Introduction

The history of English Literature refers to tracing the development of literary forms over the periods. For instance, we study how pagan poetry in the Old English period changes its theme, tone, style, etc. over the centuries.

This blog post tries to encapsulate the sociopolitical history and the works of leading literary personalities of every period.

Before that, we need to know why we must know the history.

Why is the History of English Literature Important?

The history of English literature is necessary for a few reasons. First, it helps us to understand literary works effectively. Literature is a product of its sociopolitical history. 

For instance, Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities is a fictional depiction of the chaos and horror of the bloody French Revolution. 

We can see the characters differently if we know the history of the rebellion. We can read the characters, themes in a better way.

It figures out the social, political and economic factors that mold the literary forms. Another example is romantic poetry produces a distinct sentiment from Victorian poetry. One reason is Victorian age is the age of conflict between science and religion.

Second, history is essential to track the development of any literary genre. For example, modern drama develops from the European Middle Ages. It starts with the miracle morality plays.

Later, James Burbage opened the Theatre in 1576. It slowly shifts its subjects from religious topics to everyday life.

Third, history also strengthens the knowledge of the past. The rise of colonialism, the industrial revolution, World War I, and World War II are some past events that changed society. Reading these historical events helps us to understand English society and its literature.

Periods of English Literature

English literature begins with the songs and stories composed by Anglo-Saxon ancestors – the Teutonic tribes of Jutes, Angles and Saxons who conquered Britain in the 5th century. 

The Anglo-Saxon Period of English literature takes us back to a time when our ancient Teutonic ancestors lived near the North Sea. Around the fifth century, three groups of these ancestors—the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons—came to Britain and built the foundation of what would become the English nation. It’s believed that the Jutes, led by chiefs named Hengist and Horsa, were the first to arrive, likely in the year 449.

These ancestors were known as fierce warriors and sailors, yet they also had deep feelings and emotions. Their poetry reflects this mix of strength and sensitivity. Their poems mainly talked about the sea, battles, brave deeds, adventure, and love for home. Their poetry had a rhythmic beat created by accents, alliteration (repeating similar sounds at the beginning of words), and breaks in the middle of lines. 

Overall, their poems were serious and often had themes of fate and religious beliefs. When we explore the few remaining pieces of Anglo-Saxon literature, we notice five important things: their love for freedom, connection to nature’s harsh side, strong religious beliefs, respect for women, and a focus on achieving glory as a warrior.

Notable works of the period are the epic poem “Beowulf” and some fragments of early poetry like “Widsith,” “Deor’s Lament,” and “The Seafarer.” 

The Northumbrian school of writers emerged between 650 and 850. It was during this time that Bede, our earliest historian, belonged to this school, even though his surviving works are in Latin. There were two prominent poets, Cadmon and Cynewulf. Unfortunately, the Danes conquered Northumbria in 867, destroying many monasteries and libraries that contained the earliest English literature.

Later, around the 9th century, English prose writing began under Alfred the Great (848-901). A significant work of prose from this period is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which Alfred revised and expanded. This chronicle continued to be updated for over two hundred years, making it the oldest historical record written in a European language.

The Anglo-Norman Period

The Anglo-Norman Period of English literature brings us to a time when the Normans, who were originally Vikings, conquered part of northern France in the 10th century. They embraced French culture and language. In 1066, William the Conqueror of Normandy defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, bringing Norman rule to England. 

The literature they introduced was distinct from the earlier Anglo-Saxon poetry. Norman literature filled with lively stories of love and adventure, contrasting with the serious tone of Anglo-Saxon poetry. 

Over the next three centuries, the Normans and the Saxons gradually blended, leading to changes in the English language.English became a mix of Saxon and French elements. 

The Norman conquest had three main effects: it brought Roman civilization to England, fostered a stronger centralized government, and led to a new English language and literature seen in Chaucer.

Notable aspects of this era include Geoffrey’s History, which contains Celtic legends of Arthur. French writers also contributed to the popularity of Arthurian legends. There were “Riming Chronicles,” like Layamon’s Brut which presented history in rhyming verse, and “Metrical Romances” or tales in verse. 

