Learn About the British Literature and Its Division Into Various Ages

British literature is one of the most popular literary traditions of all time. It is a written work produced by the authors in the United Kingdom. The history of British literature dates back to the 5th century. Poetry, drama, and prose are some of the types of literature. It is one of the foundational parts of English literature and has influenced literature from all parts of the world.

British literary authors such as Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Jane Austen have made significant contributions to the development of this literature. These literature authors had been introduced to the timeline of British and English literature, which we were not aware of. Whether you are a literature student or not, learning about the different periods of British literature will be fascinating. This blog post from the experts of All Assignment Help is a complete package of information about this literature. Refer to this and dive into the world of Old English literature.

Different Periods of British Literature

What is British literature? It is a literature originating from the United Kingdom and a reflection of the society and culture of Britain throughout the ages. Most of the contributions have been made by British literature authors and are written in English. It is one of the old and popular types of literature that helped shape literary standards and educational traditions across the English-speaking world. The timeline of British literature is wide, with nine different periods. It is broken down into many eras and periods of time. It depicts the social, cultural, and religious landscape of the country across all eras.

Here are the different types of British literature. This is what you need to know about the periods in the literature. Literature is one of the least favorite subjects of students because of its confusing timelines. When reading literature for the first time, it is possible not to understand anything. It is also possible that you miss your fail to meet your academic responsibilities because of a lack of knowledge. Some students even start searching for assignment help as they can’t manage their deadlines. If any such things happen to you, remember that scoring high is tough in British literature, but not impossible. With regular practice and adaptive study methods, you will find a way to learn and score in your course.

Old English Period

The Old English Period, also known as the Anglo-Saxon Period. It is one of the earliest periods in English literature.

Beowulf’s poem is the most popular work of Old English literature. As a literature student, referring to Beowulf is necessary. To learn literature, a strong English reading ability is required. As here, you will be required to read more and more. If you manage to score well on your English assignments, you can easily understand your literature. If not, it might be a difficult ride. However, if you need any help with your English assignment, consult your teacher. You can also seek English homework help from professional online writers.

In Old English literature, you will mostly find descriptions of sermons and saints’ lives, translations of the Bible, narrative history works, Latin work translations, wills, legal works, etc. There are more than 400 manuscripts, but only 189 are considered of high importance. The oldest poem written in the 7th century is Caedmon’s hymn. The last poem written in the time period is The Grave. This poem is considered the last poem left in the old English style. The authors of the Anglo-Saxon period have delivered many vernacular works that are still known now. However, most of the authors of this period are anonymous.

Epic poems and poetry were the main genres of this time. Poems like Battle of Brunanburh and Battle of Maldon were also written at this time. Major literary works produced in the Anglo-Saxon age are:

Alfred the Great
The Wife’s Lament
Beowulf
The Seafarer
The Wanderer
Cædmon’s Hymn
Bede’s Death Song
The Exeter Book
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Dream of the Rood
The Battle of Maldon
The Husband’s Message

Also Read: Best Online Literature and Language Courses to Try in 2024 And Beyond

Middle English Period

The Middle English term is used to denote the literature of the 14th century to 1470. During this time period, there was a cultural and language transition in British literature. London-based English became the favored English language, and the printing press also started to print in this language. High culture and the lawmakers of the country were the main reasons for this change.

Like any other period of British literature, many British literature authors have contributed to the literary development. However, only a few of their works are popular, mainly because of the poor record-keeping.

