Literary Movements and Periods Flashcards
When was the Medieval Period?
AC 500 - 1500 (16th Century)
What were the two languages of Medieval Period?
Anglo-Saxon and Middle English
What was the focus, subjects and themes of the Anglo-Saxon language?
Focus on the heroic ideal. Typically had Christian in it’s themes after the 7th century.
What was the focus, subjects and themes of the Middle English language?
They focused on everyday people and situations. Similar to Anglo-Saxon, they had Christianity in it’s themes after the 7th century.
What are some characteristics of Anglo-Saxon writing?
- Anglo-Saxon Literature
- Based on oral storytelling
-Written for aristocracy (higher end people, not to be confused with royalty)
What characteristics are from Middle English?
- Middle English period
- Written for lower-class people
What are some literary examples of Anglo-Saxon writing?
- Beowulf (unknown author)
What are some literary examples of Middle English writing?
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
When was the Renaissance / Reformation time period?
1500 - 1660
16th - mid-17th century
What were some focuses, subjects and themes of the Renaissance / Reformation time period?
Age of exploration and expansion
* Classical learning/humanities
* Function of true religion
* Form and structure of government
* Focus on love (both romantic and Platonic)
* Psychological and moral analysis
What characteristics are from Renaissance / Reformation time period?
- Bold, intricate plots
- Early poems used elaborate technique
- Later poetry featured odes and sonnets
Who were some notable authors from the Renaissance / Reformation time period?
William Shakespeare
Edmund Spenser
John Donne
Anne Bradstreet
When was the Neoclassical time period?
1660 - 1800
Mid-17th to 19th Century
What were some focuses, subjects and themes of the Neoclassical time period?
- Saw man as a limited being in a hierarchical society
- Discover meaning in the order of things
- Placed society before the individual
- Valued human reason over natural passions
What are notable characteristics of the Neoclassical era?
- Simplicity, clarity, order
- Restraint, regularity
- Imitated Roman writers such as Virgil
Who were some notable authors from the Neoclassical time-period?
Benjamin Franklin
Daniel Defoe
Jonathan Swift
When was the Enlightenment time-period?
1700 - 1800
18th - 19th Century
What were some focuses, subjects and themes of the Enlightenment time period?
- Heavy focus on government, ethics and science, rather than on imagination, emotions or religion. (Seems like there’s a connection to the realist time period)
What are some characteristics of the Enlightenment time period?
There’s a heavy emphasis on science and reasoning and many approaches to knowledge and education.
Who were some notable authors from the Enlightenment period?
John Lock
Benjamin Franklin
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What was the effects of the Enlightenment time-period?
It caused the development of the romantic and realism era, which are polar opposites in how the writing is formed.
When was the Romantic time period?
1800 - 1865
19th - Mid-late 19th century
What were some focuses, subjects and themes of the Romantic time period?
- Saw the individual as god
- Belief in mankind’s innate goodness, equality, and potential
for achievement - Nature as a symbol of freedom
- Scenic beauty as a model for harmony
What are some notable characteristics from the Romantic time-period?
Emotion, imagination, and intuition valued
above reason and restraint
