English literature inextricably linked in the minds of many of us with such names as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. However, I would like to introduce the reader to other less famous, but no less talented English writers, and also say a few words about the era in which they lived and worked.
This article provides detailed periodization of English literature from the Middle Ages to the present day and indicates the most famous works of English writers, as well as lesser-known works, but which are nevertheless worth reading.
First, let's figure out what belongs to English literature. English literature is the literature not only of writers from England, but also from all parts of Great Britain, including: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is known that in English language there are more words than in any other language in the world. As a result, there are many words with subtle differences in meaning. This variety of words was masterfully used English writers, and some of them even took responsibility for creating new words; one of these writers was the brilliant W. Shakespeare.
English literature- this is a centuries-old history, brilliant authors, unforgettable works that reflect the peculiarity national character. We grow up with the books of these great writers, learn and develop with their help. It is impossible to convey the importance of English writers and the contribution they made to world literature. It is difficult to imagine a world without the works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Wilde and many others. English literature is divided into periods, each of which had its own writers and poets, whose works reflected certain events and facts from the history of the country.
It is customary to distinguish the following periods in English literature:
1st period: early Middle Ages or Anglo-Saxon period 450-1066
Historical fact: in 1066 England was conquered by the Normans led by William the Conqueror. This conquest ends this period.
Predominant genre: poem.
The most famous works: Beowulf
Works from this period are passed on by word of mouth. They are characterized by the following features: fatality, comparison of the church and paganism, praise of heroes and successful battles.
The most important work of this period is considered the poem Beowulf, which has a national epic status in England. Beowulf is the longest epic poem written in Old English. The poem contains more than 3000 lines and is divided into 3 parts. Beowulf is a classic tale of the triumph of good over evil. It describes the exploits of a hero named Beowulf, his battles with a monster, the mother of this monster and a dragon.
2nd period: Middle Ages: 1066 - 1500
Predominant genre: folk tales, chivalric romance, ballad
In the 11th-12th centuries, literature was dominated by church-didactic works (“Ormulum”, “Ode to Morality”), starting from the middle of the 13th century, there was a transition to more everyday genres(folk “Cuckoo Song”, “Bev of Amton”, “Horn” and “Havelock”).
In the XIII-XIV centuries - the creation of chivalric novels about King Arthur and his knights. In 1469, Thomas Malory collected a whole set of novels about the exploits of knights, and his work “Le Morte d’Arthur” became a monument of English literature of the late Middle Ages.
The beginning of the development of the genre folk poetry- ballads. Ballads about the brave robber Robin Hood are very popular.
And finally, the second half of this period is considered a new page in the history of English literature and is associated with the name of Geoffrey Chaucer. If previously it was customary to write works in Latin, then Chaucer became the first to write in English. His most famous work was “”.
3rd period: Renaissance or Renaissance: 1550 – 1660
Predominant genre: sonnets, lyrical works, plays for the theater
- 1500-1558 — literature under the Tudors
The Renaissance begins with the development of the lyric genre, the leading role was assigned to poetry. Poets Philip Sidney and Edmund Spenser. One of the most notable writers during the reign of Henry VIII was great writer and the humanist Thomas More, whose book “Utopia”, published in 1516, brought him fame.
- 1558-1603 — literature under Elizabeth
This period is associated with the reign of Elizabeth I; medieval traditions and Renaissance optimism were mixed here. Poetry, prose and drama were the main styles that flourished during this period. However, the drama had a special flourishing. Famous writers of this period were Thomas Kyd, Robert Greene, Christopher Marlowe and a little later the greatest playwright William Shakespeare.
- 1603-1625 — literature under James I
A difficult and dark period associated with the reign of James I. During this period, works of prose and also drama were actively published. The period was also marked by the translation of the Bible, carried out on behalf of the king. At this time, Shakespeare and Johnson lived and worked, as well as John Donne, Francis Bacon, and Thomas Middleton.