The history of Middle English is divided into three periods:

Early Middle English
The Central Middle English period
Late English Period

The following were the main themes of the Middle English British literature:

Religious
Courtly love
Arthurian
Chivalry
Morality
Human nature

Author of the Middle English Period

Geoffrey Chaucer is known as the father of English poetry. He was the greatest narrative poet in England. In the Middle English period, the work of Geoffrey Chaucer is the only one that is still known. There were so many conflicts in language at this period, and because of this, the works of other authors were not noticed. Some of the known works of the Middle English Period are

The Book of the Duchess
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Piers Plowman
The Romance of the Rose
The Book of the Duchess
Anelida and Arcite
The Parliament of Fouls
Troilus and Criseyde
The House of Fame
The Legend of a Good Woman
The Canterbury Tales
Speculum hominins
Vox clamantis
Confessio Amantis

We hope you now have a clear understanding of the second major period in British literature. If you find these literary periods overwhelming and catch yourself thinking, I need someone to take my online exam for me so I can spend more time studying British literature, consider seeking help from expert online tutors. Available 24/7, they offer the best support for online classes and exams. Whether it’s an online test, midterm, or final exam, these professionals can help you overcome academic challenges. With their assistance, you’ll have more time to dive deeper into the other fascinating periods of British literature listed below.

Renaissance Period in British Literature 1500 to 1660

The meaning of the term Renaissance is “rebirth. It was first begun in Italy during the 14th century and later came to Western Europe. This period is one of the golden eras in literature. It is still known for its exemplary art, sculpture, paintings, architecture, and literature.

Critics and many historians recently started to refer to the Renaissance as the early modern period. Extraordinary and artistic literary works were introduced in this period by the most successful authors of that time. The Renaissance period gave new recognition to British literature. This was an era of drama and plays. This period has seen many major transformations in scientific discoveries, global connections, and reshaped religious beliefs. New forms, ideas, and voices were used in Renaissance literature.

Authors of the Renaissance Period

Humanism, religion, and politics were some of the main themes used in the literature by the authors of this period. Have a look at some of the major authors of the Renaissance.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
The artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)
Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536)
Galileo (1564–1642)
Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

Division of the Renaissance Period in British Literature

The British literature timeline of the Renaissance period is divided into four stages.

Early Renaissance (pre-Elizabethan period): This was a British literature period during the reign of Tudor monarchs. Thomas More, Thomas Wyatt, and Henry Howard were some of the popular authors. Poetry and prose were forms and genres.
Elizabeth period: This time frame is considered the golden age for the development of English drama. There were many noteworthy Authors and playwrights of the Elizabethan age.
The Jacobean era: The famous writers during the Jacobean age were Shakespeare, John Donne, and many more.
The Carolinian and Commonwealth Era: This age begins with the end of the Jacobean Age. This age reigned under the Monarchy of Charles I. Notable figures of Caroline’s age were John Milton, Robert Burton, and George Herbert. The Commonwealth Age was a dark age for theaters and dramas. All the theaters were shut down by Puritans as they considered theaters morally degraded places; also, they wanted to stop public assembly. The political writings of John Milton and Thomas Hobbes gained recognition.

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The Neoclassical Period of British Literature

The Neoclassical period began with the end of the Renaissance period. This was the era that acknowledged that literature could also be used for instruction and improvement.

John Dryden, Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson, and Oliver Goldsmith were some of the popular authors of the neoclassical period. Absalom and Achitophel, Gulliver’s Travels, and The Vicar of Wakefield are some examples of their work. Different types of themes were popular during the neoclassical period. These themes highlighted the hypocrisy of society and explored personal desires.

Major Characteristics of the Neoclassical Period

The main characteristics are:

Rationalism is the main characteristic of the literature written during the Neoclassical age. Writers created work that was based on a rational approach rather than imagination and fantasy. Poetry was more satirical and less imaginative.
Neoclassical period poetry was very different from Romantic poetry. Sentiments were replaced with satire, intelligence, and reasoning. Poets emphasize a scientific approach rather than emotions and imagination.
Realism is also the hallmark of Neoclassical poets. They were completely different from the romantic writers who followed imagination more. The poetry of neoclassical poets showcases the harsh reality of society. That is why abstract ideas and imaginative thoughts were missing in their work.
The main purpose of the authors of the neoclassical age was to expose hypocrisy, corruption, or foolishness.
Rationality was valued, and satire was used to provoke
The Author’s main focus was to critique society through their works, and for this, they made sure to follow strict literary forms.

