Periods of British Literature​

Explore the rich tapestry of British literature through the ages on our “Periods of British Literature”. This curated literary expedition takes you through distinct eras, each marked by unique cultural, social, and artistic movements that have shaped the course of English literary history.

Old English (or Anglo-Saxon) Period (450-1066 AD):

• Explore the heroic narratives of “Beowulf” and other Old English poems, reflecting the warrior ethos of early Germanic tribes.

Middle English Period (1066-1500 AD):

• Immerse yourself in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, notably “The Canterbury Tales,” offering a vivid glimpse into medieval English society.

The Renaissance (1558-1603):

• Experience the flourishing of literature during the Elizabethan era, with the immortal works of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Edmund Spenser.

Elizabethan Age (1603-1625):

• Witness the cultural and artistic vibrancy of an age marked by Shakespearean brilliance and a renaissance in English drama.

Jacobean Age (1625-1649):

• Navigate the shifting landscapes of politics and literature, from Shakespeare’s later plays to the metaphysical poetry of John Donne.

Caroline Age (1649-1660):

• Delve into the literary landscape during the period of political turmoil, exploring works influenced by the Commonwealth and the Puritan Interregnum.

Commonwealth Period (or Puritan Interregnum) (1649-1660):

• Examine the literary expressions emerging during the political upheavals of the Commonwealth and Puritan rule.

The Neoclassical Period (1660-1700):

• Witness the literary revival characterized by a return to classical forms, clear structure, and rationality after the Restoration.

The Restoration (1660-1745):

• Explore the resurgence of English theatre, marked by the restoration of the monarchy and the emergence of comedic and libertine plays.

The Augustan Age (or Age of Pope) (1700-1745):

• Delve into the era of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, marked by satirical wit, political commentary, and the flourishing of literary criticism.

The Age of Sensibility (or Age of Johnson) (1745-1785):

• Experience the transition from the Augustan Age to a period emphasizing emotion, empathy, and social consciousness.

The Romantic Period (1785-1830):

• Be captivated by the emotional intensity of Romantic poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and the prose of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

The Victorian Period (1832-1901):

• Navigate the expansive novels of Charles Dickens, the poetic works of the Brownings, and the profound narratives of George Eliot and Thomas Hardy.

The Pre-Raphaelites (1848-1860):

• Explore the artistic and literary movement that sought inspiration from medieval aesthetics and rejected the conventions of the Victorian era.

Aestheticism and Decadence (1880-1901):

• Immerse yourself in the pursuit of beauty for its own sake, as exemplified by figures like Oscar Wilde and the exploration of decadent themes.

The Edwardian Period (1901-1910):

• Witness the transition from the Victorian to the modern era, with the early works of writers like E.M. Forster and the innovative styles of the Bloomsbury Group.

The Georgian Period (1910-1936):

• Explore the literary landscape encompassing the events leading to World War I and the interwar period, marked by diverse artistic expressions.

The Modern Period (1914-1945):

• Experience the avant-garde experimentation of Modernist writers, including T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and James Joyce, against the backdrop of two World Wars.

The Postmodern Period (1945-present):

• Navigate the diverse landscapes of postmodern and contemporary literature, with voices spanning Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, and a global array of perspectives.