- 1625-1649 — literature under Charles I
The works of writers of this period were distinguished by sophistication and elegance. During this period, a circle of so-called “Cavalier poets” arose, among whom were Ben Jonson, Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew and others. Their poetry described the life of the upper class, and the main themes were: beauty, love, fidelity. They were distinguished by their wit and directness.
- 1649-1660 — protectorate period(or Puritan interregnum)
The period is associated with the name of Oliver Cromwell. The political writings of Milton, Thomas Hobbs, and the writings of Andrew Marvel predominated during this time. In September 1642, the Puritans closed theaters out of moral and religious convictions. Over the next 18 years, theaters remained closed due to lack of dramatic works written at this time.
4th period: neoclassicism: 1660 - 1785
Predominant genre: prose, poetry, novel
John Milton " Lost heaven"(Paradise Lost), Jonathan Swift "Gulliver's Travels", Daniel Defoe "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe", Henry Fielding "Tom Jones" (The History of Tom Jones, a foundling" (1749))
The literature of the neoclassical period was greatly influenced by French literature. The literature of this time was philosophical in nature and also possessed features of skepticism, wit, sophistication and criticism. Divided into several periods:
- 1660-1700 – period of restoration
This was the time of the restoration of the monarchy, the time of the triumph of reason and tolerance over religion and political passions. All this was marked by an abundance of prose and poetry and the emergence of a special comedy of manners known as the “Restoration Comedies.” It was during this period that John Milton wrote Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. Other writers of this time were John Locke, John Dryden and John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.
- 1700-1745 – Augustinian period
The predominant characteristics of the literature of the time were sophistication, clarity and elegance. Famous writers: Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Daniel Defoe. A significant contribution of this period was the publication of Defoe's first English novels, and the "novel of character" Pamela, written by Samuel Richardson in 1740.
- 1745-1785 – sentimentalism
Literature reflected the Enlightenment worldview, and writers began to emphasize instincts and feelings rather than reason and restraint. Interest in medieval ballads and folk literature aroused increasing sympathy at this time. The dominant authors of this period were Samuel Johnson, Edward Young, James Thomson, Thomas Gray, during the period of sentimentalism, the emergence of late Sentimentalism the most talented singer people of Robert Burns.
5th period: romanticism: 1785 - 1830
Predominant genre: poetry, secular novel, birth of the Gothic novel
The most famous authors and works: Jane Austen “Pride and Prejudice”, “Sense and Sensibility”, Lord Byron “The Travels of Charles Harold”, poets of the “Lake School” (Coleridge), John Keats, Robert Burns, Walter Scott “Ivanhoe”, Mary Shelley "Frankenstein"
Works are written with feeling, using large quantity characters. Writers believed that literature should be rich poetic images, it should be relaxed and approachable. Famous writers of that time were Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Walter Scott, poets William Blake, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Lake School poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth. At this time is born Gothic style. Two of the most famous Gothic novelists are Anne Radcliffe and Mary Shelley.
6th period: Victorian era: 1830 – 1901
Predominant genre: novel
The most famous authors and works:(a lot of works, “David Copperfield”, « Big hopes» , William Thackeray “Vanity Fair” (Vanity Fair), “Treasure Island” (), “The Adventures of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (), Rudyard Kipling fairy tales “Just So Stories”, (a lot of works, “Notes on Sherlock Holmes” ), (Charlotte Brontë "Jane Eyre", Emily Brontë "Wuthering Heights", Anne Brontë "Agnes Grey", "The Picture of Dorian Grey" Thomas Hardy (stories, )
- 1830-1848 — early period
The works of the early Victorian period are emotionally expressive, mostly depicting the lives of middle-class people. Among the literary genres, the novel dominates. Long novels are divided into many episodes, which are then published in newspapers, which made it possible to reduce their cost and thus make them accessible to the lower class. Charles Dickens, William Thackeray and Elizabeth Gaskell also resorted to this method of attracting readers. famous writers this time Robert Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, the Bronte sisters.
