21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World Unit 14:
English Literature
Table of Contents
Introduction and Unit Objectives
3
Lesson 1: Old English and Middle English Literature
Warm-up!
Learn about It!
Check Your Understanding
Let’s Step Up!
4
4
4
8
9
Lesson 2: Elizabethan Literature
Warm-up!
Learn about It!
Check Your Understanding
Let’s Step Up!
10
10
10
16
16
Lesson 3: The Romantic Period and the Victorian Period
Warm-up!
Learn about It!
Check Your Understanding
Let’s Step Up!
17
17
17
26
26
Lesson 4: 20th Century Literature
Warm-up!
Learn about It!
Check Your Understanding
Let’s Step Up!
27
27
27
29
29
Performance Task
30
Self-Check: How Well Did I Learn?
33
Wrap Up
33
Bibliography
34
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GRADE 11/12 | 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
UNIT 14
English Literature
If someone is asked about English literature, he or she may
immediately think of William Shakespeare and his long list of famous
plays that are now adapted and studied in schools and theaters
alike. However, English literature began way before Shakespeare was
born. English literature is a result of the growth and development of
English culture, rich history, and changing perspectives throughout
the centuries. Each literary era was considered as a response to the
one before it.
Unit Objectives
In this unit, you should be able to:
● identify the characteristics of English literature;
● distinguish the differences between the different literary periods; and
● demonstrate understanding of the evolution of English literature.
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Lesson 1: Old English and Middle English
Literature
English literature pertains to the literary works produced by
inhabitants of the British Isles, which consists of two main
islands, Great Britain and Ireland, as well as a multitude of
smaller islands and island groups. In these lands were born the
literary works that would help mold English literature into what
it is today.
Warm-up!
Think-Pair-Share
With a partner, research about the characteristics and examples of the English language
during the Old and Middle Ages. Compare these characteristics with the modern English
language. Present your findings in class.
Learn about It!
Old English Literature
Old English literature spans from around 600 to 1100 AD. It
was the soulful and practical expressions of a people who
struggled, lost, and triumphed over and against neighboring
invaders and warring factions. It encompasses Anglo-Saxon
written and spoken works from ancient lands of what is now
known as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland. Old English literature also includes Anglo-Latin
works.
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Old English literature could be described as religious because the major manuscripts of that
period told about the lives of saints, religious poems, as well as religious narratives. The
production of copies of the Old and New Testament of the Christian Bible also contributed to
the rich literature of the period.
Important Personalities in Old English Literature
a. St. Bede or Venerable Bede was a monk who wrote the ecclesiastical history of
England. This became the cornerstone of the literary tradition. A little later, Alfred the
Great came.
b. Alfred the Great was the Father of the English (Old English) language. He was the
first Anglo-Saxon king who unified the Anglo-Saxons. He brought literacy to the people.
In 597 AD, Augustine of Canterbury went to England. Because of this, schools and
monasteries were founded. Through these, literary artistic expressions and the greatest
books were written.
c. In 1066, in the Battle of Hastings, William the Duke of Normandy defeated the
Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson. This victory not only made him William I of
England but also ushered in Anglo-Norman dominance in Britain. They made a shift in
the development of English literature.
Germanic in nature, the Old English or Anglo-Saxon language was used for many years
in courts, law, schools, and university. It was the Anglo-Norman dominance that
ushered in Middle English literature that featured Norman and Gallic or ancient French
influences in the tradition.
Old English Poetry and Prose
Because of the foresight of the various monasteries or abbeys across the centuries in
Britain, most Old English poetry survived through these four manuscripts, namely, The
Beowulf Manuscript, The Exeter Book, The Junius or Caedmon Manuscript, and the Vercelli
Book.
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Old English poetry is characterized by patterns of four-stress lines and six-stress
lines. In addition, a caesura or syntactical break is placed in between the second and
third stresses of the poem.
Poetry in Old English is known to be formulaic. Poets draw from a common stock of
phrase patterns and have a prescribed description for every kind of character.
