British Literature Periods Review

The motto for this period: "Knowledge is power"

The serial novel (published in sequels) was created

Children's literature stories (Pooh) were written

Shakespeare was the literary star during this time

The invention of the printing press spread literature to a wide audience

Authors composed epic poems like Beowulf that celebrated the deeds of heroes

Literary works were spread in an oral tradition around the campfire

A common theme in poetry was carpe diem or "seize the day"

Writing/literacy was restricted to people in the church

Ballads (song stories) were popular

a literary canon (list of bestsellers) was established

Magazines were read by citizens in coffeehouses

Writers believe strongly in pagan ideas and fate

Writers began to compose works in the vernaular, the language of the people

Scops, or village storytellers, were the keepers reading and writing

Gothic literature (stories focusing on horror) was popular

Frequent wars/invasions led to great changes in the language

Writers were supported by "sugar daddies" or rich patrons

Writers believed in Deism or God as a clockmaker

Authors argued for people to return to a simpler way of life

writers emphasized polite manners and speech

Writers produced works to teach people how to get to heaven

Writers composed literary works to entertain and escape harsh living conditions

The subject of most literary works was nature

writers were treated with the same respect battle heroes

writers believed in Humanism or man's potential to achieve anything

The main literary forms were sonnets and plays

Females were the main authors of books

Popular themes in literature included loneliness, war and the anti-hero

Metaphysical poetry was popular