CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The first thing necessary to consider when we are talking about history of English
literature is the fact that the term ‘English literature’ refers not only to a specific nation
but to the literatures produced in the whole English-speaking countries. A literary work
produced in in India, New Zeland or even Singapore must be included into English
language literature.
The second thing to consider in talking about the history of a literature is the
criteria of grouping its periods. Up to now there is not yet agreement among scholars
about how to devide the periods of English literature/. Yet the most recent divisions are
tended to be based on “a series of periods”.
Last but not least, another thing important to consider before undertaking a
discussion of the history of English literature is its antecendences. This point is essential
because, similar to other forms of culture, all literature is naturally developed by taking
certain sources as their origin.
The influence of Greek on English literature can be clearly seen from the fact that
Latin was the most dominant language of education until fairly recently and has had
enormous effect on English literary works from the earliest time.
The Jideao-Christian tradition as embodied in the Bible has also given English
literature a rich store of mythic incident, symbol and allusion in the heroic legends of the
Ola and new testaments. This fact causes everyone who wants to succed in studying
Englsih literature, regardless of his or her religious belief, has to have knoeledge about
the scriptures its it is to know Greek and Roman mythology and literary tradition. The
presence of Christian tradition in literature is neither more nor less valid than those of
any other religious system – Celtic, Yoruba, Moslem, Buddhism, or Hindu.All of them
are presented for the sake of artistic purposed.
Due to the rapid changes taking place in human lives in the later five periods, they
divided into som of sub-periods. Here is list of the periods of English literature.

A. 450-1066 : OLD ENGLSIH (ANGLO-SAXON)

PERIOD.

B. 1066-1500 : MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

C. 1500-1649 : RENAISSANCE PERIOD

(1) 1558-1660 : Elizabethan Period
(2) 1603-1625 : Jacobean Period
(3) 1625-1649 : Caroline Period

D. 1649-1719 : COMMONWEALTH AND

RESTORATION
(1) 1649-1660 : Commonwealth
Period
(2) 1660-1682 : Restoration Period
 (3) 1558-1603 : Elizabethan Period
(4) 1603-1625 : Jacobean Period

E. 1713-1789 : NEO-CLASSICAL (AUGUSTAN)

PERIOD

F. 1789-1832 : ROMANTIC PERIOD

G. 1832-1900 : VICTORIAN PERIOD

H. 1900-1939 : THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

(1) 1901-1914 : Edwardian Period
(2) 1914-1939 : Modernist Period

I. 1939-NOW : CONTEMPORARY
 CHAPTER II

OLD ENGLISH (ANGLO SAXON) PERIOD

(600-1485)

Literature is essentially a reflection of the life of the people who makes it.
Realizing this, in order to understand the history of certain literature. The first settlers of
British island were Celts, a branch of Indo-Europe who had live in Western Europe. In 43
AD, under the reign of Claudius, the Roman Empire conquered and colonized the entire
British island excep Scotland. British was covered into Christianity.
In 410 the Roman legion in occupation of Britain were withdrawn for service at
home. Celt of England were unable to resit the invasions of Angles, Saxon and Jutes who
came from the Northern Germany. The Angles who firstly settled along the eastern coast
of the island became the most powerful. They named the whole country Angle-Land or
England. The language they used called Anglo Saxon, was also very dominant. Later on,
the language was developed to be the Middle English (1100-1500) and the modern
English (1500-now).
The Englishman of today is essentially Teutonic in character and temper, while
Celtic strain is stronger in Scotland and is dominant in Wales, because the Wales are the
only thorough descendant of Celtic.
The three invaders (Angles, Saxons and Jutes) were formerly barbarians
worshipped heathen gods. Some of the names of days are put from their gods name, e.g
‘Wednesday’ from ‘Wooden’, ‘Thursday from ‘Thor;. ‘Tuesday’ after ‘Tive’, and
‘Friday’ after ‘Friga’.
A generation later, the North of England was Christianized by the Irish mission
under St. Patrick and Columba. The missionaries spread not only Christianity among the
people but also introduced the Roman alphabet to replace the rune, or symbolic cuts and
scratches on woods and stones. This was very important step for the development of
English literature. With this new facility people could record the oral stories into written
works. This gave us the old continental Anglo-Saxon stories, like Beowulf. They became
great centers of Christianity and scholar learning in the 7th and 8th centuries. The glorious
period did not last long. England was invaded by Norman or Scandinavian from Norway,
Sweden and Denmark. The Englishman called them “Danes”.
The whole English almost over run except the South were Alfred “The Greatesr
King of the Wessex” defeated the Danish leader. The most important work of his age is
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a kind of National history.

