English Literature: A Historical Timeline
1. Old English – 5th Century: The Migration of the Peoples
Heroic, Religious, Elegiac
- Beowulf (unknown author) – Beowulf kills the monster Grendel and his mother, then a dragon, and dies (themes of loyalty and honor).
- Cynewulf – “The Dream of the Rood” (1st English poet)
2. Middle English – 1066: The Norman Conquest (William the Conqueror)
- Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
- The Pardoner’s Tale – Three men find florins under a tree, kill one another, and all die in the name of money.
3. The Renaissance – 1485:
Read MoreRenaissance: Art, Literature, and Cultural Transformation
Renaissance: A Cultural Transformation
RENAISSANCE: A profound and complex transformation of human culture is seen in all areas of life. It also jumps to artistic ideals, literary and philosophical world of Greco-Latino origin. It appears in Italy in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and extends to other countries.
Origin of the Renaissance
In the late Middle Ages, the bourgeoisie is engaged in commercial activities, leading to economic prosperity. They try to imitate the Greek and Latin classics.
Read MoreGeoffrey Chaucer’s Literary Works and Influences
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) and His Works
It was once customary to divide Chaucer’s literary career into three periods:
- The French period (to 1372)
- The Italian period (to 1385)
- The English period (to 1400)
This categorization should not be taken as watertight; it is valid for didactic purposes.
The courtly lyrics Chaucer wrote in the manner of contemporaneous French poets might well be mentioned first, although there is no way of dating most of these little poems. And they present to us the familiar
Read MoreRenaissance, Illustration, and Baroque: Artistic and Literary Movements
Renaissance
The Renaissance marked a revaluation of classical Greek and Latin culture. It is considered a period bridging the Middle Ages and the Roman era. Originating in Italy in the 15th century, it was influenced by humanism from the 14th century. The Renaissance had a significant impact on the arts, with figures like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. It shifted focus from a theocentric to an anthropocentric view, emphasizing human potential and classical studies. Thinkers like Erasmus of Rotterdam
Read MoreRomanticism in Spain: 19th Century Literary Movement
Realism and Poetry in the First Third of the 20th Century
Romanticism in 19th Century Spain
In Spain, Romanticism is considered complex and confusing, with great contradictions that range from rebellion and revolutionary ideas to the return to the Catholic tradition of the monarchy. With regard to political freedom, some understand it as a mere restoration of the ideological, patriotic, and religious values that rationalists had wanted to remove in the 18th century. They glorify Christianity, the
Read MoreJohn Milton: Life, Works, and the English Civil War
John Milton: A Literary Giant of the 17th Century
John Milton stands as one of the most important writers of the 17th century, distinct from the Metaphysical or Cavalier poets of his time. He holds the distinction of being the first to write epic poetry in English literature. Born into a wealthy London family, a factor that significantly influenced his literary production, Milton dedicated his life to writing. He was proficient in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Italian, and even composed poems in Latin
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