English literature

English literature is traditionally divided into the Old English, Middle English, Renaissance and Elizabethan, Jakobean, Restoration, 18^th century, Romantic, Victorian, and Modern periods.

Old English is the first recorded English literature. Caedmon /770? /, Anglo-Saxon poet and monk composed " Hymn" in the 8^th century. Manuscripts from AD 1000 contain the best known OE work, Beo­wulf, a heroic poem written in the 700s.

Middle English begins with the Norman conquest of 1066. This brought both the French language and a French literary tradition. The Arthurian cycle became the central myth for English literature. Arthur was a Romano-British leader in the wars against the Saxons. A great legend grew around him, his knights, their quest for the Holy Grail, and his famous Round Table. Geoffrey Chaucer /l340-1400/ occupies the central position in Middle English literature. " The Canterbury Tales" is his most popular work, for their comedy, realism, insight and warm humanity. His greatest innovation was the introduction of the French and Italian styles. Chaucer did not greatly reform the English language, but by the popularity of his writ­ings he set it firmly on its way towards modern English.

The European Renaissance had filtered into England in the 16^th century. Neoplatonism /belief that the human spirit can participate in the divine/ through E.Spencer /l552-99/ and lyrical poetry, became the dominant philosophical theme. Humanism emerged in the works of Sir Philip Sidney /l554-86/, Francis Bacon /1561-1626/, and William Shakespeare /1564-1616/. Shakespeare is the central figure of the Eng­lish Renaissance. It was the golden age of English literature and drama. John Milton /1608-74/ and his epic Paradise Lost provided a link between the puritan era and the restoration of the monarchy.

Restoration period began with the return of Charles II /1630-85/ in 1660. The diary and biography forms emerged. S. Pepys' /1633-1703/ " Diary" provides a vivid account of events of that period. John Dryden /1631-1700/ reformed English poetry, his comedy " Marriage a la Mode" was the best.

The 18^th century contains two major literary currents. Neoclassical period was marked by appear­ance of a literary elite. A.Pope /1688-1744/ established mock-heroic satires, J. Swift with his allegory was the greatest satirist. The novel rose in the works of D.Defo, H.Fielding, and S.Richardson. Romanticism was a reaction against the elitism. Poets W.Blake, W.Wordsworth and S.Coleridge concentrated on the universal power of nature. The basic form of the historical novel was established by Sir Walter Scott in the 1800s.

The most popular novelist of the Victorian age was Charles Dickens. Following Dickens were George Elliot, William Thackeray. Thomas Hardy marks the end of Victorian era.

The Modern age began with World War, which created a sense of disillusion, as seen in the Mod­ernist poetry of T.Eliot and the novels of Virginia Woolfe /1882-1941/. The second half of the 20^th cen­tury has been characterized by no particular movement. This period is marked by works of G.Greene, E.Waugh, W.Golding, and I.Murdoch. Graham Green involved problems of conscience. Evelyn Waugh [wo: ] wrote the war trilogy " Sword of Honour".

During the 1970s such writers as Greene, Lessing and Le Carre continued to produce important novels. New writers also appeared. D.M. Thomas blended fiction with actual events and famous people in " The White Hotel" /1981/. Barbara Pym's fame rests on the low-keyed stories about the genteel English life, such as The Sweet Dove Died /1978/. P.D James maintained an English tradition of sophisticated, well-written detective novels with " Original Sin" /1994/.

Leading English poets of the late 1900's included Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin and Donald Davie. In drama Tom Stoppard won praise for the verbal brilliance, intricate plots and philosophical themes of his plays. His 'Travesties" /1974/ and " Arcadia" /1993/ are among the most original works in modern English drama.