- 1848-1870 — interim period
In 1848, a group of English artists, among whom was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, organized the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Their main goal was to return to the paintings the truthfulness, simplicity and adherence to religion that existed under Raphael. In turn, Rossetti and his literary circle transferred these ideals into their works.
- 1870-1901 — late period
For literature, this is a period of aestheticism and decadence. Oscar Wilde and other authors of this style insisted on experimentation and believed that art was categorically against “natural” moral norms.
7th period: modernism: 1901 – 1960
Predominant genre: novel
- 1901 – 1914 — literature under Edward VII
The period is named after King Edward VII and covers the time from the death of Queen Victoria (1901) to the outbreak of the First World War (1914). At this time, the British Empire was at its height, and the rich were drowning in luxury. However, four-fifths of the English population lived in poverty. And the works of this period reflect these social conditions. Among the writers denouncing class injustice and selfishness of the upper class were writers such as George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells. Other writers of the time: Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, Henry James, E. M. Forster.
- 1910 – 1936 — literature under George V
Many Edwardian writers continue to write during this period. In addition to them, the so-called Georgians write, including such poets as Rupert Brooke and David Herbert Lawrence. They describe beauty in their poems rural landscapes, peace and tranquility of nature. Writers of this period experimented with themes, forms and styles. Among them: James Joyce, D. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. Playwrights: Noel Coward and Samuel Beckett.
- 1939 – 1960 - literature during the Second World War and the post-war period
The Second World War had a huge impact on the work of writers of that time. And subsequent generations grew up hearing stories about this terrible war. Wartime poets Sidney Keyes and David Gascoyne also wrote about the war, Philip Larkin and Pet Barker.
8th period: postmodernism 1960 – today
Predominant genre: novel
The most famous authors and works: XX century has become very fruitful in the field of popular literature, the following names are probably well known to you:
- (1890-1976): " " and other detectives
— Ian Fleming (1908-1964): James Bond novels
— J. Tolkien (1892-1973): The Lord of the Rings
— S. Lewis (1898-1963): Chronicles of Narnia
— J.K. Rowling "Harry Potter"
Postmodernism mixes literary genres and styles in an attempt to free themselves from modernist forms. Unlike the modernists, who took themselves and their work very seriously, the postmodernists treated everything with irony. The concept of “black humor” appears in literature. However, postmodernism borrows some features from its predecessor and even strengthens them, this concerns pessimism and the desire for the avant-garde. The features of postmodernism are especially clearly reflected in the drama. So Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot" - shining example theater of the absurd and combines pessimistic philosophy and comedy.
Studying English Literature must be inextricably linked with the study of the era, historical events and the culture of his time. When starting to read a book, do not be lazy and read the biography of the writer, get acquainted with the time of creation of the work. Reading literature is not just an exciting activity, but also a great responsibility, because after reading something, we share our opinion with friends and family. Classic literature, which came from the pens of the great creators of words and plot, cannot be bad. Sometimes we just don't understand it...
Anna Karenina. Lev Tolstoy
The greatest love story of all time. A story that has not left the stage, has been filmed countless times - and has not yet lost the boundless charm of passion - destructive, destructive, blind passion - but all the more bewitching with its greatness.
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Master and Margarita. Michael Bulgakov
This is the most mysterious of the novels in the entire history of Russian literature of the 20th century. This is a novel that is almost officially called “The Gospel of Satan.” This is “The Master and Margarita”. A book that can be read and reread dozens, hundreds of times, but most importantly, it is still impossible to understand. So, which pages of “The Master and Margarita” were dictated by the Forces of Light?
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Wuthering Heights. Emily Brontë
A mystery novel included in the top ten best novels of all time! The story of a stormy, truly demonic passion that has been exciting the imagination of readers for more than one hundred and fifty years. Katie gave her heart to her cousin, but ambition and a thirst for wealth push her into the arms of a rich man. Forbidden attraction turns into a curse for secret lovers, and one day.
