ENGLISH LITERATURE
-
Had it’s beginning with works written in
about the 6th century.
-
Works were written in a language that
few today would recognise as English.
-
Old English or Anglo – Saxon was the
language of England for a long time
before the Norman Conquest in
A.D.1066
OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE
-
The study of English literature usually
begins with the Anglo – Saxon epic
poem Beowulf.
-
The only manuscript of Beowulf, written
down sometime in the 10th century , is
preserved in the British Museum in
London
BEOWULF
Setting:
Denmark
Characters: King Hrogthar, the Dane,
Grendel, Beowulf
Though Beowulf is an ancient pagan
myth lie beneath the story, its heroing
stands for Christian virtues.
Poems in the Old English Era
The Wanderer - a sorrowful journeys of a
man driven from his home after the death of
his Lord.
The Seafarer a dialogue between a
youth and an old sailor who talks about
hardships and joys of seafaring life.
The Battle of Maldon -
deal with war
OLD ENGLISH WRITERS
Caedmon - in the 7th century, wrote a
creation hymn, of which only a
few lines survive.
-
his an ignorant shepherd,
inspired through visions to
sing praises of the creation.
Cynewulf - lived into the 9th century.
King Alfred(849-99) - is a important figure
in Old English
literature and the
only monarch
England has honored
as “the Great”.
- his interests went
beyond his duties as
a ruler and warrior.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- Foundation stone of English history
- Gives the events of English history from
the Roman invasion of Britain in 54 B.C.
to the middle of the 12th century
Venerable Bede - historian - monk
- He quoted the lines of
Caedmon’s poem.
- Wrote in Latin the
earliest major prose
work in England “The
Church History of the
English People”
MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE
- Sees the true beginning of the great
heritage of English literature.
-
Works were written Latin
Writers:
Geoffrey Monmouth(1100-54)
• History of the Kings of Britain
- romance as well as history
• Brut(Brutus) of Layamon
- contains the first account in English of
Arthur, as well as King Lear and
Cymbeline
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- a superb poem of unknown
authorship
Sir Thomas Malory(1471)
• Le Morte Darthur “The Death of Arthur”
• Morte Arthure
Tennyson
• The Idllys of the King
T.H. White
• The Once and Future King
William Caxton – the first English printer
William Langland
• Piers Plowman
John Gower
• Mirour de l’Omme “Mirror of Man”
• Vox Clamantis “The Voice of One Crying”
• Confessio Amantis “ The Lover’s
Confession”
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 1400)
- This poet is an experienced man of the
world
- He enjoyed the favour of three kings
•
•
•
Edward III
Richard II
Henry IV
He belonged in the Trio of English poetry
giants
Chaucer’s Works:
The Canterburry Tales – his masterpiece
The Parliament of Fowls
The Legend of Good Women
- supposed dream visions
Troilus and Criseyde – romance of the
Trojan War
Middle English Drama
- Religious drama
- Was not created for reading
- It grew out of faith and life of the era
Pagyn – comes the word pageant.
- when plays were put on outside,
they were often presented on a
procession of wagons.
Plasterers – groups of merchant and
labourer performed certain
biblical stories.
Miracle Plays -
dramas based on saint’s
miracles and the biblical
miracles.
Second Shepherd’s Play - drama about
Nativity from
the town of
Wakefield
Morality -
a form of allegory.
kind of allegory that each
character represents a social
type or a certain character
trait.
• Everyman -
greatest allegorical plays
shows the summoning of
Everyman by death.
18th Century
- Shift from the mood and tone of 17th century literature.
- Age of wit and skepticism.
- The first important dictionary of the
language was produced.
Satire – a form of writing that ridicules
human vices and follies, expressed
the spirit of the time.
Drama
Restoration Drama - possessed stored-up
energy, for the
Puritans had closed
all theaters, holding
them to be immoral.
Restoration Comedies - were comedies
of manners /
drawing-room
comedies.
Writer:
Dryden(1652-85)
Thomas Otway(1652-85)
• Venice Preserved
Sir George Etherege(1635-91)
William Wycherley(1641-1716)
Sir John Vanbrugh(1664-1726)
William Congreve(1670-1729)
• The Way of the World
George Farquhar(1678-1707)
• The Beaux’ Strategem
Both works of Congreve and Farquhar were
outstanding.
John Gay(1685-1732) -
wrote one of the
great popular
successes of his time.
• The Beggar’s Opera -
a play with
ballads.
a tale of cutthroats and
highwaymen was really
a satire of the
government of Sir
Robert Walpole, a
British prime minister.
-
Licensing Act 1737 - this act was passed
because of Walpole’s
anger at satires of
Gay and other
playwrights.
- all theatres were
closed except Covent
Garden and Drury
Lane and all plays
were subject to
censorship by the
government.
Oliver Goldsmith(1730-74)
• She Stoop to Conquer – successful play
• Vicar of Wakefield – one of the best of the
18th century
His two long poems:
• The Traveller
• The Deserted Village
Brinsley Sheridan(1751-1816)
• The Rivals - was produced
Covent Garden in London.
• The School for Scandal -
-
by
the
his
masterpiece
still very
much alive
in the
theatre.
Poetry
Alexander Pope(1688-1744)
-
most outstanding poet of the
first half of 18th century.
-
He wrote most of his poetry in
rhyming couplets.
Pope’s Works:
• The Rape of the Lock(1712-14)
a poem which is a special kind of
satirical poem called mock-heroic.
• Essay on Criticism
• Essay on Man
- Both were philosophical poem.
-
Pope also wrote verse translation of
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.
James Thomson(1700-48)
• The Season - his masterpiece
• Rule, Britannai -
patriotic song
William Collins(1721-59) • Ode to Evening
William Cowper(1731-1800) - popular for
his
humorous
ballad.
• John Gilpin
Thomas Gray(1716-71)
• Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard
Robert Burns(1759-96)
Poems:
• Tam O’Shanter
• To a Mouse
• To a Louse
Songs:
• Comin’ thro the Rye
• Auld Lang Syne
William Blake(1757-1827)
- His a son of a stocking maker.
- He did not go to school but was
apprenticed to an engraver.
• The Tiger comes
Experience”
• Songs of Innocence
from
“Songs
of
Prose
Jonathan Swift(1667-1745)
- A master of satirical form in prose.
• Gulliver’s Travel(1726)
1st Voyage – LILLIPUT (land of tiny people)
2nd Voyage – BROBDINGNAG (land of giants)
YAHOOS – filthy creatures
HOUYHNHNMS – high-minded horses.
Joseph Adison(1672-1719)
Sir Richard Steele(1672-1729)
• The Tatler(1709- 1711)
• The Spectator(1711-1712)
Samuel Johnson(1709-84)
-
a superb critic, a poet, a dictionary
maker and possibly the world’s
most famous conversationalist.
-
his greatness was his literary
criticism.
-
known for his critical studies of
Shakespeare that are still of value.
• London
• The vanity of Human Wishes
his essays appeared in his twiceweekly publication, the Rambler
and in the Idler, a regular section
he wrote for a newspaper.
• Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia – romance
• Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
• Lives of the Poets
James Boswell(1740-95)
• Life of Samuel Johnson
- is one of the greatest biographies in
any language or time.