Dryden’s and Pope’s poetry are the perfect examples that give readers a glimpse of realism.

The Further Classification of the Neoclassical Period

Here is the historical background of the neoclassical period. If you are a literature student, make sure you are aware of the historical and literary developments during this period, as you never know, you might be asked to compose an essay on this topic. Whether you write an essay or an assignment on literature, make sure you know about the topic. It is not a subject where you can write made-up stories. The neoclassical period is an important history of British literature, which you must represent in your work. To produce high-quality work you can also seek online class help from experts. And use their knowledge of literature to score top grades in your literature class.

The Restoration Age: Puritanism was at its peak during the Restoration period. Satire got popular during this time period. Popular writers of the Restoration were John Bunyan, Aphra Behn, and John Locke.
The Augustan Age: Pope and Swift imitated the work of the First Augustan. Montaigne was a prolific writer who brought up the challenging roles of women.
The Age of Sensibility: Famous writers during this time period were Samuel Richardson, Henry Fielding, and Laurence Sterne.

Many popular authors of this period, such as Goldsmith, started to express emotions in their work, which wasn’t the main theme of this period. The neoclassical builds a foundation for romanticism where Emotion, imagination, nature, individualism, and rebellion were all expressed in the literature.

The Romantic Period

The Romantic era’s beginning is highly disputed and ambiguous. Some people think it began shortly after the Age of Sensibility, in 1785.

This period saw a transition from reason to senses, feelings, and imagination. Unlike the writers of the previous age, the romantic writers’ approach was more towards the senses, imagination, and nature. Moreover, they shifted from urban society to the rural and natural world. Mundane and rationalism in poetry were replaced by mystery and fantasy.

The authors of the Romantic period considered ‘imagination’ a gift, which they used to guide others. In the Romantic period, lake poets (a small group of friends) were widely popular. They were William Wordsworth (1770–1850), Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834), Robert Southey (1774–1843), and journalist Thomas De Quincey (1785–1859). These people took inspiration from the Lake District and marked a turning point in British literature.

Characteristics of the Romantic Period

Imagination and feelings have more importance than rational thinking and logic.
Love towards nature, animals, and landscapes was adapted. Realism is no longer in literature.
Nature for romantic poets is like a divine revelation.
Writers are more into the medieval past, gothic, and supernatural themes.
Great emphasis on melancholy, psychology, and sadness. Death and mankind’s feelings were the main subjects for the poets.

Famous Writers of the Romantic Period:

Romantic poetry is widely popular among the youngsters of today’s generation. All credits go to the romantic authors who have contributed to poetry, novels, and gothic literature. Morality and innocence were the main themes of romantic literature. Some of the notable writers of this period are

William Wordsworth (1770–1850) is an English Romantic poet. He used his poetry to express his powerful feelings. Tintern Abbey, Expostulation and Reply, The Tables Turned, and Goody Blake and Harry Gill were some of the notable contributions of his.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) was an English poet and literary critic, and philosopher. He was the friend of William Wordsworth and a member of the Lake Poets.
William Blake (28 November 1757–12 August 1827) was an English poet of the Romantic period in the United Kingdom. He is a seminal figure in the history of poetry, known for his innocent writing. The Ancient of Days, Pity, The Ghost of a Flea, and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell are some of the contributions in the Romantic period.

Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats are some of the Romantic poets of the second generation.

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The Victorian Period

In 1837, Queen Victoria came to the throne, and thus the Victorian period began. The end of this period was with the death of the queen in 1901. There were many social, religious, intellectual, and economic problems in London. The writers of the Victorian period briefly discussed them in their work.

This period is divided into three parts:

Early Victorian (1832 to 1848): The Industrial Revolution was in the early Victorian period. Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë were popular authors of this period.