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Eugene Onegin. Alexander Pushkin
“Have you read “Onegin”? What can you say about “Onegin”? These are the questions that are constantly repeated among writers and Russian readers,” noted the writer, enterprising publisher and, by the way, the hero of Pushkin’s epigrams, Thaddeus Bulgarin, after the publication of the second chapter of the novel. For a long time now it has not been customary to evaluate ONEGIN. In the words of the same Bulgarin, it is “written in Pushkin’s poems. That's enough."
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Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris. Victor Hugo
A story that has survived centuries, become canon and given glory to its heroes common noun images. A story of love and tragedy. The love of those to whom love was not given and not allowed - by religious dignity, physical weakness or someone else's evil will. The gypsy Esmeralda and the deaf hunchback bell-ringer Quasimodo, the priest Frollo and the captain of the royal riflemen Phoebus de Chateaupert, the beautiful Fleur-de-Lys and the poet Gringoire.
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Gone With the Wind. Margaret Mitchell
The Great Saga of Civil War in the USA and about the fate of the wayward and ready to go over heads Scarlett O'Hara was first published more than 70 years ago and does not become outdated to this day. This is Margaret Mitchell's only novel for which she received a Pulitzer Prize. A story about a woman whom neither an unconditional feminist nor a staunch supporter of house-building is ashamed to emulate.
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Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare
This is the highest tragedy about love that human genius can create. A tragedy that has been filmed and is being filmed. A tragedy that does not leave the theater stage to this day - and to this day it sounds as if it was written yesterday. Years and centuries go by. But one thing remains and will forever remain unchanged: “There is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet...”
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The Great Gatsby. Francis Fitzgerald
“The Great Gatsby” is the pinnacle not only in Fitzgerald’s work, but also one of the highest achievements in world prose of the 20th century. Although the novel takes place in the “roaring” twenties of the last century, when fortunes were made literally from nothing and yesterday’s criminals became millionaires overnight, this book lives outside of time, because, telling the story of the broken destinies of the generation of the “Jazz Age”.
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Three Musketeers. Alexandr Duma
The most famous historical and adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas tells about the adventures of the Gascon d'Artagnan and his musketeer friends at the court of King Louis XIII.
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Count of Monte Cristo. Alexandr Duma
The book presents one of the most exciting adventure novels of the French classic literature of the 19th century century of Alexandre Dumas.
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Triumphal Arch. Erich Remarque
One of the most beautiful and tragic novels about love in the history of European literature. The story of Dr. Ravic, a refugee from Nazi Germany, and the beautiful Joan Madu, who is entangled in the “unbearable lightness of being,” takes place in pre-war Paris. And the alarming time in which these two happened to meet and fall in love with each other becomes one of the main characters of the Arc de Triomphe.
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The man who laughs. Victor Hugo
Gwynplaine, a lord by birth, was sold as a child to comprachico bandits, who made a fair jester out of the child, carving a mask of “eternal laughter” on his face (at the courts of the European nobility of that time there was a fashion for cripples and freaks who amused the owners). Despite all the trials, Gwynplaine retained the best human qualities and your love.
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Martin Eden. Jack London
A simple sailor, in whom it is easy to recognize the author himself, goes through a long, full of hardships path to literary immortality... By chance, finding himself in secular society, Martin Eden is doubly happy and surprised... both by the creative gift that awakened in him, and by the divine image of the young Ruth Morse, so not similar to all the people he knew before... From now on, two goals are relentlessly facing him.
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Sister Kerry. Theodore Dreiser
The publication of Theodore Dreiser's first novel was fraught with such difficulties that it led its creator to severe depression. But further fate The novel “Sister Carrie” turned out to be lucky: it was translated into many foreign languages, reprinted in millions of copies. New and new generations of readers enjoy immersing themselves in the vicissitudes of the fate of Caroline Mieber.
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American tragedy. Theodore Dreiser
The novel “An American Tragedy” is the pinnacle of the work of the outstanding American writer Theodore Dreiser. He said: “No one creates tragedies - life creates them. Writers only portray them.” Dreiser managed to portray the tragedy of Clive Griffiths so talentedly that his story does not leave the modern reader indifferent.
