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CHIEF TRENDS IN LITERATURE
The evolution of literature influence writers and the writers, in turn, contribute to new trends.
literature like walks of life changes rapidly because of innumerable political, social, cultural and
technological changes that happen in the world. these developments change our perspective as
well. the trends of literature have been changing since its origin. We will see the changing trends
in following eras of English literature

 Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (450–1066)

 Middle English Period (1066–1500)
 The Renaissance (1500–1660)
 The Neoclassical Period (1600–1785)
 The Romantic Period (1785–1832)

we see the beginning of English literature from Anglo-Saxon and this period is named Old
English period. without any doubt, we can say that Anglo and Saxons are the ancestors of today's
England. their language was English but much different from today's English.

most of their literature from this period are sermon, biblical translations, translated Latin works,
anglo Saxon history books, legal documentation and poetry. most of their work transmitted us
orally and their transcripts are not found.

The themes of their written work and poetry were battle, god, and heroes. they were used to
sing lyrical poetry in feasts. these themes can be seen easily in their works, for example,
Beowulf, the most important work of the old period is based on a heroic theme.

Church and monasteries were the centres of education and the centre of the culture during this
period. the clergy and the clerics were mostly the ones associated with education and literature
and this could be because of monks order

major poems of the age are: widsith, wildhere the fight at finnesburg, Beowulf, deor, the dream
of the rood but their authorship is unknown.
Bede (673–735). Saint Bede was a priest north-eastern England. He was famous in his lifetime
as one of the most brilliant writers of Europe. Bede translated the Bible into English and wrote
poems in Old English. We have a short poem called "Bede's Death Song" and a longer poem
called "Doomsday."

Caedmon: Caedmon has been referred to many times in medieval literature, it is the 'Father of
English History. The only surviving, an attested poem is Caedmon's Hymn of nine lines.

King Alfred (848–899). Alfred was King of the West Saxons, He brought scholars and writers
to his court in Winchester, which became the centre of a renaissance in English letters. He was
remembered of his prose writing in Old English. He and his circle translated Bede's Historia,
including Caedmon's Hymn

Middle English period

in this era, the Middle Ages, the king-retainer structure of Anglo-Saxon society evolved into
feudalism. The most important philosophical influence of the Middle Ages was the Church,
which dominated life and literature

the Middle Ages were a dangerous, unhealthy time. It was not unusual for the populations of
entire villages to die of the plague. Women frequently died in childbirth. Minor injuries
frequently resulted in infection and death.

With these conditions, it was not surprising that people of the Middle Ages lived with a
persistent sense of mortality. because of this instability in their lives, people could not breathe
happily so there was a need to boost their morality through literature.

On the other hand, Old English poetry got disappeared and the English (pure) was put on back.
the new invaders were french on this land who started propagating their french literature and put
English literature aside. french literature was dominant and the theme was romance
However, the common peoples in this age started some writing and translating and gradually
they moved forward to dramas. There was a small minority of the population that could be
regarded as literate, that can be targeted to influence people. dramatist had a tremendous
opportunity to influence people by stage dramas to teach them morality. Morality plays are
intended to teach a moral lesson. These plays often employ allegory. plays were shown peoples
in order to engage them in literature. the subjects of drama were mystery, miracle, and morality.

Geoffrey Chaucer was known as the father of drama

the printing press was the major development of the age that lead to end medieval and dark
period. numbers of books were published that contributed to literacy

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-14000) was known as the father of poetry. he imitated french models in
English in his first phase of writing.The book of duches and complaint unto pity in his second
phase of writing, he came under the influence of Italian writers and wrote house of fame. and in
the third phase of his writing, he wrote matured English works like canterbury tales.following are
some of the other major writers of the age and their works

 John Gower (confessio amantis)

 William Langland (piers plowman)
 Gloucester, Robert (late 13th century) The author of a chronicle
 Manning Robert (Handling Sin)
 Norwich Julian (The Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love)

The Renaissance (1500–1660)

Renaissance, Elizabethan age, Shakespearean age, marlowian age, Spenserian age, all are the
different name of the age. Renaissance had jerked the whole society in the recovery of religious,
poetic, scientific, philosophic thoughts and ideas. Renaissance is known as rebirth, re-awakening,
revival and the renewal of society in its every aspect. this period actually started in 1100 in Italy
but in England its time was 1500-1600

Constantinople was the hub of Greek scholars. Greeks were residing there when Muslims
attacked in Constantinople. so scholars spread all over the world with their books and
manuscripts that caused a renaissance in the whole of Europe.

During the 14th century, a cultural movement called humanism began to gain energy in Italy.
Among its many principles, humanism promoted the idea that man was the centre of his own
universe, and people should embrace human achievements in education, classical arts, literature
and science. In 1450, the invention of the Gutenberg printing press allowed for improved
communication throughout Europe and for ideas to spread more quickly.

European perceptions of society, culture, politics, and even humanity changed in ways that affect
not only Europe but the entire world.