A unique feature of this kind of poetry is the use of kennings. Kenning is a type of
figurative language that poets use instead of a noun. It is often made up of two words
separated by a hyphen. They may call the sea as a swan-road or a sword as a
wound-hoe.
One example of Old English poetry is “The Dream of the Rood” from the Vercelli Book. It
was the earliest dream poem and one of the greatest religious poems in the English
language. It was about the dream of the rood or the cross as it was used as an
instrument for Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind. The cross, which once symbolized death and
punishment, was now a symbol of the redemption of mankind.
Also, the earliest prose work was written in this period, which is the law code of King
Aethelberht I of Kent, could be dated 597. Other prose that was written in this period
similarly focused on laws, wills, and charters.
Middle English Literature
The term Middle English was first created to mark a period in the development of the English
language. Most of the philologists at that time wanted to divide the history of language into
three periods, Old English, Middle English, and New or Modern English. Literary historians
adopted the name Middle English from the language historians.
Most works of literature in this period are devoted to some aspect of religion. They are both
religious and secular in nature because of the educated members of the church who
reflected in their writings the various educational and social levels of the society. Examples of
these were stories of the saints’ lives, miracle plays, and sermons, among others.
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Middle English Poetry
The early period of the literature of Middle English centralized on poetry adapted from
the Normans. Several of these were still written in Old English and focused on their
linguistic characteristics rather than their aesthetic literary features. From Old English,
they were influenced by the French. Romance was one of their predominant themes.
Middle English poetry, like its predecessor, has its set of rules. During the late Middle
English, alliterative verse is one of the features of Middle English poetry along with the
stress and caesura from the Old English period. Alliterative poetry has no standard but
had a variety of versions that developed as the centuries passed.
One example of alliterative verse is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which also exhibits
the style of bob and wheel. The bob is the first line that is shorter than the rest, and
the wheel is the quatrain that follows the bob. The poem is about Sir Gawain, a knight
of the round table, and the Green Knight who challenges Sir Gawain to strike him with
his axe in exchange for a return blow after a year and a day.
Significant Works
Among the most significant works in this period were The Legend of King Arthur written
by Thomas Malory and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
a. Le Morte d’Arthur or Death of Arthur was first published in 1485 by William
Caxton. The tale is divided into two volumes, containing such stories as the tale
of King Arthur and the tale of Sir Launcelot du Lac.
Le Morte d’Arthur
Volume I, Book I, Chapter VI (excerpt)
Thomas Malory
Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword with all his
might, but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir Ector to Arthur. I will well,
said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And therewithal Sir Ector knelt down to the
earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, said Arthur, my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye
to me? Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so, I was never your father nor of your
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blood, but I wot well ye are of an higher blood than I weened ye were. And then Sir
Ector told him all, how he was bitaken him for to nourish him, and by whose
commandment, and by Merlin’s deliverance. Then Arthur made great doole when he
understood that Sir Ector was not his father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my
good and gracious lord when ye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for ye
are the man in the world that I am most beholden to, and my good lady and mother
your wife, that as well as her own hath fostered me and kept. And if ever it be God’s
will that I be king as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail
you, God forbid I should fail you. Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of you, but that
ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of all your lands. That
shall be done, said Arthur, and more, by the faith of my body, that never man shall
have that office but he, while he and I live.
b. The Canterbury Tales is a long poem by Geoffrey Chaucer about a collection of
stories told by 31 pilgrims who went to see St. Thomas Becket’s shrine in
Canterbury Cathedral. These pilgrims started their journey from Tabard Inn in
Southwark. The pilgrims were tasked to tell stories as they embark on their
journey and were promised that the best storyteller will be given a reward.
Check Your Understanding
1. Name the important personalities in Old English literature.
2. How would you characterize Old English poetry?
3. What is a kenning? Give an example.
4. Describe the early period of Middle English literature.
5. Write a cause and effect essay about Old English and Middle English literature.
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Let’s Step Up!
9
Lesson 2: Elizabethan Literature
From the previous lesson, you learned
about the Old and Middle English periods.
In this lesson, you will learn about the
Elizabethan period and how the reign of a
monarch influenced literature. You will
also learn about the significant contributions of this period.
