History of English Literature

What is English Literature?

Literature is the reflection of life. It mirrors the society in which it is generated. The word literature comes from the Latin word ‘litaritura’ meaning “writing organized with letters”. We classify literature according to language, origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.

Initially, literature was a form of entertainment for the people. Over time, it attained the purpose of reform as well. The writers stated highlighting the social issues in their writing. Thus, it became a medium to draw the audience’s attention to certain matters and urge them to think about the reform. From ancient civilizations to the modern era, indeed, all the works of literature have given us insight into the issues and trends prevailing at that time. Literature also provides escape from the ‘grim realities’ of life. While many people read to escape the boredom of their life. Moreover, the higher type of literature helps the reader to escape from trivial reality into significant reality.

The oldest English literature was in Old English which is the earliest form of English and is a set of Anglo-Frisian dialects. The history of English Literature is spread over different eras including Old English or Anglo Saxon, The Renaissance, Victorian Era, Modern Era, Postmodern era, amongst others.

The most important periods of English Literature are:

1. Old English (Anglo-Saxon Period): 450–1066
2. Middle English Period: 1066-1500
3. Renaissance: 1500-1600
4. Neoclassical Period: 1600-1785
5. Romantic Period: 1785-1832
6. Victorian Age: 1832-1901
7. Edwardian Period: 1901-1914
8. Georgian Period: 1910-1936
9. Modern Period: Early 20th century
10. Postmodern Period: Mid-20th century

An Outline History of English Literature

Here is a detailed outline of the History of English Literature from its beginning from the Classical Period to the Post-Modern Age:

Major Periods	Highlights
The Classical Period (1200 BCE-455 BCE)	Homeric or Heroic Period (1200-800 BCE) Classical Greek Period (800-200 BCE) Classical Roman Period (200 BCE-455 BCE) Patristic Period (c.70 CE-455 CE)
The Medieval Period  (455 CE-1485 CE)	The Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period (423-1066 CE) The Middle English Period (c.1066-1450 CE)
The Renaissance and Reformation (1485-1660 CE)	Early Tudor Period (1485-1558) Elizabethan Period (1558-1603) Jacobean Period(1603-1625) Caroline Age (1625-1649) Commonwealth Period/ Puritan Interregnum(1649-1660)
The Enlightenment (Neoclassical) Period (1660-1790 CE)	Restoration Period (1660-1700) The Augustan Age (1700-1750) The Age of Johnson (1750-1790)
The Romantic Period (1790-1830 CE)	Romantic poets & Gothic writings
The Victorian Period and the 19th Century (1832-1901 CE)	Sentimental Novels & Intellectual Movements like Aestheticism and the Decadence.
The Modern Period (1914-1945 CE)	Modernist Writers, Realism, etc.
The Postmodern Period (1945 – onward)	Metafiction, Multiculturalism, Magic Poetry, etc.