British Literature

British Literature

1. British Literature

2. Old English Anglo-Saxon Period 446 - 1066

3. CONTENT Strong belief in fate Juxtaposition of the church and pagan worlds Admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle Express religious faith and give moral instruction through literature

4. EFFECT Christianity helps literacy to spread Introduces Roman alphabet to Britain Oral tradition helps unite diverse people and their myths

5. Style / Genres Oral tradition of literature Poetry is the dominant genre Unique forms includes : Caesura Alliteration Repetition 4 beat rhythm

6. MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD ( The MEDIEVAL Period ) 1066-1485

7. CONTENT Plays that instruct the illiterate masses in morals and religion Chivalric code of honor Religous devotion Romances  

8. STYLE / GENRE Oral tradition continues Folk ballads   Mystery and miracle plays Morality plays Stock epithets Kennings Moral tales Frame stories  

9. EFFECT Church instructs its people through the morality and miracle plays An illiterate population is able to hear and see the literature

10. Key Literature : authors Domesday Book L’Morte de Arthur Geoffrey Chaucer  

11. The Renaissance 1485 - 1660

12. STYLE / GENRES    Poetry sonnet Dramma Written in verse Supported by royalty T ragedies , comedies , historics   Methaphysical poetry   Elaborate unexpected metaphors called conceits

13. Key Literature : authors   William Shakespeare John Donne Cavalier poets Metaphysical poets Christopher Marlowe   Andrew Marvel  

14. Neoclassical Period ( The Restoration )   1660 – 1798 

15. STYLE / GENRE Satire: uses irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior Essays Letters , diaries , biographies Novels    

16. CONTENT Emphasis on reason and logic Belief that man was basically evil  Approach to life «the world as it should be»  

17. Key Literature : authors Alexander Pope John Dryden Jonathan Swift Daniel Dafoe Samuel Johnson John Bunyan