In the English period of Renaissance, Drama evolved out of the morality and mystery plays of
the Medieval era. While these earlier plays tried to teach a lesson and were usually performed by
monks, the Renaissance dramas moved toward entertainment. Renaissance drama developed
around the 15th century and was at first often performed as short plays at court or in the homes
of nobles. The playwrights of the era, such as Shakespeare and Marlowe, were not intellectuals
and wrote to entertain rather than to instruct.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in
Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare's works include 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and
a variety of other poems. his ideas are braod and universal in order to understand even in this
running time. he is the pillar of his age even one can not do his master without Shakespeare
works. he is well known because of his tragedies famous of his tragedies are these: king lear,
hamlet, Othello, Macbeth

*Major writers of the age are mentioned at the end of the assignment
Neo-classical age
Neoclassical literature was written between 1600 and 1785.

Writers of the Neoclassical period tried to copy the style of the Romans and Greeks. Therefore
the combination of the terms 'neo,' which means 'new,' and 'classical,' as in the day of the Roman
and Greek classics. This was also the era of The Enlightenment, which emphasized logic and
reason over emotions. It was introduced by The Renaissance and followed by the Romantic era.
In fact, the Neoclassical period ended in 1785 when Wordsworth published the Romantic
'Lyrical Ballads'.

Understanding the Neoclassical era helps us better understand its composition and literature.
This was a time of comfortableness in England. People would debate about politics public places
and coffee houses. And it was the starting point of the middle class, and because of that, more
people were literate and financially stable. Racist ideas abounded, and people of that age were
living a happy life.

The novel made its beginning in this age while drama declined and almost disappeared during
the late part of the era. the literature of the age was mostly comic and satiric

the neo-classical period is often called the age of reason. critics of this age considered reason to
be the highest mental faculty in all aspects of life. even religious matters were grounded on
reason. emotions just remain in this era in a sophisticated and controlled way.

major writers and their works

 Alexander Pope (1688-1744)-The Rape of the Lock
 Daniel Defoe (1660-1731)- Robinson Crusoe
 John Dryden (1631-1700)- Annus Mirabilis
 Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)- On a Daffodil
 Romantic Age
The romantic era began in 1785 and ends around 1832. its influence continues to this day. this
age focus on the individual and the unique perspective of a person, a respect for nature and the
primitive, and a celebration of the common man, Romanticism can be seen as a reaction to the
huge changes in society that occurred during this period. Romanticism focused on emotions and
the inner life of the writer

Romantic literature is marked by six primary characteristics:

1. celebration of nature
2. focus on the individual and spirituality
3. a celebration of isolation and melancholy
4. interest in the common man
5. the idealization of women,
6. personification and pathetic fallacy.

Along with William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge is credited with founding the
Romanticism movement in England. Kubla Khan,

Christabel, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner are some of his major work in this age

1. JOHN KEATS - (To Autumn)

2. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH- (Daffodils )
3. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY- (Ozymandias)
4. ROBERT BURNS - (A Red, Red Rose)

Significant writers of Renaissance

1. Thomas Campion English poet, composer, musical and literary theorist and one of the
outstanding songwriters His lyric poetry reflects his musical abilities in its subtle mastery
 of rhythmic and melodic structure .Follow Thy Faire Sunne, and My Love Hath
Vowed He Will Forsake Me
2. John Donn He often considered the greatest love poet in the English language. He is also
noted for his religious verse and treatises and for his sermons, which rank among the best
of the 17th century.
3. Benjamin Jonson: He was an English playwright and poet. He popularised the comedy
of humour. He is best known for the satirical plays Every Man in His Humour.
4. William Shakespeare :He was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded
as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is
often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".Hamlet, King Lear,
Midsummer's Night's Dream 
5. Christopher Marlowe:He lived and worked in the late 1500s, a period when
Renaissance drama was blossoming in England. His short life was packed with
adventure, mystery, and violence.Marlowe's first major dramatic work was Tamburlaine
the Great, performed in 1588 by the acting group known as the Lord Admiral's Men
6. John MiltonMilton is best known for Paradise Lost, widely regarded as the greatest epic
poem in English.
7. Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser is considered one of the preeminent poets of the
English language. Among Spenser's many contributions to English literature, he is the
originator and namesake of the Spenserian stanza and the Spenserian sonnet.
8. John Lyly wrote eight plays. Unlike the rest of the group, Lyly wrote for the court, not
for the public theatres. Some of his plays are allegorical and mythical in tone some are
realistic and some are historical. Lyly greatly contributed to the formation of the
Romantic comedy.
9. Robert Greene: Greene's contribution to English drama is remarkable in the field of
characterization and plot-construction. Among his five plays Frier Bacon and Frier
Bongay, The Scottish Historie of James the forth are notable.
10. George Peele : He was known as a man of letters and refinement and a graceful poet. His
plays include The Arraygnement of Paris, a kind of romantic comedy, The old Wife's
Tale.

References:
themes of old english literature
https://englishsummary.com/anglo-saxon-literature-characteristics/

Middle English
https://www.britannica.com/art/English-literature/The-later-Middle-English-and-early-
Renaissance-periods

geoffery chaucer
https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/an-introduction-to-british-literature/s01-middle-
english-literature.html

writers of middle english

https://www.uni-due.de/SHE/HE_ME_Gallery.htm

Renaissance
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-main-characteristic-renaissance-drama.

neo-classical era
https://englishsummary.com/neoclassical-period/

Significant writer of neo classical age

https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/language-linguistics-and-literary-
terms/literature-general/neoclassicism

romantic age
https://www.thoughtco.com/romanticism-definition-4777449

Significant writers of Renaissance

http://www.online-literature.com/periods/renaissance.php