Literature historyLiterature history

The Eras, the books and the The Eras, the books and the behind the scenes-factsbehind the scenes-facts

The ErasThe Eras

Depends on which country you Depends on which country you discuss.discuss.

Differences between England and Differences between England and Sweden for example.Sweden for example.

Let’sLet’s focus on Brittish history for a focus on Brittish history for a while.while.

Old English TimeOld English TimeWhat?What? Historic and epic poemsHistoric and epic poems

– ””Beowulf” – 8th CenturyBeowulf” – 8th Century– Poem about a warriorPoem about a warrior– Set in Denmark and SwedenSet in Denmark and Sweden

Knight’s talesKnight’s tales– ””King Arthur” – Often portraidKing Arthur” – Often portraid– Knights of the round tableKnights of the round table

Middle English timeMiddle English time

What?What? Short storiesShort stories

Who?Who? Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

– ””Father of English Literature”Father of English Literature”– ” ”The Canterbury Tales” – Pilgrims The Canterbury Tales” – Pilgrims

telling stories when going to Canterburytelling stories when going to Canterbury

DID YOU KNOW?DID YOU KNOW?

That in the movie ”A knight’s tale” That in the movie ”A knight’s tale” with Heath Ledger, there’s a man in with Heath Ledger, there’s a man in the group who tells stories and never the group who tells stories and never shuts up...shuts up...

What’s his name?What’s his name? Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

Middle English –Other factsMiddle English –Other facts

French - offical language 1066-1160sFrench - offical language 1066-1160s The Universities in Oxford and The Universities in Oxford and

Cambridge were foundedCambridge were founded Magna Charta (1215)Magna Charta (1215) Bible in English 1384Bible in English 1384

The bibleThe bible

””And it was don aftirward, and Jhesu And it was don aftirward, and Jhesu made iorney by citees and castelis, made iorney by citees and castelis, prechinge and euangelysinge þe prechinge and euangelysinge þe rewme of God, ”rewme of God, ”

And it came to pass afterward, that And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of Godglad tidings of the kingdom of God

Questions 1Questions 1

1. What were the two earliest eras 1. What were the two earliest eras called?called?

2. Which types of texts were mainly 2. Which types of texts were mainly written during these two eras?written during these two eras?

3. Mention at least 3 other 3. Mention at least 3 other importantimportant facts about these eras. facts about these eras.

Renaissance (1400-1650)Renaissance (1400-1650) Means rebirth Means rebirth

– Marks the rebirth of the antique era and Marks the rebirth of the antique era and ideals.ideals.

Shakespeare was England’s big nameShakespeare was England’s big name Other writers:Other writers:

– John Donne - PoetJohn Donne - Poet– Christopher Marlow - PlaywriterChristopher Marlow - Playwriter

WAAAAZ UP!!!!

Renaissance – Other factsRenaissance – Other facts

English reformation - Henry VIII English reformation - Henry VIII establishes the Church of England establishes the Church of England 15341534

England became the most powerful England became the most powerful country in Europe - Elisabethan eracountry in Europe - Elisabethan era

Gunpowder plot 1605 – Guy FawkesGunpowder plot 1605 – Guy Fawkes Pilgrim Fathers emigrate to America Pilgrim Fathers emigrate to America

16201620

Question 2Question 2

Renaissance means rebirth – Rebirth Renaissance means rebirth – Rebirth of what?of what?

Plays and poetry were important- Plays and poetry were important- Name at least two writers.Name at least two writers.

Who reigned in England when Who reigned in England when England became the most powerful England became the most powerful country?country?

Guy Fawkes- Who was he?Guy Fawkes- Who was he?

The Enlightenment (1650-The Enlightenment (1650-1800)1800)

There were a lot of newThere were a lot of new

...s...s

Newton ”started” it!Newton ”started” it!

””The age of reason”The age of reason”

Religion lost power - Science became Religion lost power - Science became more importantmore important

Influenced the booksInfluenced the books– Robinsson Crusoe- A tribute to mankind Robinsson Crusoe- A tribute to mankind

and its capabilities. –Daniel Defoeand its capabilities. –Daniel Defoe The king and state lost powerThe king and state lost power

– Satiric writers with criticism – Jonathan Satiric writers with criticism – Jonathan SwiftSwift

– ””A modest proposal”A modest proposal”– ””Gulliver’s travels”Gulliver’s travels”

The Enlightenment – The The Enlightenment – The poetspoets

Robert Burns- Scottish poetRobert Burns- Scottish poet– Auld lang syneAuld lang syne

William BlakeWilliam Blake– Songs of Innocence and Songs of

Experience– The Tyger

The Enlightenment – Other The Enlightenment – Other factsfacts

The great fire of London 1666The great fire of London 1666 American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

– Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence Prisoners deported to AustraliaPrisoners deported to Australia Times Magazine started 1788Times Magazine started 1788

Question 3Question 3

Another name for the Enlightenment Another name for the Enlightenment era?era?

