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Brief British Literature Timeline

The Anglo-Saxon Period

Earliest written history up to 1066

Gaelic and Old English were the spoken language

It includes the major historical events like the Invasion of the Roman Empire

The most notable piece of literature was Beowulf (it survived for so long)

Epic Genre

The Medieval Period

1066-1400

Languages spoken; Middle English (kinda a stepping stone between the old English and our more modern English), Latin, French, Gaelic

Canterbury Tales, the King Arthur legends

Ballads, Allegories and Romances (Genres) Code of Chivalry

The English Renaissance

1400s-1500s

Early Modern English and Gaelic

The English Renaissance marks the transition from the Medieval World to the Modern World

It was a turbulent time, full of wars, new monarchies, religious reformation, and a complete change in the social structure of all of Britain

Literature really exploded during this time, all of the arts really. We see poetry, drama and the beginnings of the novel

There are so many notable authors from this time;

Thomas More,

Edmund Spenser,

Shakespeare,

Francis Bacon

The Restoration

1600s

Early modern English

The first dictionary is published so there begins to be much more stability in the language.

Gaelic still survives

The novel is born (return to literature for masses)

Drama and poetry continue to be major

Paradise Lost by John Milton

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Poetry of John Dryden

Religious themes during the restoration time

the idea of Lucifer etc.

The Enlightenment

Modern English almost the same as we speak today. (Still Gaelic survives)

Period of intellectualism

Authors not only wanted knowledge but they wanted to write about knowledge

Alexander Pope, Rape of Lock

Jonhaton Swift, Gulliver’s Travels

William Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe

Samuel Richardson’s Pamela

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