its unique socio-cultural and political context. In order to fully appreciate and understand the literature of each period, it is important to consider the broader historical and cultural context in which it was produced. The bibliography provided offers a wealth of resources to deepen one's understanding of the context and significance of each period of English literature. The works of scholars such as Boas, Kampf, and Stevenson provide valuable insights into the history and evolution of English literature, while the resources provided by Leverage Edu and Muñoz offer engaging and accessible overviews of the major literary periods. By considering the social, cultural, and political context of each period, readers can gain a deeper appreciation of the literature and its relevance to the society and culture of its time.