Survey of

English and
American
Literature
Survey of English and
American Literature
Introduction
History
Introduction
History
 Introduction
Literature is the reflection of life. It mirrors
the society in which it is generated. The word
literature comes from the Latin word
‘litaritura’ meaning “writing organized with
letters”. We classify literature according to
language, origin, historical period, genre, and
subject matter.
 History
The Major Eight (8) Periods in the
History of English Literature are:
1. The Anglo- Saxon or Old English
Period (450-1066) 5. The Romantic Period (1798-1837)
2. The Anglo- Norman or Middle 6. The Victorian Period (1837-1901)
English period (1006-1500) 7. The Modern Period (1901-1945)
3. The Renaissance Period (1500- 8. The Contemporary Period (1945-
1660) Today)
4. The Neoclassical Period (1660-
1798)
 History
Anglo-Saxon or Old English Period
(450–1066)
Heroic Tradition: poetry focused on
hero’s bravery
Elegiac Tradition: writers mourned the
passing of earlier, better times.
 History
Anglo-Norman or Middle English Period
(1066–1500)
Popular forms of Writing: Chronicles,
Poetry, Drama, Religious and Didactic
writing.
 History
Renaissance Period or Age of
Shakespeare
(1500–1660)
Trends: Revival of learning, Rediscovery of
classical philosophy, literature and art, focus
on ‘Humanism’ and ‘Puritanism’.
Major Forms of literature: poetry and
drama.
 History
Neoclassical Period or the Enlightenment
Age
(1660–1798)
Trends: Revival of classical art and culture
of ancient Greece and Rome, focus on order,
accuracy, and structure.
Poetic Trends: Use of allusions, heroic
couplet and strict meter and rhyme.
 History
Romantic Period
(1798–1837)
Trends: The Romantic Movement in
Poetry, Gothicism in literature.
Chief Contribution: Romantic Poetry
and The Gothic Novel.
 History
Victorian Period
(1837–1901)
Literary Trends & Movements:
Symbolism, Utilitarianism, Oxford
Movement, Romantic Protestantism. Age of
Prose & Novel.
Main Focus: individually, morality note,
conflict between religion and science, human
 History
Modern Period
(1901-1945)
Literary Trends: psychological and
realistic novel, use of stream of
consciousness technique, futurism,
cubism, Dadaism, Symbolism,
Expressionism and Imagism.
 History
Contemporary Period
(1945-Today)
Literary Trends: structuralism, deconstruction,
poststructuralism, postmodernism, postcolonialism,
and magic realism.
Main Focus: horrors of war, genocide, life
experiences, real-life themes, alienation,
transformation, consumption & relativity of truth.