These romances fell into four categories:

the Matter of France, which consists of the tales about Charlemagne and his peers, chief of which is the Chanson de Roland.

Matter of Greece and Rome, which includes the tales about Alexander and the Fall of Troy, Matter of England, which includes the stories of Bevis of Hampton, Guy of Warwick, Robin Hood, etc. 

Matter of Britain which includes the Arthurian tales. Among them, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” stands out. 

and Miscellaneous literature includes writings like “Ancren Riwle,” an early English prose; “Orm’s Ormulum”; “Cursor Mundi,” a Miracle play precursor; and ballads such as “King Horn” and the songs of Robin Hood, representing the poetry of common people.

The 14th century was a time of significant changes in England. Feudalism, which had been organized by the Normans, began to decline. The English national spirit grew stronger during wars with France, and the House of Commons gained prominence. People in labor and working classes, who were previously in conditions somewhat like slavery, gained more power.

This era produced five major writers, the greatest being Geoffrey Chaucer, renowned for his poetry’s variety, storytelling, and melody. Chaucer’s works and Wyclif’s Bible translation established the Midland dialect as the national English language.

Chaucer’s career had three periods – early French (translated The Romance of the Rose, minor poems), middle Italian (Troilus and Cressida, Legend of Good Women), and late English (Canterbury Tales). 

Wyclif was a religious reformer who made the first English translation of the Gospels, setting a standard for English writing.

Other three important writers of the age are Langland, Mandeville and Gower. 

Langland was a poet and reformer who wrote Piers Plowman advocating social reforms. 

Wyclif was a religious reformer who made the first English translation of the Gospels, setting a standard for English writing. 

Mandeville represented new English interest in foreign lands through his fictional travelogue. His work “Mandeville’s Travels” told fascinating stories about wonders in foreign places. 

Gower was a poet who wrote in three languages: French, Latin, and English. His Confessio Amantis has over a hundred tales. Among them, only a few like “Knight Florent” remain interesting to modern readers.

The Revival of Learning Period 

The Revival of Learning Period in English literature marks a transition. After Chaucer, English literature declined for over a century with no great works appearing. 

There are three reasons that are accounted for this:

1. Wars with France and internal conflicts like the Wars of the Roses diverted attention from books and poetry and harmed noble families supporting literature. 

2. The Reformation, which happened later, filled minds with religious questions.

3. The Revival of Learning prompted scholars and writers to focus on studying classical works rather than creating native literature. 

Historically the age was notable for reasons such as intellectual progress, introduction of printing press, exploration of America, start of Reformation, and rising political power among common people.

Five important points of this age are:

The Revival of Learning and Renaissance marked a renewed interest in classical cultures and humanist ideas. 

Three influential literary works were Erasmus’s Praise of Folly, More’s Utopia, and Tyndale’s English New Testament translation.

Wyatt and Surrey were pioneering Renaissance poets who brought new poetic forms like the sonnet. 

Malory compiled the Matter of Britain tales into the famous Morte d’Arthur prose work. 

Miracle and Mystery plays were the most popular form of entertainment during this period.

The Age of Elizabeth 

The Elizabethan period was a time of national spirit, patriotism, religious tolerance, social contentment, intellectual progress and enthusiasm fueled by the Renaissance, Reformation and exploration of the New World. 

The diverse, youthfully romantic poetry and remarkable dramatic development culminating in Shakespeare signify the spirit of the age. Though excellent prose was written, it was predominantly an age of poetry, influenced by Italian ideas.

Important points of the age are:

The Elizabethan poetry were led by Edmund Spenser, the first major national poet after Chaucer. His Faery Queen is most famous. Other poets were Sidney, Chapman, Drayton and minor poets like Thomas Sackville. 

Drama developed from Miracle plays to Moralities and Interludes. The first English plays were Ralph Royster Doyster and Gammer Gurton’s Needle; the first tragedy was Gorboduc. There was conflict between classical and native ideals.

Shakespeare had great predecessors like Marlowe, Lyly, Kyd, Peele and Greene, who experimented with different types of drama that Shakespeare adopted. Marlowe was the greatest predecessor, famed for Tamburlaine, Faustus, Jew of Malta and Edward II. 