Warm-up!
Quad Activity
William Shakespeare is one of the writers who thrived during the Elizabethan era. One of his
literary pieces is “Sonnet 18.” For this activity, you need to form a group of four and present an
interpretative reading of “Sonnet 18” in front of the class.
Learn about It!
Queen Elizabeth I of England reigned from 1558 to 1603. She
was considered the patroness of literature in the United
Kingdom. The literary works during her time were called
Elizabethan literature. The prose, novel, literary criticism, and
pamphlet were some of the notable contributions of this era.
Shakespeare’s plays were one of the lasting influences of this
time. It was no surprise that it became considered the golden
age of drama.
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Famous Writers during the Elizabethan Period
There were many writers who emerged during the Elizabethan period especially in drama and
poetry. These writers include:
1. Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was an Elizabethan poet and playwright who established the use
of blank verse in his poems. His works include the poem “The Passionate Shepherd to
His Love” and the play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
2. William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is known to be the greatest dramatist of all time. He was a poet,
dramatist, and actor who performed his plays in a small theater troupe during his time.
His works are considered relevant and relatable to audiences until the present time. He
is known for his plays Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, and his sonnets, among
others.
3. Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser is an English poet who wrote the poem The Faerie Queene, which is
also known as one of the greatest poems in English language. The Spenserian stanza
is also named after him.
4. Sir Philip Sidney
Aside from being a poet, Sir Philip Sidney is also a statesman, soldier, patron of scholars
and poets, and the ideal gentleman. He is the writer of the Elizabethan sonnet
sequence Astrophel and Stella.
Sonnet and Blank Verse
Sonnets, along with the blank verse, were introduced to England by Sir Thomas Wyatt and
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. The blank verse is an unrhymed version of the iambic
pentameter. It was used in the first English drama by Thomas Sackville and Thomas Norton.
Christopher Marlowe used it in his plays such as Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, and Edward II.
William Shakespeare also utilized it in his plays such as Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, and
The Winter’s Tale.
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The Shakespearean Sonnet
England had its own version of the sonnet through the Elizabethan sonnet or the
Shakespearean sonnet. The Shakespearean sonnet has the following characteristics:
a. It is made up of 14 lines in iambic pentameter. An iambic pentameter is
made up of five metrical feet consisting of one unstressed and one stressed
syllable.
b. It follows a particular rhyme scheme. The English sonnet follows the rhyme
scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, where the rhyme happens after every other line of
the first three quatrains except for lines 13 and 14 or the couplet.
c. It has a pivot. A pivot is the sudden change in the direction or conclusion found
in the ending couplet.
Here is an example of a Shakespearean sonnet:
Sonnet 18
by William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimm’d.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:—
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
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So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
“Sonnet 18” follows the iambic pentameter, for example in line 1 where we can segment
the feet into: Shall I | compare | thee to | a sum|mer’s day?|. Also, the poem is made up of
three quatrains and a couplet with the prescribed rhyme scheme. Notice as well that
the couplet expresses the pivot of the poem.
The Spenserian Sonnet
On the other hand, Spenserian sonnet is an adaptation of the Shakespearean sonnet
but with a change in its variation. This variation in rhyming scheme is called linking
couplets because the rhyme scheme is tangled in a series of weaves. It has the rhyme
scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE.
Let us look at an excerpt from Edmund Spenser’s poem The Faerie Queen:
The Faerie Queene (excerpt)
By Edmund Spenser
Upon a great adventure he was bond,
That greatest Gloriana to him gave,
That greatest Glorious Queene of Faerie lond,
To winne him worship, and her grace to have,
Which of all earthly things he most did crave;
And ever as he rode, his hart did earne
To prove his puissance in battell brave
Upon his foe, and his new force to learne;
Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne.
Notice in the given example that the lines are still in iambic pentameter such as Upon |
a great |adven|ture he | was bond, |. Also, the rhyme in this particular stanza follows
the prescribed rhyme scheme in Spenserian sonnets.
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Plays
During the Elizabethan era, plays became part of the people’s social life because of the
queen’s fondness for them. Things changed during this time; subjects of drama shifted from
religious to secular, making the playwrights and poets the most active participants of this era.
