English Literature

LECTURER: CALUM LEATHAM UNIT 10

Todays Seminar
Part 1 Part 2
A Quick Background of
Renaissance & Shakespeare
Britain
Enlightenment Period
Medieval Literature
(A History of England) Poetry Planning Review
Pop-Quiz: Which one is a picture of the UK?
A. B. C.
Pop-Quiz: What is England most famous
for?
A. B. C.
 Pop-Quiz: What is the capital of England?
A. B. C.

New York Edenborough London

Pop-Quiz: What Do you know about
Britain?

Tell me one thing you know about Britain

What is Britain & the UK?
• Britain VS England
• England – nearly 1000 years old
• Wales – 1500s
• Scotland - 1707
• Britain Vs United Kingdom
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
• Ireland is not part of Britain but is part of the UK
• Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
British Vs English
• Am I British or English?
• English – Englishman
• Scottish – Scotsman
• Welsh
• Irish – Northern Ireland is still Irish

• Are your Vietnamese or Southeast Asian?

Flag of the UK development
 A History of England Formation
Roman Britain (43-410 CE): The Roman conquest of Britain began in 43
CE under Emperor Claudius. The Romans established control over most of
the islands territory up until what is modern day Scotland.
Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions (410-1066): As the Roman Empire
declined, the Anglo-Saxons, Germanic tribes, and later the Vikings invaded
and settled in England. Viking raids started in the 8th century, and by the
9th and 10th centuries, Viking settlers integrated with the Anglo-Saxon
population.
The Norman Conquest (1066): The Norman Conquest led by William the
Conqueror in 1066. The Battle of Hastings resulted in the defeat of the
Anglo-Saxon King Harold II. The Normans brought feudalism, a new
aristocracy, and a more centralized form of governance.
Medieval England (1066-1485): The medieval period saw the
consolidation of Norman rule, the Hundred Years' War with France, and
the Wars of the Roses—a series of civil wars for the English throne.
A History of Britain Formation
Tudor Dynasty (1485-1603): The Tudor period began with the
victory of Henry VII. Notable monarchs include Henry VIII,
known for his six marriages and the English Reformation, and
Elizabeth I, who presided over a period of relative stability and
cultural flourishing.
Stuart Period (1603-1714): The Stuart period saw significant
events such as the English Civil War (1642-1651), the execution
of King Charles I, the establishment of the Commonwealth
under Oliver Cromwell, the subsequent restoration of the
monarchy, and the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
Act of Union (1707): England and Scotland formally united to
become Great Britain with the passing of the Act of Union in
1707.
Medieval Oral English Lit.
 Pre-597 Oral Literature: Before the introduction of writing to
England in 597, the Anglo-Saxons conveyed their stories, legends,
and history through the spoken word (poetry), with skilled poets
and bards passing down knowledge from generation to generation.
 Heroic & Epic Poetry: Much of the oral poetry focused on a
‘heroic’ age with much of the narrative focused on warriors and
strong leaders (often kings).
"Beowulf" (Unknown Author): "Beowulf" tells the story of the
hero Beowulf, who battles the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother,
and a dragon.
 A poem of epic proportions with 3182 (known) verses, making it the
longest (known) Old English poem.
 The poem was likely created in the 7-8th century but the narrative is set
in the 4-5th century based on the peoples ancestors (the Saxons).
 Beowulf
Then the warriors rode around the barrow This was the manner of the mourning of the men of
the Geats,
Twelve of them in all, athelings’ sons.
Sharers in the feast, at the fall of their lord:
They recited a dirge to declare their grief,
They said that he was of all the world’s kings
Spoke of the man, mourned their King.
The gentlest of men, and the most gracious,
They praised his manhood, and the prowess of his
hands, The kindest to his people, the keenest for fame.
They raised his name; it is right a man
Should be lavish in honouring his lord and friend,
Should love him in his heart when the leading-forth
From the house of flesh befalls him at last.
Medieval Lit: 1066-1500
 With the invasion of the Normans (1066), Classical Old English died out
and French & Latin took over.
 Much of the nobility spoke French and it was the primary language in the royal
courts until 1413-22
 No standard English with many works having different forms of English.
 Much of the language influenced by religion (Christianity).

 Birth of English Romance/fantasy.

 ‘romance’ is the adjective for languages deriving from Latin
 The genre of romance means ‘marvellous story’; its adjective is also ‘romance’,
to avoid confusion with ‘Romantic’ from the 18th-century.
 The use of ‘romance’ for ‘love-story’ is modern not medieval.

