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Siti Hazzah Sri Rahayu
0807328
3B
Foundation of Literature

PERIODS OF ENGLISH LITERATURES

As we know that literature is the art of written works which is entertain people. There are many major forms of literature, they are: novel, poem, drama, short story, and novella. Besides the major forms, every literatures work has own its genre. Many kinds of genres are epic, lyric, drama, romance, satire, tragedy, comedy, and tragic comedy. Now, do we have to know about the period of English literature? What is the periodical classification of English literature?
The movement of English literature encompasses historical succession. Besides, the terms and criteria of classification have established themselves as standard in Anglo-American literary criticism. The criteria of classification derive from:
1. The history of the language (Old and Middle English)
2. National History (Colonial Period)
3. Politics and religion (Elizabethan and Puritan Age)
4. Art (Renaissance and Modernism)

The earliest period of English literature is the old English or Anglo-Saxon Period. This period is regarded as with the invasion of Britain by Germanic tribes in the 5th century and lasting until the French invasion. But, the true beginnings of literature in England are to be found in the Latin Middle Ages. There is the Ecclesiastical History of the English People as the most important Latin literary texts written by Beda Venerabilis (672-735). The texts which are written in the eighth and the eleventh century are called Old English or “Anglo-Saxon”. There are many poems, such as “The Seafarer” or “The Wanderer”, as well as epic works like Beowulf or The Battle of Maldon. The work is based on historical facts.
The next period of English literature is the Middle English period. There are a number of texts from many various literary genres. The texts are:
• An epic with religious contents, Piers Plowman
• The romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d’Arthur.
• The narrative, Canterbury and II Decamerone.
The third period of English literature is English Renaissance. This period is also called the Early new English Period. Particularly, the genre which is happening in this period is classical, such as Faerie Queene. Beside this Faerie Queene, there is a romance Euphues and Aracadia, an unusual form of literature, a drama of the time is the Court Masque.
After the Renaissance period, the Eighteenth Century is the next period. This period can be called as en independent epoch. Another name of this period is the neoclassical, Golden or Augustan Age. In this period, classical literature and literary theory were adapted. Theoretical essays and literary texts in a variety of genres were translated by many writers in this time.
The beginning of new period in traditional English literary history is Romanticism. Romanticism period can be said as a reaction to the enlightenment and political changing.
After the Romanticism period ended, the next of the period is Victorian Age. In this period, novel had become the leading form of literature in English. There were many writers in this time, namely: William Makepeace Thackeray, George Eliot, Anthony Trollope, Charles Dickens, and more. Mostly, this period were affected by social and economic situation of countryside.
The seventh period of English literature is Modernism. People say that this period is a reaction to the Realist movements of the late nineteenth century. Modernism period encompasses the extensive literary innovations. The main works in this period include Ulysses and Finnegans wake by James Joyce, Mrs Dolloway and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Wolf, Three Lives by Gertude Stein, and many more.
Last but not least is the Postmodernism. The typography characteristic in this period is narrative techniques with multiple perspectives. Many works helped the movement to attain recognition in literary criticism. And both drama and postmodern film adapt many elements from postmodern poetry and fiction to suit their media.
Well, to make it clearer, let’s see the following table of the most important of Periods of English Literatures:
Old English Period
Middle English Period
Renaissance
Augustan Age
Romantic Period
Victorian Age
Modernism
Postmodernism 5th-11th century
12th-15th century
16th-17th century
18th century
First half of 19th century
Second half of 19th century
First to second World War
1960s and 1970s

References:
Klarer, Mario. (1998). An Introduction To Literary Studies. London: Routledge

English literature, available at http://www.wikipedia.com. Retrived on 22/09/09