Despite its popularity, it roused criticism from the church, which found the playwrights’ and
the actors’ characters questionable. But because of the protection of Queen Elizabeth, it
continued to flourish.
Here is an example of a play by William Shakespeare:
Romeo and Juliet
Excerpt of Act II Scene 2
William Shakespeare
JULIET.
⁠Ay me!
ROMEO.
⁠She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
JULIET.
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO.
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Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET.
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!—
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title.—Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
ROMEO.
⁠I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
The balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is a turning point in the blossoming love affair between
the only children of the warring Montague and Capulet families. In this particular excerpt,
Romeo admires Juliet from afar, comparing her to an angel and a saint, while she
contemplates on the potential complication of her feelings for him.
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Check Your Understanding
1. Name some writers who thrived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
2. Why was the Elizabethan era considered the golden age of drama?
3. How would you characterize the Shakespearean sonnet?
4. Explain why plays became part of the people’s social life during the Elizabethan era.
5. Explain the Elizabethan literature.
Let’s Step Up!
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Lesson 3: The Romantic Period and the
Victorian Period
In this lesson, you will learn about the literary periods that
follow Elizabethan literature. Previous literary movements
and events gave rise to these two literary periods. These are
the Romantic Period and the Victorian Period.
Warm-up!
Quick Writes
Look back on your previous literature or history classes and list down as many concepts as
your remember about the Romantic and Victorian eras. After five minutes, present your work
in class.
Learn about It!
The
Romantic and Victorian
Periods are both reactions to the
previous literary movements and
events. Romanticism, which was
considered to have taken place
from 1780s to 1830s, was a
reaction against the industrial
revolution.
The
writers
of
romanticism wrote about nature
as a way of reclaiming a life that
was threatened by urbanization.
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The Romantic Period
The Romantic period focuses on the emotions and expressions of man. William
Wordsworth, one of the metaphysical poets, calls it as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful
feelings.” Praise of nature is the most common subject during this period.
Romantics are obsessed with showing originality and authority; for them, they must create
their own rather than follow another man’s rule. This was in contrast with the previous
rule-bound literary periods such as the Old and Middle English.
Famous Literary Works during the Romantic Period
Some of the literary works during this period are the following:
a. Emma by Jane Austen
Emma is a novel about a self-proclaimed matchmaker, Emma Woodhouse, who is
responsible for matching her friends and other male characters in the story. However,
as the novel progresses, she realizes that she has not been in touch with her own
feelings.
Here is an excerpt of the first chapter of Emma:
Emma
Book 1, Chapter 1 (excerpt)
Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy
disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly
twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father, and
had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early
period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct
remembrance of her caresses, and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as
governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
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Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a
friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more
the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of
governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and
the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as
friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly
esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils indeed of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her
own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages
which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so
unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Sorrow came—a gentle sorrow—but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable
consciousness.—Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It
was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of
any continuance. The wedding over and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were
left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father
composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of
what she had lost.
b. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Frankenstein is considered the first gothic-horror novel of the Romantic period. It tackles
the hunger of Victor Frankenstein to attain knowledge despite having everything. He
experiences regret and horror as he created a monster based on his research and
discovery.
Here is an excerpt from the novel:
Frankenstein
Chapter 5 (excerpt)
Mary Shelley
The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I
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had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an
inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an
ardour that far exceeded moderation ; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the
dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the
aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time
traversing my bedchamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep. At length lassitude
succeeded to the tumult I had before endured; and I threw myself on the bed in my
clothes, endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness. But it was in vain: I slept,
indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest dreams. I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom
of health, walking in the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her;
but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her
features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in
my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds
of the flannel. I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my
teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed: when, by the dim and yellow light of
the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch—the
miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if
eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some
inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not
hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed
down stairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited;
where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest
agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce
the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.
c. Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake
This work by William Blake presents two points of view based on two separate books:
the innocence of childhood and the experience of adulthood. It showcases the hopes
and dreams that young people have and how these hopes and dreams are realized as
they become adults.
