Literary Periods Flashcards
Medieval 1343 - 1400s
Themes: Religion, chivalry, morality, courtly love, and the role of fate or God in human affairs.
Style: Often allegorical, with a heavy emphasis on rhyme and alliteration. Poetic forms like ballads, sonnets, and narrative poems (e.g., The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer).
Language: Middle English, rich in imagery and often simple in structure.
Context: The Medieval period was dominated by the feudal system and strong religious influence. Christianity played a central role in life and literature.
If you encounter a medieval poem, it may focus on religion, morality, or the human condition, with an emphasis on allegory.
Renaissance 1485 - 1660
Themes: Humanism, individualism, the power of reason and science, the exploration of human emotions, and the revival of classical ideas.
Style: The use of metaphor, imagery, and classical references increased. The sonnet form became popular (e.g., Shakespeare’s sonnets).
Language: Early Modern English with ornate and often elaborate language.
Context: The Renaissance was marked by a revival of interest in Greek and Roman culture, the rise of the printing press, and the emergence of significant poets like Shakespeare, John Donne, and Christopher Marlowe.
Restoration / Neoclassical (1660 - 1798)
Themes: Order, reason, restraint, society’s values, satire, the role of the individual within society.
Style: Formal, structured, with emphasis on wit, balance, and clarity. Poets often used heroic couplets, and the satire became prominent (e.g., Alexander Pope, John Dryden).
Language: Clear, concise, often with an ironic or satirical tone.
Context: Following the English Civil War and the Restoration of Charles II, the period was marked by the return to order and stability. Rational thought and scientific advancement were emphasized.
Romantic 1798-1832
Themes: Nature, imagination, individualism, emotion, the sublime, rebellion against authority, and a focus on the common person.
Style: Lyrical, expressive, and often philosophical. Use of rich imagery, symbolism, and a focus on personal emotion. Poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron.
Language: Emotional, flowing, sometimes elaborate, with a deep connection to nature and the human soul.
Context: In reaction to the Industrial Revolution, Romanticism emphasized the power of nature and the individual’s emotional experience. It also grew out of political upheavals, such as the French Revolution.
Victorian 1830 - 1900
Themes: Social class, morality, industrialization, the conflict between science and religion, and the challenges of modern life.
Style: Detailed and descriptive, often focusing on realism. Victorian poetry can range from dramatic monologues (e.g., Robert Browning) to introspective lyricism (e.g., Alfred Lord Tennyson).
Language: Formal, but with an awareness of social issues and individual struggles. Sometimes more accessible than earlier periods, but with heavy use of symbolism.
Context: The Victorian period was marked by rapid industrialization, scientific discoveries (e.g., Darwin’s theory of evolution), and significant social change. Many poets grappled with the consequences of industrialization and the role of tradition and religion.
Modernism - from 1900
Key Features:
Themes: Alienation, disillusionment, fragmentation of society, the decline of traditional values, and the questioning of reality and truth.
Style: Innovative and experimental forms, often rejecting traditional poetic structures. Use of stream-of-consciousness, fragmented narratives, and symbolic language (e.g., T.S. Eliot, W.B. Yeats, Ezra Pound).
Language: Disjointed, abstract, and symbolic. Often characterized by a sense of isolation and complexity.
Context: Modernism arose in response to the disillusionment of the early 20th century, particularly after World War I. It reflects the rapid pace of technological change, urbanization, and the questioning of traditional beliefs and institutions.
Unseen Poem Connection:
A Modernist poem may feature disjointed thoughts, fragmented images, or a deep sense of alienation.
Postmodern period - 1945 to present
Key Features:
Themes: Irony, self-reflexivity, intertextuality, deconstruction of traditional narratives, and a focus on subjectivity and individual experience.
Style: Playful, experimental, often breaking the “fourth wall” and challenging conventions. Can include pastiche, blending of genres, and a mix of high and low culture.
Language: Eccentric, playful, often ironic. A postmodern poem might deliberately confuse or challenge the reader’s expectations.
Context: Postmodernism emerged after WWII, characterized by a breakdown of traditional structures, as well as the rise of media, mass communication, and a more globalized world. It challenges grand narratives and embraces ambiguity.
Unseen Poem Connection:
A postmodern poem may engage with themes of identity, truth, or reality in ways that are ironic, playful, or even self-aware.