Old English Literature

The language of the earliest English literature came from many different place,
people, and cultures, Three subject of the first English literature are : war, religion,
personal sadness and happiness. Christian monks in the monasteries who is the first wrote
down the words of the early literature and only a few fragment remain of all the writing
that the monk kept. They reflect the two cultures, Christianity and Heroic actions.The
very first fragment is called ‘Caedmon’s Hymn’ hymn=religious song.
Another name from the early medieval period is Deor, but we know nothing about
him. Cynewulf’s is another important name from this centuries, his most interesting poem
is The Dream of the Rood. The word rood means cross in Old English.

BEOWULF AND LONG POEM

Several poems are preserved in the Exeter Book. Two other personal but
anonymous poems are: The Wanderer and The Seafarer (sailor). The main heroic text is
called Beowulf, the name of hero of the long anonymous poem. It describe events which
are part of the periods memory : invasions and battles, some historic, some legendary.
Beowulf is the first hero in English literature.
Beowulf is a story about a brave young man from Southern Sweden who is fight
with a terrible monster to help King of the Danes, and fight a dragon which breath fire
until died. The poem has the sad ending.

POEM
Many of the earliest books were histories, rather than imaginative writings. They
give us a lot of information of this period. The major figure in this era is Bede, known as
the Venerable Bede, a monk, theologian, historian, and chronologist who lived between
673 and 735. He wrote many books, mostly about the Bible, but the best known today
for his Historia eclesiastica gentis Anglorum (“Ecclesiastical History of The English
People”).which is complete in 731/732 and divided into five books. Bede’s historia
ecclesiastica leaves gaps tantalizing to secular historian.
Another great figure in the prose of Old English literature is Aelfric. A monk
from Winchester in the South of England. He was an important translator as well as
writer. His work include Catholic Homiliees (homilies = religious talk) and Lives of the
Saints.
The spoken tradition led to the first tradition of written literature. At the same
time, Old Englsih was beginning to develop into a different language, called Middle
English, closer to the English we know today.
 CHAPTER III

MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

(1066-1485)

This period is the name given to the transition period during which Old Englsih
was changing to Modern English. This even is very important not only to completely
English literature but also significantly influenced the development of English language.
The Norman conquest was the last successful invasion of Britain, it was led by
William Duke of Normandy. Normand took power and William became a King of
England. He introduced England to French (a language derived from Latin), better
architecture, progress in painting and music. Not long after the conquest, the University
of Cambridge and Oxford were established. Another impact of the conquest is the parallel
use of both English and French. The Anglo-Saxon only used by uneducated people.
By taking the French literature as its model, English literature revived at the
beginning of the 13th century. The most valuable work produced on the French influence
is Layamon’s Brat and the most interesting of all is The Owl and Nightingale, a verse
debate between two birds mentioned in the title about life. In addition, it also important to
note that in this era Robin Hood, began to appear. These ballads are initially in oral form,
and they generally reflect daily life of lower class people in England at that time.

Chaucer
The greatest literary figure of this time is Geoffrey Chaucer. He was influence by
many kind of writing and used many European models. Chaucer greatest work is The
Canterbury Tales. It is also the first major work in English Literature. There are many
aspects to The Canterbury Tales, both secular and religious.
The Canterbury Tales is still the great mirror of it’s time, He describing a society
that is changing, people and their value are changing too. Religion is less important and
making money is a new ambition.
Another famous poet of this era is William Langland who wrote, among other,
Piers Plowman which uses the dream-vision poem to write a long series of dream stories.
It is a social allegory which stress the important of hard workings and honesty in life.

~~~~~THE END ~~~~~