Why is Robinson Crusoe called an Why is Robinson Crusoe called an Enlightenment book?Enlightenment book?

Who was Jonathan Swift?Who was Jonathan Swift?

Romanticism (1800-1837)Romanticism (1800-1837) Got bored with all the science –Got bored with all the science –

Wanted some feelings:Wanted some feelings:– LoveLove

Poetry about love and beatuiful nature – ”Poetry about love and beatuiful nature – ”DaffodilsDaffodils”- William Wordsworth ”- William Wordsworth

Novels – Pride and Prejudice –Jane AustenNovels – Pride and Prejudice –Jane Austen

– HorrorHorror Gothic novels- ”Frankenstein” –Mary ShelleyGothic novels- ”Frankenstein” –Mary Shelley Scary short storiesScary short stories - ”Tell-Taled heart” - - ”Tell-Taled heart” -

Edgar Allen PoeEdgar Allen Poe

– Historic novelsHistoric novels Knight’s tales- ”Ivanhoe” – Sir Walter ScottKnight’s tales- ”Ivanhoe” – Sir Walter Scott

Romanticism – Other factsRomanticism – Other facts

Act of Union 1801 = United KingdomAct of Union 1801 = United Kingdom Battle of Trafalgar - Napoleon-NelsonBattle of Trafalgar - Napoleon-Nelson

RomanticismRomanticism

Why did the Era start?Why did the Era start? Which genres were commonly used?Which genres were commonly used? Mention at least two famous novels Mention at least two famous novels

from this era.from this era.

Realism (The Victorian Age) Realism (The Victorian Age) 1837-19001837-1900

Romanticism was fake- Let’s show Romanticism was fake- Let’s show the real dealthe real deal

RealismRealism– People went to school- learned how to People went to school- learned how to

read= More novels were writtenread= More novels were written– No fancy stories –just real life storiesNo fancy stories –just real life stories– E.g. ”E.g. ”Oliver Oliver TwistTwist”- Charles Dickens”- Charles Dickens– Cliff-hanger novel published i magazinesCliff-hanger novel published i magazines

Realism – English AuthorsRealism – English Authors

Oscar Wilde - DramatistOscar Wilde - Dramatist– ””The importance of being Earnest”The importance of being Earnest”

Alfred Lord Tennyson - Poet– ””Ring out, wild bells”Ring out, wild bells”

Ruyard KiplingRuyard Kipling– ””Jungle Book”Jungle Book”

Brontë Sisters- Charlotte, Emelie Brontë Sisters- Charlotte, Emelie (Anne)(Anne)– ””Jane Eyre”, ”Wuthering Heights”Jane Eyre”, ”Wuthering Heights”

Realism – American AuthorsRealism – American Authors

Herman MelvilleHerman Melville– Moby DickMoby Dick

Mark TwainMark Twain– Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

Jack LondonJack London– Call of the WildCall of the Wild

Poets – Walt Whitman, Emily Poets – Walt Whitman, Emily DickinsonDickinson

Questions 4Questions 4

Why did the era start?Why did the era start? Mention two English and American Mention two English and American

writers from this era.writers from this era.

ModernismModernism Where do we go from being really Where do we go from being really

realistic..? Well, to the opposite: realistic..? Well, to the opposite:

LET’S GET CRAZYLET’S GET CRAZY

Expressionism, Absurdism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Absurdism, Impressionism, futurism...futurism...

AuthorsAuthors– Joseph Conrad- Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad- Heart of Darkness– Virginia Wolf- To the lighthouseVirginia Wolf- To the lighthouse– James Joyce- UlyssesJames Joyce- Ulysses– George Orwell – 1984, Animal farmGeorge Orwell – 1984, Animal farm– Robert Frost - The road not takenRobert Frost - The road not taken– Samuel Beckett- Samuel Beckett- WaitingWaiting for Godot for Godot

Question 5Question 5

Why did this Era start?Why did this Era start? Give three example of modernistic Give three example of modernistic

isms and the name of three famous isms and the name of three famous writers from the modern era.writers from the modern era.