Legend of King Arthur

 Literature designed for the courts (nobility and royalty)
 Teach ideals such as chivalry (how to be a good knight/king) and courtly words.
Medieval Lit: 1066-1500
Later periods saw the recording of English
Legends like Robin Hood.
 Originally Oral stories passed between peasants.
Robin Hood and the Monk (late 15th century).
Robin Hood and the Monk
Then Robyn goes to Notyngham,
Hym selfe mornyng allone,
And Litull John to mery Scherwode,
The pathes he knew ilkone.
Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,
Sertenly withouten layn,
He prayed to God and myld Mary
To bryng hym out save agayn.
He gos in to Seynt Mary chirch,
And knelyd down before the rode;
Alle that ever were the church within
Beheld wel Robyn Hode.
Beside hym stod a gret-hedid munke,
I pray to God woo he be!
Ful sone he knew gode Robyn,
As sone as he hym se.
Out at the durre he ran,
Ful sone and anon;
Alle the gatis of Notyngham
He made to be sparred everychon.
"Rise up," he seid, "thou prowde schereff,
Buske the and make the bowne;
I have spyed the kynggis felon,
For sothe he is in this town.
"I have spyed the false felon,
As he stondis at his masse;
Hit is long of the," seide the munke,
"And ever he fro us passe.
"This traytur name is Robyn Hode,
Under the grene wode lynde;
He robbyt me onys of a hundred pound,
Hit shalle never out of my mynde."
Robin Hood and the Monk
Litull John was so agrevyd,
And drew owt his swerde in hye;
The munke saw he shulde be ded,
Lowd mercy can he crye.

"He was my maister," seid Litull John,

"That thou hase browght in bale;
Shalle thou never cum at oure kyng,
For to telle hym tale."

John smote of the munkis hed,

No longer wolde he dwell;
So did Moch the litull page,
For ferd lest he wolde tell.
English Renaissance
The Renaissance (specifically the English Renaissance) was a cultural and intellectual
movement that spanned the late 15th to the early 17th centuries in England.
This period marked a revival of interest in classical learning, literature, and the arts, drawing inspiration
from the cultural achievements of ancient Greece and Rome.

Rise of Humanism: An intellectual movement that focused on the study of classical ancient
literature & art (Latin & Greek).
Printing Press: The invention of the printing press played a significant role in the dissemination
of texts and new ideas.
Poetry: The Renaissance saw a flourishing of English poetry, with poets like Edmund Spenser’s
"The Faerie Queene" illustrating the ideals of the period.
Drama: The era is often referred to as the "Golden Age of English Drama“ with William
Shakespeare writing their works in this period.
Drama & Theatre
Dawn of The commercial theatre: 16th century saw the rise of the e
first purpose-built permanent public theatre (for everyone).
The plays were put on in the afternoon in this enclosed yard with its
roofed stage and thatched galleries
spectator put their penny in a box at the entrance (hence ‘box-office’).
In 1599 the new Globe theater stood three storeys high and could hold
could hold 3000 spectators.
 Five other big theatres in a London of about 200,000 inhabitants
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 at Stratford, a market town
on the river Avon in Warwickshire.
 Farther was a glover (made gloves) and also the mayor of Stratford.
 Learned much of what Humanism would teach in school.

Shakespeare died in 1616, with most of his plays not printed

Shakespeare wrote on average two plays a year between c.1588-90 and
1611, except in 1592-4 when bubonic plague shut the theatres.
 In 1623 two of his fellow-actors brought out a collected edition: thirty-six
plays in a book
 In total we believe Shakespeare wrote 38 plays which have been divided
into tragedies, comedies, and histories
William Shakespeare Techniques
Tone: Shakespeare would often use poetic, formal, language and informal language to convey different
tones, moods, and character distinctions.
Metaphor, Symbolism and Simile: Shakespeare used metaphors, symbolism and similes to convey
complex ideas and emotions.
 A Metaphor is figurative language (like a symbol but with no literal purpose):
 “Your smile is a sunbeam that pierces through the clouds of a gloomy day”
 A simile is a metaphor that compares two or more things using the words using the words "like" or "as“
 “Your smile is like a sunbeam that pierces through the clouds of a gloomy day”

Irony: Shakespeare often used irony to create dramatic or comedic effects.

Foreshadowing: The use of hints or clues to suggest future events is a common technique in
Shakespearean plays.
Double Entendre & Word Play: Shakespeare was known for his use of double entendre, a form of
wordplay with a double meaning, often used for comedic effect.
Enlightenment Period (18th century)
The Enlightenment:
The period that followed the renaissance with scholars
now focusing on reason (the ability to tell truth from
false) and critical thinking.
Enlightenment figures were influenced by the scientific
revolution of the time.
Enlightenment thinkers valued individual rights and
freedoms.
Enlightenment thinkers advocated for religious tolerance
and promoted the idea of equality.
Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility is the first novel by the English author Jane
Austen, published in 1811.
The novel is set in South West England, London, and Sussex,
probably between 1792 and 1797.

Why is it called Sense and Sensibility?

"Sense" means good judgment, wisdom, or prudence
"sensibility" means sensitivity, sympathy, or emotionality.
Extra Activities
Graded Assignment: You have 1 week (until 12am on Tuesday the 19th) to write a poetry based
on your plan.
1. The Poem Must be under 100 words and longer than 20 words.
2. The Poem Must follow the theme presented in you plan.
3. The Poem Must be in English.

For CORRECTNESS: Is the poem laid out the in lines that make sense? If punctuation is used, it
is correct? How well does your pattern and structure fit (limerick, haiku, structured rhythm or
rhyme)? Does the poem seem complete or does it leave you hanging after multiple readings?
For CREATIVITY: What seems fresh, surprising, novel? Do you push the boundaries or stick to
simple poetry structure?
Extra Activity 2
Read: Works on British Romanticism which will be sent out
after the lecture.