Below is an excerpt from Song of Innocence:
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The Lamb
From Song of Innocence
William Blake
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life & bid thee feed
By the stream & o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wooly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is callèd by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.
He is meek, & he is mild;
He became a little child.
I a child, & thou a lamb,
We are callèd by his name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
The Victorian Period
The Victorian period started in the reign of Queen Victoria, which lasted from 1837 to 1901. It
was characterized by a decline in religious belief and novelists writing about the hopeless
status of humanity in a modern world. It was seen through the lens of realism, and writers
during this time wanted to chronicle the struggles during this period. Its language was
restrained, unlike the carefree and emotional romantic period.
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The Victorian period approaches literature in a deliberate and careful way, using irony to
challenge its readers as well as using long and complicated plots in their novels. Because of
the Victorian period’s intention to show things as realistically as possible, the use of imagery
and figures of speech are lessened in this era.
Famous Literary Works during the Victorian Period
Some of the famous literary works during this period are:
a. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens’s work, A Tale of Two Cities, unabashedly presents the truth about
revolution and poverty and shows how poor people thrive in a tough world. What
makes Dickens’s work popular to both the rich and the poor is that it exposes both the
needy and the mighty in his works.
Below is an excerpt from the novel:
A Tale of Two Cities
Chapter 1 (excerpt)
Charles Dickens
It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light,
it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven,
we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present
period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for
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evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England;
there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In
both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and
fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.
It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Spiritual
revelations were conceded to England at that favoured period, as at this. Mrs. Southcott
had recently attained her five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a prophetic private
in the Life Guards had heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements
were made for the swallowing up of London and Westminster. Even the Cock-lane ghost
had been laid only a round dozen of years, after rapping out its messages, as the spirits of
this very year last past (supernaturally deficient in originality) rapped out theirs. Mere
messages in the earthly order of events had lately come to the English Crown and People,
from a congress of British subjects in America: which, strange to relate, have proved more
important to the human race than any communications yet received through any of the
chickens of the Cock-lane brood.
b. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The autobiography of Jane Eyre is a story of finding love and at the same time a quest
for a sense of belonging and value. Jane wanted to experience how it was to be
accepted as who she is and be loved without losing her identity as an individual.
Here is an excerpt of the novel:
Jane Eyre
Chapter 13 (excerpt)
Charlotte Brontë
“It is nine o’clock: what are you about, Miss Eyre, to let Adèle sit up so long? Take her to
bed.”
Adèle went to kiss him before quitting the room: he endured the caress, but scarcely seemed
to relish it more than Pilot would have done, nor so much.
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“I wish you all good-night, now,” said he, making a movement of the hand towards the door,
in token that he was tired of our company, and wished to dismiss us. Mrs. Fairfax folded up
her knitting: I took my portfolio: we curtseyed to him, received a frigid bow in return, and so
withdrew.
“You said Mr. Rochester was not strikingly peculiar, Mrs. Fairfax,” I observed, when I rejoined
her in her room, after putting Adèle to bed.
“Well, is he?”
“I think so: he is very changeful and abrupt.”
“True: no doubt he may appear so to a stranger, but I am so accustomed to his manner, I
never think of it; and then, if he has peculiarities of temper, allowance should be made.”
“Why?”
“Partly because it is his nature—and we can none of us help our nature; and partly because
he has painful thoughts, no doubt, to harass him, and make his spirits unequal.”
“What about?”
“Family troubles, for one thing.”
“But he has no family.”
“Not now, but he has had—or, at least, relatives. He lost his elder brother a few years
since.”
“His elder brother?”
“Yes. The present Mr. Rochester has not been very long in possession of the property; only
about nine years.”
“Nine years is a tolerable time. Was he so very fond of his brother as to be still inconsolable
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for his loss?”
“Why, no—perhaps not. I believe there were some misunderstandings between them. Mr.
