This document summarizes the major periods of English literature from Old English to Postmodernism. It discusses the key authors, works, and events of each period including: - The Old English period from 449-1066 AD which included epic poems like Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. - The Middle English period from 1066-1500 AD, which saw works by Chaucer like Canterbury Tales. - The Renaissance period from 1500-1600 AD, which was a time of blossoming of the arts and saw major works by Shakespeare and Spenser.

2. Submitted to : Maam Misbah
Submitted by: Anam.K
MA English Batch: 01
Semester: 2nd
Topic: Ages of English Literature
Date: Tuesday, June 07.

3. Lifelong Learning
Intuitive Insight
Theatre of life
Enriching education
Radical Richness
Artistry of form and language
Truth in the telling
Undeniably pleasurable
Rapturous appreciation
Epiphany in Experience

4. Literature refers to the practice and profession
of writing. It comes from human interest in telling
a story, in arranging words in artistic forms, in
describing in words some aspects of human
experiences………

5. (450-1066) Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Period
(1066-1500) Middle English Period
(1500-1600)The Renaissance (Early Modern) Period
(1558-1603) Elizabethan Age
(1603-1625) Jacobean Age
(1625-1649) Caroline Age
(1649-1660) Commonwealth Period(the Puritan period)
(1600-1785) The Neo-classical Period
(1660-1700) Restoration Period
(1700-1745 )The Augustan Age
(1745-1783) The Age Of Sensibility
(1785-1830) The Romantic Period
(1832-1901 )The Victorian Period
(1918 ) The Modern Period
(1939 onwards) Post Modernism

6. (Old English)
449-1066 BC

7. Anglo-Saxon is the term applied to the English speaking
inhabitants of Britain from around the middle of the 5th
century until the time of the Norman Conquest when the
Anglo-Saxon line of English kings came to an end.
They influenced English Literature when they brought with
them a rich tradition of oral literature steeped in their
customs, pagan beliefs and rituals.
The lyric and epic poetry they wrote told of the hardships of
survival and the importance of courage in performing
heroic deeds.

8. Beowulf: The greatest Germanic epic in the world of
literature. The manuscript in which it is written is
Nowell Codex. Taken from Oral History and stories.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: By Alfred the Great.
Authors:
Caedmon(Poet) the earliest English poet.
Cynewulf(Poet)

10. First Page of Beowulf.

12. Internal struggle between king,clergy,noble and
people.
General Movements of the time:
The rise of religious order
The blossoming of chivalry, the spirit of romance,
bringing new sympathy for women and poor.
Important works:
Canterbury Tales
The Owl and the Nightingale and many more.

13. Poets:
Chaucer
Wycliffe

14. In the Middle Ages there were mystery plays, miracle
plays, morality plays and mummer plays. These
were folk-tales re-telling old stories, and
the actors travelled from town to town performing
these for their audiences in return for money and
hospitality.

16. Mystery
Play

17. Morality
Play

18. Mummers in
2015
Mummers
performance
in 1994

19. Mummers in
2012
Mummers in
1852

20. Many historians consider this age an "early modern"
age. It refers to a rebirth commonly applied to the
period of European history following the Middle Ages.
During this period the European arts of sculpture,
painting and literature reached a peak. The
development came late to England in the 16th century
which didn't have its flowering until the emergence of
Elizabethan or Jacobean period. In fact sometimes,
John Milton (1608-74) is considered as the last greatest
renaissance poet.

21. The golden age of English history.
The Elizabethan era is perhaps more famous for its
theatre and the works of William Shakespeare.
Elizabethan Renaissance theatre begins with the
opening of the The red lion theatre in 1567.
Other famous theatres :curtain theatre 1577
 globe theatre 1599
Shakespeare is considered the greatest writer of the
English Language.
Important work of theatre are history plays, the
tragedy and comedy.

22. Edmund Spenser 1552-1599
Poets poet and prince of poet called by Charles Lamb and
Milton.
Works:
The Faerie queen
Sir Philip Sydney 1554-1586
Father of English criticism
Works:
Apology for poetry
Francis Bacon 1561-1526
Father of English essays
Works:
The advancement of learning

23. The greatest poet and dramatist in English Literature.
Playwright, actor and share holder in an acting
company.
He wrote 37 plays,154 sonnets,2 Long narrative poems
and 3 poems.
His work include comedies,Tragedies,Tragic comedies
and poems.
King Lear, Twelfth Night, The Tempest etc.

24. Spenser
Shakespeare