Mid-Victorian (1848 to 1870): This is a period known for its prosperity and improvement. Religion and faith were the main literary characteristics. Charles Dickens and George Eliot were popular authors of this period.
Late Victorian (1870 to 1890): In this period, experimental literary works became popular. Oscar Wilde and Thomas Hardy made significant contributions in this period.

Characteristics of Victorian Literature

The main characteristics are:

Victorian Realism: Writers again came back to society from solitude. A shift from nature to industrial England, spiritualism changes into pragmatism, and optimism changes into agnosticism.
Utilitarianism: Society was full of a utilitarian mindset. Novels like Hard Times by Charles Dickens were the perfect example of portraying society. People were like machines, and there was no place for emotions and feelings. Facts and logical thinking were prevalent everywhere. There was a mechanical approach to everything.
Agnosticism: The whole society was under the influence of agnosticism. Things that cannot be observed, visible, or provable have no existence. People lacked belief in God, and society was completely in a state of uncertainty.

A shift one can observe in English novels is that writers started to put more emphasis on characters rather than action. Literary work became more for entertainment purposes and less for artistic values.

Also Read: Modern Period in English Literature

The Modern Period

The modern period finds its beginning with the start of World War 1. Writers started to experiment with the subject matter and brought different styles of writing. They included verse writing, narrative style, and drama. Novels like Things Fall Apart indicate modernist concerns.

Notable literary figures of the Modern Age:

James Joyce
Aldous Huxley
D.H. Lawrence
Dorothy Richardson
E.M. Forster
Doris Lessing
W.B. Yeats
W.H. Auden
Seamus Heaney
Wilfred Owens
George Bernard Shaw

Postmodernism in British Literature

The postmodernism in British literature began from 1939 to the present. This is a period in literature that gained popularity after the Second World War. New literary devices, forms, genres, and styles were used, which explored subjectivity. Memory and loss of anxiety were some of the main themes of postmodernism. The author is this British literature helped in the invention of new literary forms. Some of the authors of postmodernism are:

Evelyn Waugh
Joseph Heller
John Masters
Graham Green
Paul Scott
Julian Barnes
Anthony Powell
Philip Larkin
CP Snow
Harold Pinter
Samuel Beckett
Luigi Pirandello
Bertolt Brecht

British literature is one of the interesting subjects that introduces the history of literature. This paved the way for the motivation for students to enroll in British Literature courses. However, it is also a fact that learning and understanding literature is not as easy as other subjects. Students are required to read more and spend more time learning the concepts.

Tips to Study British Literature

Learners enrolled in 3A-level courses such as physics, math, and English literature often struggle to balance their studies. Each of these subjects is different from the others and requires different skills to work on. If you are also wondering whether it would be possible to manage this combination of subjects, here is how you can do this. Refer to the tips given below to study and score well in British Literature.

One of the easiest ways of learning British literature is to discuss it. Start discussing whatever you have learned with your friends or without family members. This way, you can register everything learned. Moreover, your listener can spot your mistakes, which you may correct timely manner for a better cause.
A common difficulty experienced by students learning literature is that they fail to remember things. To avoid such a situation, try making flashcards when learning. Flashcards will help you remember important authors and their contributions to literature. You will slowly develop a good understanding of the subject.
Read out loud to understand everything that you are learning.
All the study sessions are important when learning literature. Skipping them can prevent you from relying on important information about the subject. Therefore, try to never skip your classes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What are the main characteristics of British literature?

Answer: The main characteristics of British literature are its focus on strong personal feelings and its exploration of conflict between good and evil.

Question 2: What are the best British literature books?

Answer: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, To the Lighthouse, and Middlemarch are some of the best British literature books.

Question 3: Is British literature important?

Answer: British literature is one of the most popular literary traditions of all time. It introduces us to the written work produced by the authors in the United Kingdom.