Shakespeare’s life, works and influence marked the zenith of English drama. 

There was an eventual decline of the drama after Shakespeare’s Successors including Jonson, Beaumont, Fletcher, Webster, Middleton and Heywood. Ben Jonson stood out among them, with notable comedies like “Every Man in His Humour” and tragedies like “Sejanus.”

Major prose writer was Bacon, who authored Essays and pioneered of the scientific method. His philosophical work included “The Advancement of Learning” and the “Novum Organum.”  Other minor prose writers like Hooker, Foxe, and historians like Camden and Knox also contributed to the English prose.

The literary achievements, intellectual progress, and vibrant creativity of the age makes it the greatest era in English literature.

The Puritan Period

The period from 1625-1675 is called the Puritan Age because Puritan standards prevailed in England. the greatest writer was the Puritan John Milton.  

Historically, it was an age of intense conflict. The Puritans aimed for righteousness and freedom, resulting in a time of moral and political upheaval. They challenged the corrupt monarchy, leading to the overthrow of King Charles I, and established the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. It lasted until the restoration of Charles II in 1660. The return of Charles II in 1660 is often considered the end of this Puritan period. The age doesn’t have distinct boundaries, overlapping with the Elizabethan period on one side and the Restoration period on the other.

The Puritan Period was marked by its unique literary characteristics and the influence of Puritan principles on England’s cultural landscape. It differs from the previous Elizabethan literature in three ways:

1. It lacks unity of spirit and national enthusiasm, unlike the shared enthusiasm in Elizabethan times. 

2. It is more somber, critical and intellectual than optimistic and youthfully romantic toen of Elizabethan works.

3. The romantic vigor seen in earlier years has given way to critical and intellectual thinking, prompting us to ponder more than to feel deeply.

John Milton, the great literary figure, wrote early Horton poems, political prose, and later epics Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. 

The age includes the Transition poets like Daniel as as a notable figure; Song writers Campion and Breton; Spenserian poets like Wither and Giles Fletcher; Metaphysical poets Donne and Herbert; Cavalier poets like Herrick, Carew, Lovelace and Suckling. 

John Bunyan wrote the famous allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress. 

Notable prose writers were Burton, Browne, Fuller, Taylor, Baxter and Walton, who wrote “Religio Medici”, “Holy Living and Dying”, and “The Complete Angler”.

The Restoration Period

During the Restoration Period of English literature, there was a significant shift in society and writing style. The Restoration Period marked a strong social reaction against the restraints of Puritanism. People enjoyed pleasures that had been suppressed earlier. Theaters reopened, sports and entertainment like bull and bear baiting became popular again, and there was a strong focus on enjoying worldly pleasures. This contrasted with the earlier Puritan emphasis on spirituality.

The important points of the age are:

In literature, there was a marked change from the Elizabethan drama. Playwrights moved away from the imaginative and noble themes of Elizabethan drama to more coarse and unpleasant subjects, which eventually disgusted people. 

Instead of romantic stories, writers started portraying reality, from exuberance of imagination to clarity and conciseness 

They were influenced by French writing styles, favoring clear and concise language, and following established rules. Poets abandoned the rich and varied verse forms of Shakespeare and Milton, adopting a monotonous heroic couplet that sounded mechanically perfect.

The greatest writer was John Dryden who established the heroic couplet and developed a new prose style. 

Butler’s Hudibras best exemplified the popular ridicule of Puritanism.

The literature of the time also focused on realism and observing life as it is. Realism emerged in the Royal Society, and in the work of Hobbes, Locke, Evelyn and Pepys.

The age marked a transition from the vigor of Renaissance to the more polished and formal Augustan Age.

The Eighteenth Century

The Eighteenth Century of English literature covers the time between the English Revolution of 1688 and the start of the French Revolution in 1789. At the beginning of this period, important steps were taken towards establishing constitutional government, leading to the adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1689, the third step in establishing constitutional government after the Great Charter and Petition of Right. 

The country was divided between Whigs and Tories, who had differing views on government and society. This political strife often influenced literature as writers aligned with either party to promote their interests and mock their opponents.

