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39GEPR_10_A_2024-25_Didáctica y Literatura inglesa

Cecilio Aarón Vicente Sevilla

ACTIVIDAD UC2

by Cecilio Aarón

Periods in the history of English Literature.

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7. Modernism (1915-1945)

6. The Victorian Period (1837-1901)

5. The Romantic Period (1798-1837)

4. The Neoclassical Period (1660-1798)

3. The Renaissance (1500-1660)

2. Middle English Period (1066-1500)

1. Anglo-Saxon Period (409-1066)

INDEX

Historical and Social Background * The Anglo-Saxon period began with the arrival of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) after the Roman withdrawal from Britain. * Society was largely rural and organized into small kingdoms. Social structure was tribal, with a strong warrior culture. * The spread of Christianity, starting in the 7th century, gradually influenced the pagan beliefs and traditions. Monasteries became centers of learning and literature.

1. Anglo-Saxon Period (409-1066)

* Literature was primarily oral, with a focus on storytelling, poetry, and songs that celebrated heroes, battles, and legends. * Themes of bravery, loyalty, fate ("wyrd"), and the struggle against overwhelming odds were prevalent. * The influence of Christianity began to blend with pagan traditions, adding themes of divine providence and morality.

The Spirit of the Time

Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - a significant work documenting early English history and the spread of Christianity.

Anonymous: Beowulf - the epic poem recounts the hero’s battles against Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon.

Main Authors and Works

The Exeter Book: A collection of Anglo-Saxon poetry including "The Seafarer" and "The Wanderer."

* The period began with the Norman Conquest in 1066, which brought Norman-French influence on the English language and culture. * The feudal system established a hierarchical society, while the Church held significant power over cultural and intellectual life. * The Black Death (1347-1351) led to social upheaval, labor shortages, and changes in the class structure.

1. Historical and Social Background

2. Middle English Period (1066-1500)

* Growth of urban centers and trade led to a more diverse society, reflected in the variety of characters found in literature.

* Literature was increasingly written in English, blending Old English and Norman French, leading to the development of Middle English. * Themes included chivalry, courtly love, religious devotion, and satire. Allegory was a common literary device.

The Spirit of the Time

Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales - a collection of stories told by pilgrims from different social classes, offering a snapshot of medieval society.William Langland: Piers Plowman - an allegorical narrative that critiques the Church and society.Sir Thomas Malory: Le Morte d'Arthur - compilation of Arthurian legends, blending myth and chivalry.

Main Authors and Works

3. The Renaissance (1500-1660)

Historical and Social Background* The Renaissance was a period of cultural rebirth inspired by classical antiquity, starting in Italy and spreading to England.* Marked by the Reformation, with Henry VIII establishing the Church of England, and the rise of a more centralized monarchy.* Advances in exploration, science, and the arts flourished; the printing press facilitated the spread of literature and ideas.

* Humanism became the central philosophy, emphasizing human potential, individualism, and the importance of education. * Writers explored themes of love, power, betrayal, and the complexities of the human condition. .

The Spirit of the Time

* The period saw a dramatic rise in English drama, particularly in the form of plays performed in theaters such as the Globe

* Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus - tragedy dealing with ambition, knowledge, and the supernatural. * John Milton: Paradise Lost - epic poem recounting the fall of man, blending classical mythology with Christian themes.

* William Shakespeare: Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream - plays that explored human emotions, conflicts, and the social order.

Main Authors and Works

* Historical and Social Background The period began with the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II after the English Civil War. * The Age of Enlightenment saw the rise of reason, scientific inquiry, and a focus on intellectualism.

4. The Neoclassical Period (1660-1798)

* Growing middle class, urbanization, and the rise of coffee houses as centers for social and literary discourse.

* Literature reflected a return to classical ideals of order, harmony, and restraint. * Satire was used to critique politics, society, and human folly, emphasizing wit, logic, and decorum.

The Spirit of the Time

* Poetry and prose focused on moral lessons, rational thought, and the importance of society over the individual.

* Alexander Pope: The Rape of the Lock - a mock-epic satirizing upper-class society.* Jonathan Swift: Gulliver’s Travels, A Modest Proposal - satirical works criticizing human nature and societal norms.* Samuel Johnson: A Dictionary of the English Language - significant contributions to English literature and lexicography.

Main Authors and Works

The Industrial Revolution led to rapid changes in society, prompting backlash from those longing for nature and simpler times.

Historical and Social Background

5. The Romantic Period (1798-1837)

* French and American revolutions inspired ideas of freedom, equality, and individual rights.* Social change and unrest led to increased interest in nature, rural life, and the sublime.

* Emphasis on emotion, imagination, and individual experience, often in contrast to the rationality of the previous era.* Nature was viewed as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal.* Themes of personal freedom, rebellion, and the supernatural were explored in literature.

The Spirit of the Time

* William Wordsworth: Lyrical Ballads (with Coleridge), The Prelude - poetry that celebrated nature and introspection. * Mary Shelley: Frankenstein - a novel exploring the dangers of unchecked ambition and the power of the human mind.* Lord Byron: Don Juan, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage - works that embodied the rebellious spirit of the Romantic hero.

Main Authors and Works

Historical and Social Background* The reign of Queen Victoria marked a time of industrial growth, colonial expansion, and social reform.* Urbanization led to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and new social challenges.* The era was characterized by strict moral codes, but also growing movements advocating for worker rights, women's suffrage, and education.

6. The Victorian Period (1837-1901)

* Literature often focused on realism, exploring the struggles of individuals in a rapidly changing society.* Themes of morality, social inequality, and the effects of industrialization were prevalent.* Gothic fiction became popular, revealing the darker aspects of the human psyche.

The Spirit of the Time

* Charles Dickens: Oliver Twist, Great Expectations - novels exposing social injustices and the lives of the underprivileged. * Thomas Hardy: Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure - novels highlighting the struggles of rural life and fatalism.* Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre - exploration of independence, morality, and gender roles.

Main Authors and Works

Historical and Social BackgroundThe devastation of World War I led to disillusionment with traditional values and optimism.The interwar period saw economic instability, the rise of totalitarian regimes, and the onset of World War II.Technological advancements, urbanization, and changes in social structures influenced cultural shifts.

7. Modernism (1915-1945)

* Experimentation with new literary forms, breaking away from traditional structures and narratives.* Themes of alienation, fragmentation, and a sense of loss were central, reflecting the uncertainty of the era. * Influences from psychology (Freud), stream of consciousness, and abstract art.

* Experimentation with new literary forms, breaking away from traditional structures and narratives.* Themes of alienation, fragmentation, and a sense of loss were central, reflecting the uncertainty of the era. * Influences from psychology (Freud), stream of consciousness, and abstract art.

The Spirit of the Time

* T.S. Eliot: The Waste Land, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock - poems reflecting the disintegration of society.* James Joyce: Ulysses, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - known for his innovative narrative techniques.* Virginia Woolf: Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse - exploration of the inner lives of characters using stream of consciousness.

Main Authors and Works

Thank you