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Les Misérables. Victor Hugo
Jean Valjean, Cosette, Gavroche - the names of the heroes of the novel have long become household names, the number of its readers in the century and a half since the publication of the book has not become smaller, the novel has not lost popularity. A kaleidoscope of faces from all walks of French society first half of the 19th century centuries, bright, memorable characters, sentimentality and realism, intense, exciting plot.
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The adventures of the good soldier Schweik. Jaroslav Hasek
A great, original and outrageous novel. A book that can be perceived both as a “soldier’s tale” and as classic, directly related to the traditions of the Renaissance. This is a sparkling text that makes you laugh until you cry, and a powerful call to “put down your arms,” and one of the most objective historical evidence in satirical literature.
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Iliad. Homer
The attractiveness of Homer’s poems is not only that their author introduces us to a world separated from modernity by tens of centuries and yet unusually real thanks to the genius of the poet, who preserved in his poems the beat of contemporary life. Homer's immortality lies in the fact that in his brilliant creations contains inexhaustible reserves of universal human enduring values - reason, goodness and beauty.
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St. John's wort. James Cooper
Cooper managed to find and describe in his books the originality and unexpected brightness of the newly discovered continent, which managed to captivate the whole of modern Europe. Every new novel The writer was eagerly awaited. The exciting adventures of the fearless and noble hunter and tracker Natty Bumppo captivated both young and adult readers..
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Doctor Zhivago. Boris Pasternak
The novel “Doctor Zhivago” is one of the outstanding works of Russian literature, throughout for long years remained closed for wide range readers in our country, who knew about him only through scandalous and unscrupulous party criticism.
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Don Quixote. Miguel Cervantes
What do the names of Amadis of Gaul, Palmer of England, Don Belianis of Greece, Tyrant of the White tell us today? But it was precisely as a parody of novels about these knights that “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was created. And this parody has survived the genre being parodied for centuries. “Don Quixote” was recognized as the best novel in the entire history of world literature.
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Ivanhoe. Walter Scott
“Ivanhoe” is a key work in the series of novels by W. Scott, which take us to medieval England. The young knight Ivanhoe, who secretly returned from the Crusade to his homeland and was deprived of his inheritance by the will of his father, will have to defend his honor and love beautiful lady Rowena... King Richard the Lionheart and the legendary robber Robin Hood will come to his aid.
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Headless horseman. Reed Main
The plot of the novel is so skillfully constructed that it keeps you in suspense until the very last page. It is no coincidence that the exciting story of the noble mustanger Maurice Gerald and his lover, the beautiful Louise Poindexter, investigating the sinister mystery of the headless horseman, whose figure terrifies the inhabitants of the savannah when he appears, is extremely beloved by readers in Europe and Russia.
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Dear friend. Guy de Maupassant
The novel “Dear Friend” became one of the symbols of the era. This is Maupassant's most powerful novel. Through the story of Georges Duroy, who is making his way to the top, the true morals of high French society are revealed; the spirit of corruption that reigns in all its spheres contributes to the fact that an ordinary and immoral person, such as Maupassant’s hero, easily achieves success and wealth.
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Dead Souls. Nikolay Gogol
The publication of the first volume of N. Gogol’s “Dead Souls” in 1842 caused heated controversy among contemporaries, splitting society into fans and opponents of the poem. “...Talking about “Dead Souls”, you can talk a lot about Russia...” - this judgment of P. Vyazemsky explained the main reason for the controversy. The author’s question is still relevant: “Rus, where are you rushing, give me the answer?”
Everyone knows the plot of Daniel Defoe's novel. However, the book contains many other interesting details about the organization of Robinson’s life on the island, his biography, and inner experiences. If you ask a person who has not read the book to describe Robinson’s character, he is unlikely to cope with this task.
IN mass consciousness Crusoe is a smart character without character, feelings or history. The novel reveals the image of the main character, which allows you to look at the plot from a different angle.
Why you need to read
To get acquainted with one of the most famous adventure novels and find out who Robinson Crusoe really was.
