Historical Periods in Literature Flashcards
from the 7th century to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066. “Cædmon’s Hymn”, composed in the 7th century, according to Bede, is often considered as the oldest surviving poem in English.
Old English Period
from the late 12th century until the 1470s. During this time the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English became widespread and the printing press regularized the language.
the Ormulum and Havelock the Dane. In the fourteenth century major works of English literature began once again to appear, including the works of Chaucer.
Middle English Period
Theatre. Between bear baiting and a little gambling, the average Joe Renaissance could take a midday break to enjoy a show in one of the new open theatres. ... Mythology and the Classical Tradition. ... Humanism. ... Religion vs. ... Queen Elizabeth. ... Math, Science, and Technology. ... Exploration. ... Rise of the Merchant Class.
British Renaissance
characterized by order, accuracy, and structure. In direct opposition to Renaissance attitudes, where man was seen as basically good, these writers portrayed man as inherently flawed. They emphasized restraint, self-control, and common sense
British Neoclassical Period
characterized by a love of nature, distrust of reason, and rejection of traditional authority.
British Romantic Period
dominated by Puritan beliefs and thus literature of this period is usually historical, religious, or didactic. The first slave narratives were written at this time. Imaginative literature was rare; in some colonies, it was banned for being immoral.
American Colonial Period
plot of decline, indifferent of nature, 3rd person omniscient reaction to romanticism and surrealism. Firstly, American Literature reflects beliefs and traditions that come from the nation’s frontier days.
American Renaissance
Serialization. Industrialization. Okay, so "industrialization" might sound more like economic development than literary history. ... Class. They were super status conscious. ... Science vs. Religion. ... Progress. ... Nostalgia. ... The Woman Question. ... Utilitarianism.
British Victorian Period
Novel. More bigger, more better. …
Narrative Detachment. Keep those characters at arms’ length,
Determinism. People don’t have much control over their fate in this fiction. …
Pessimism. The glass is totally half empty, guys. …
Social Environment. …
Heredity and Human Nature. …
Poverty. …
Survival.
American Naturalistic Period
Marked by a strong and intentional break with tradition. This break includes a strong reaction against established religious, political, and social views.
Belief that the world is created in the act of perceiving it; that is, the world is what we say it is.
There is no such thing as absolute truth. All things are relative.
No connection with history or institutions. Their experience is that of alienation, loss, and despair.
Championship of the individual and celebration of inner strength.
Life is unordered.
Concerned with the sub-conscious.
British and American Modernism
a form of literature that is characterized by the use of metafiction, unreliable narration, self-reflexivity, intertextuality, and which often thematizes both historical and political issues.
British and American postmodernism
