(FINISHED) Literary Eras Flashcards
When was medieval literature at its most popular?
500-1500
When was Renaissance literature at its most popular?
1500-1670
When was Enlightenment literature at its most popular?
1700-1800
When was Romantic literature at its most popular?
1798-1870
When was Victorian literature at its most popular?
1837-1901
When was Transcendental literature at its most popular?
1830-1860
When was Naturalist literature at its most popular?
1870-1920
When was realist literature at its most popular?
1820-1920
When was Bloomsbury group literature at its most popular?
1903-1964
When was Existential literature at its most popular?
1850-
When was modernist literature at its most popular?
1910-1965
When was Post-modernist literature at its most popular?
1965-
What are the characteristics of medieval literature?
Major Themes: - Seven Deadly Sins - Seven Heavenly Virtues - Physiognomy and "the Humours" - Values of courtly love - Code of Chivalry Ranging from epics to anti-clerical satires, sermons and Confessions
What on earth is physiognomy?
the assessment of a person’s character or personality from his or her outer appearance, especially the face.
What are the characteristics of the Renaissance?
- Classical antiquity- interest in the grand concepts and theories of the Greeks and Romans
- Humanism - the superiority of humanity through reason
- Political reformation - hierarchies and subversion - Macbeth
- Imitation - ‘mirror to life’ of classical masters
- Religious reformation - questioning of the Pope
What drove the enlightenment period?
Belief in human rationality
What were the characteristics of the Romantic period?
Love for folk culture, closeness to nature and emotional rupture
What were the characteristics of Victorian lit?
Narrative over lyric Lack of communication Pessimism and despair Loss of faith Didactic
What were the characteristics of naturalism?
Pessimism
Symbolism of death
Detachment from the story, objectivism
Surprising twists
What were the characteristics of realism?
Rendering of reality close to detail. Focus on sectional reality with emphasis on verisimilitude.
Character is more important than plot. Usually avoid the sensational, dramatic elements of naturalistic novels. Diction is natural, tone may be comic satiric or matter-of-fact
What are the characteristics of modernism?
- Breaking away from established rules, traditions and conventions. Experiments with form and style