Swift does not openly challenge society. Like a true Englishman, he does it correctly and witty. His satire is so subtle that Gulliver's Travels can be read as an ordinary fairy tale.
Why you need to read
For children, Swift's novel is a fun and unusual adventure story. Adults need to read it to get acquainted with one of the most famous artistic satires.
This novel, let it artistically and not the most outstanding, definitely iconic in the history of literature. After all, in many ways he predetermined the development of the scientific genre.
But this is not just entertaining reading. It raises problems of the relationship between creator and creation, God and man. Who is responsible for creating a being who is destined to suffer?
Why you need to read
To get acquainted with one of the main works science fiction, as well as to experience complex issues that are often lost in film adaptations.
It is difficult to single out Shakespeare's best play. There are at least five of them: “Hamlet”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Othello”, “King Lear”, “Macbeth”. The unique style and deep understanding of life's contradictions made Shakespeare's works an immortal classic, relevant at all times.
Why you need to read
To begin to understand poetry, literature and life. And also to find the answer to the question, what is better: to be or not to be?
The main theme of English literature of the early 19th century was social criticism. Thackeray in his novel denounces his contemporary society with the ideals of success and material enrichment. To be in society means to be sinful - this is approximately Thackeray’s conclusion regarding his social environment.
After all, the successes and joys of yesterday lose their meaning when a well-known (albeit unknown) tomorrow looms ahead, which we all will sooner or later have to think about.
Why you need to read
To learn to relate more simply to life and the opinions of others. After all, everyone in society is infected with “fair ambitions” that have no real value.
The language of the novel is beautiful, and the dialogue is an example of English wit. Oscar Wilde is a subtle psychologist, which is why his characters turned out to be so complex and multifaceted.
This book is about human vice, cynicism, the difference between the beauty of the soul and body. If you think about it, to some extent each of us is Dorian Gray. Only we do not have a mirror on which sins would be imprinted.
Why you need to read
To enjoy the stunning language of Britain's wittiest writer, to see how much one's moral character can deviate from one's appearance, and to become a little better person. Wilde's work is a spiritual portrait not only of his era, but of all humanity.
The ancient Greek myth about a sculptor who fell in love with his creation takes on a new, socially significant meaning in Bernard Shaw's play. How should a work feel towards its author if this work is a person? How can it relate to the creator - the one who made it in accordance with his ideals?
Why you need to read
This is Bernard Shaw's most famous play. It is often staged in theaters. According to many critics, Pygmalion is a landmark work of English drama.
A universally recognized masterpiece of English literature, familiar to many from cartoons. Who, at the mention of Mowgli, does not hear Kaa’s drawn-out hiss in his head: “Man-cub...”?
Why you need to read
As an adult, it is unlikely that anyone will take up The Jungle Book. A person has only one childhood to enjoy Kipling's creation and appreciate it. So be sure to introduce your children to the classics! They will be grateful to you.
And again it comes to mind soviet cartoon. It's really good, and the dialogue in it is almost entirely taken from the book. However, the images of the characters and the general mood of the story in the original source are different.
Stevenson's novel is realistic and quite harsh in places. But this is a good adventure work that every child and adult will read with pleasure. Boardings, sea wolves, wooden legs - the marine theme beckons and attracts.
Why you need to read
Because it's fun and exciting. In addition, the novel is divided into quotes, which everyone should know.
Interest in the deductive abilities of the great detective is still great thanks to a huge number film adaptations. Many people are familiar with the classic detective story only from films. But there are many film adaptations, but there is only one collection of stories, but what a one!
Why you need to read
H.G. Wells was in many ways a pioneer in the genre of science fiction. Before him, people were not at odds with, he was the first to write about time travel. Without the Time Machine, we would not have seen either the film Back to the Future or the cult TV series Doctor Who.
They say that all life is a dream, and a bad, pitiful, short dream at that, although you won’t have another dream anyway.
Why you need to read
To look at the origins of many science fiction ideas that have become popular in modern culture.