Rowland Rochester was not quite just to Mr. Edward; and perhaps he prejudiced his father
against him. The old gentleman was fond of money, and anxious to keep the family estate
together. He did not like to diminish the property by division, and yet he was anxious that
Mr. Edward should have wealth, too, to keep up the consequence of the name; and, soon
after he was of age, some steps were taken that were not quite fair, and made a great deal
of mischief. Old Mr. Rochester and Mr. Rowland combined to bring Mr. Edward into what
he considered a painful position, for the sake of making his fortune: what the precise nature
of that position was I never clearly knew, but his spirit could not brook what he had to suffer
in it. He is not very forgiving: he broke with his family, and now for many years he has led
an unsettled kind of life. I don’t think he has ever been resident at Thornfield for a fortnight
together, since the death of his brother without a will left him master of the estate; and,
indeed, no wonder he shuns the old place.”
“Why should he shun it?”
“Perhaps he thinks it gloomy.”
The answer was evasive. I should have liked something clearer; but Mrs. Fairfax either could
not, or would not, give me more explicit information of the origin and nature of Mr.
Rochester’s trials. She averred they were a mystery to herself, and that what she knew was
chiefly from conjecture. It was evident, indeed, that she wished me to drop the subject,
which I did accordingly.
25
Check Your Understanding
1. What did writers of romanticism write about as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution?
2. How would you describe the Romantic period?
3. How would you characterize the Victorian period?
4. Why was Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities popular to both the rich and the poor
during the Victorian period?
5. What five words would you use to describe the Romantic period and the Victorian
period? Explain and justify your choices.
Let’s Step Up!
26
Lesson 4: 20th Century Literature
The 20th century literature is a product of all those before it.
It is a period of experimentation as well as tradition. Most of
the writers in this period continue to challenge us to see life
through a different perspective.
Warm-up!
Dyad Activity
With a partner, research on the most common issues present in 20th century England. Make a
comparison between these issues and find a common theme. Present your findings in class.
After your presentation, answer the following questions:
1. What do you notice with the issues that surround the
era?
2. How were these issues addressed during this time?
Learn about It!
As each literary period is created as a reaction to the previous
one, 20th century literature was a response to the restrictions
of Victorian literature. Since Edward VII’s ascension to the
throne, a free and uninhibited era for literature began. For
many, this was a start of a new era in which science and
technology will move humanity forward.
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The Theater in the 20th Century
Many of the writers of the Edwardian era continued the realism of the previous century while
exploring the anti-aestheticism in conflict with the aestheticism started by Oscar Wilde. The
theater has become an avenue for the discussion of the necessity of political organization,
morality of war, function of classes and professions, family and marriage, and female
emancipation.
Novelists of 20th Century Literature
Novelists of this period were eager to reveal the shortcomings of English social circles. But
despite the hardships of their time, they believed that positive change was about to happen
and their writings could help bring about that change.
Literature in 1945 or after the Second World War was characterized by increased attachment
to religion. William Golding and Muriel Spark, the two most innovative novelists who started
writing after the war, are also religious believers. Their novels often touched the topic of
original sin, as according to Golding, “man produces evil as a bee produces honey.” More
specifically:
a. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies reenacts man’s fall from grace in the schoolboys’
innocence that turned into barbarism.
b. George Orwell’s Animal Farm in 1945 explores the ideas of capitalism, rebellion, war,
and communism in the guise of animals.
c. Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, discusses themes of betrayal, innocence,
as well as cold rationality in contrast with unchecked emotionalism.
These novels expose different issues and boldly write about systems and figures that should
be eradicated.
28
Check Your Understanding
1. Describe the beginnings of 20th century literature.
2. Describe the role of theater during the Edwardian era.
3. How would you characterize the novelists during the Edwardian era?
4. How would you describe literature in 1945 or after the Second World War? Give at least
one novel during this period.
5. Describe the most meaningful or interesting thing you have learned about 20th century
literature in no more than 100 words.
Let’s Step Up!
29
Performance Task
Literature Symposium
Goal: Your task is to write a literary analysis about a literary piece from any of the following
periods: Old English, Middle English, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian, and 20th Century, and
to create a presentation about the characteristics and evolution of English literature.
Role: You are a promising young literary expert and writer. You have been invited by a
prestigious university to speak at a literature symposium.
