English Literature History
Photo credits: Ms. Cheng
ENGLISH LITERATURE NEWS
English literature has a long and interesting history that shows how the English language and culture have changed over time. Each period brought new styles, ideas, and voices that shaped the way people read and write today.
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It all started with Old English, also called Anglo-Saxon literature, around the 7th to 11th centuries. The most famous work from this time is Beowulf, a poem about a brave hero who fights monsters and dragons. The writing from this period often focused on courage, loyalty, and adventure.
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After that came the Middle English period, which began after the Norman Conquest in 1066. During this time, the English language started mixing with
English literature was invented in the 7th century AD. Literature in Australian literature, New Zealand literature, American literature, and any literature written outside of Britain (English literature) is its own separate national literature. It is separated because of its cultural and historical differences and to distinguish each national literature.
Photo credits: Ms. Calaciura
Photo credits: Ms. Berda
Photo credits: Ms. Cheng
French and Latin. The
best-known writer from this era is Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote The Canterbury Tales. His stories showed different types of people from everyday
life, each with their own personality and problems.
The Renaissance came next, around the 1500s and early 1600s. This period is often called the golden age of English literature because so many amazing writers appeared. William Shakespeare became one of the most famous writers in history with plays like Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. His stories explored love, ambition, and the struggles of being human.
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Today, English literature keeps growing and changing. Modern authors write about identity, culture, and life in a digital world. From ancient poems to modern novels, English literature continues to inspire people and connect them through stories and ideas.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, writers focused more on reason, society, and politics. John Milton wrote Paradise Lost, which told the story of the fall of man, and Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels, a clever story that made fun of human nature and government. This was also the time when novels started to become popular, especially with authors like Daniel Defoe and Samuel Richardson.
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The Romantic period in the early 1800s focused on feelings, imagination, and nature. Poets like William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, and John Keats celebrated beauty and emotion in their writing. Later in the century came the Victorian era, when authors such as Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë wrote about the struggles of ordinary people during the industrial age.
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The 20th century brought even more change. Writers like Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, and T.S. Eliot experimented with new styles and ideas. English literature also became more global, with powerful voices from countries like India, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Photo credits: Ms. Berda
Photo credits: Ms. Calaciura