Despite these political tensions, the century saw rapid social changes that impacted literature. Clubs and coffeehouses became popular, fostering better manners, increased tolerance, and a sense of elegance. However, moral standards were low with drunkenness, rowdiness, bribery, and violence prevalent. 

An important development was the Methodist revival led by figures like Whitefield and Wesley aimed to address this moral decline.

Literature can be classified under three heads – the reign of Classicism, Revival of Romantic Poetry, and Beginning of the Modern Novel. 

The early part of the century was an age of prose due to practical and social demands. Newspapers like the Chronicle and literary magazines like the Tatler and Spectator contributed to the development of a functional prose style.

Poetry was polished, unimaginative and formal, often relying on formal structures like the closed couplet and satirical tones which was exemplified by writers like Pope. This changed later with the Revival of Romantic Poetry, which brought more emotional and imaginative elements to literature. 

Key figures of the Augustan Age are Pope, Swift, Addison, Steele, Boswell, Burke and Gibbon. The Revival of Romantic Poetry brought forth poets like Gray, Goldsmith, Cowper, Burns, Blake, Thomson, Collins, Crabbe, Macpherson, Chatterton, and Percy. 

Additionally, the emergence of the novel as a literary form is seen through pioneers like Defoe with “Robinson Crusoe,” followed by the works of Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Sterne, and Goldsmith.

The Age of Romanticism

The Age of Romanticism in English literature covers a period from around 1776, following the American Declaration of Independence, to 1837, when Queen Victoria ascended the throne. 

In England, agitation for popular liberty led to reforms like extension of suffrage, Catholic emancipation, public education, and abolition of slavery. The Industrial Revolution changed England from an agricultural to a manufacturing nation. The turmoil at home and abroad, especially the French Revolution, influenced the literature of this era, leading to its designation as the Age of Revolution. The era is often referred to as the Second Creative Period, following the Elizabethan Age. 

The main points of this age are:

The poetry in this age had a romantic spirit, reflecting the democratic spirit of the age. It was a second creative period after the Elizabethan Age.In this era, poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Scott, Byron, Shelley, and Keats played a significant role. 

The historical novel gained prominence through Scott’s works and essayists like Lamb, De Quincey, Landor, and women novelists like Austen, Edgeworth contributed to the prose literature of the time. 

Literary criticism blossomed, led by figures like Lamb and Coleridge. 

The practical and economic philosophy of the era was seen in works by Malthus, Mill, and Smith. 

Major literary magazines like the Edinburgh Review, the Quarterly, Blackwood’s, and the Athenaeum were also established.

The Victorian Age

The Victorian Age in English literature began around 1830 and is often associated with Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. This period witnessed significant historical changes, including the growth of democracy, widespread education, advancements in arts and sciences, mechanical inventions, and major scientific discoveries. 

The influence of the romantic movement from earlier periods had declined. by the time Victoria ascended the throne, as poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, and Byron having passed away. Although Tennyson and Browning emerged as great poets during this time, the Victorian Age is more renowned for its diverse and excellent prose.

Four key characteristics define the literature of the Victorian Age. 

Firstly, literature became closely connected to daily life, addressing practical issues and contributing to human progress. 

In addition to that, the next feature is a strong ethical inclination is evident in the works of the period’s great poets, novelists, and essayists. 

Thirdly, the era was significantly impacted by science. While science emphasized truth and established principles of law and evolution, it initially seemed to discourage imaginative works. 

Finally, despite its reputation for being practical and materialistic, many celebrated writers of the time opposed materialism and championed idealistic views of life, focusing on themes of love, truth, and justice.

The major poets of Victorian Age include Tennyson, Browning, and other minor poets are Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Rossetti, Morris, and Swinburne.

The notable novelists are Dickens, Thackeray, George Eliot, Charles Reade, Anthony Trollope, Charlotte Brontë, Bulwer-Lytton, Kingsley, Mrs. Gaskell, Blackmore, George Meredith, Hardy, and Stevenson. 

The essayists of the era, including Macaulay, Matthew Arnold, Carlyle, Newman, and Ruskin, provide valuable insights into the age’s intellectual landscape.

Influential scientists like Lyell, Darwin, Huxley, Wallace, Tyndall, and Spencer made significant contributions to the realm of science. 

History of English Literature Books