Audience: The target audience is the university’s heads, faculty, and students. The audience
also includes fellow literary experts.
Situation: The challenge involves coming up with a literary analysis and a presentation of the
characteristics and evolution of English literature and making them as interesting and unique
as possible.
Product Performance and Purpose: You will create a literary analysis and a presentation of
the characteristics and evolution of English literature using the following guidelines:
1. Choose a literary piece (e.g., poem, novel, or play) from any of the following periods:
Old English, Middle English, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian, and 20th Century.
2. Write a literary analysis about your chosen literary work. In your analysis, make sure
to cite the author, title of the book, and the page, if applicable.
3. Your analysis must contain a minimum of 500 words. Discuss this analysis during the
symposium. Incorporate the discussion of your literary analysis as you present the
evolution of English literature.
4. Print your finished product on short bond paper, font size 12, Times New Roman,
double-spaced.
5. Create a presentation about the characteristics and evolution of English literature,
covering the following specific periods: Old English, Middle English, Elizabethan,
Romantic, Victorian, and 20th Century.
6. Make use of illustrations or visuals to distinguish the differences between the
different literary periods.
30
Standards and Criteria for Success: Your project will be graded using the rubric below:
Criteria
Beginning
(0-12 points)
Developing
(13-16 points)
Accomplished
(17-20 points)
Content
The literary
analysis and
presentation lack
many important
details.
The literary
analysis and
presentationlack
ing a few
important
details.
The literary
analysis and
presentation
are
comprehensive
and contain
important
information.
Organization
The information is
not logically
presented;
transitions are
vague or
inappropriately
used.
The infomration
is logically
presented, but
some transitions
are unclear.
The information
is logically
presented;
transitions are
appropriate.
Language
(spelling, mechanics,
grammar, and word
choice)
The work contains The work
eight or more
contains four to
language errors.
seven language
errors.
The work
contains zero to
three language
errors.
Punctuality
The work was
submitted more
than one day late.
The work was
submitted one
day late.
The work was
submitted on
time.
Content of analysis
The analysis
shows no
evidence of
understanding of
the literary piece.
The analysis
demonstrates a
partial
understanding
of the literary
piece.
The analysis
demonstrates
an accurate
understanding
of the literary
piece.
Presentation
Overall
presentation is
Some parts of
the presentation
Overall
presentation is
Score
31
uninteresting;
lacks appropriate
nonverbal cues.
are interesting;
shows good
delivery but
needs to
improve in some
areas.
interesting;
employs
effective and
appropriate
nonverbal
communication
strategies.
Discussion of the
characteristics and
evolution of English
literature
The presentation
provides an
inaccurate
discussion of
some of the
required topics.
The presentation
provides a
detailed
discussion of
some of the
required topics.
The
presentation
provides a
detailed
discussion of all
the required
topics.
Use of visual
aids/illustrations
The presentation
lacks visual
aids/illustrations.
The
presentation
makes use of
visual aids or
illustrations that
supplement the
explanation or
discussion.
Total Score:
32
Self-Check: How Well Did I Learn?
Do a self-check on how well you learned the lessons in this unit. Place a checkmark in the
appropriate box.
I am familiar and
I think I need more
I am confident that I
can perform well
Skills
practice and
can perform this on
with minimal
assistance.
my own.
assistance.
I can identify the
characteristics of
English literature.
I can distinguish
the differences
between the
different literary
periods.
I can demonstrate
understanding of
the evolution of
English literature.
Wrap Up
English Literature
Old English literature could be described as religious because of the Norman
Conquest that brought Christianity to England.
Alliterative verse is one of the features of Middle English poetry along with the
stress and caesura from the Old English period.
Elizabethan literature refers to the body of works written during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth I of England from 1558 to 1603.
33
Romanticism, which was considered to have taken place from 1770 to 1830, was a
reaction against the industrial revolution.
The Victorian period was characterized by a decline in religious belief and novelists
writing about the hopeless status of humanity in a modern world.
The 20th century was a start of a new era in which science and technology will move
humanity forward.
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