British Literature

1. British Literature

2. Fiction • The 16th Century • Thomas More and Utopia • Written during the outbreak of the Reformation • More was against King Henry VIII’s decision to leave the Catholic Church • Beheaded by the King • Utopia means “any visionary system of political or social perfection” • Promotes a communal society (alternative to Feudalism) • Exposes the poverty of the laboring classes

3. Reformation • Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife- Catherine of Aragon- for failing to produce a male heir. • Catholic church in Rome rarely granted divorce. • Henry VIII used the fall of the church’s popularity, rise of nationalism, theological/political disputes, and common law to break away from Rome. • “Church of England”

4. Feudalism • 17th Century • Country run based upon: Political, Social, Military • Aristocrats/Nobles in control • Land traded in exchange for protection. • Characterized by: Lords, Vassals, and Fiefs

5. Lords, Fiefs & Vassals • Lords granted land (fief) to their vassals • Vassals- Someone who commits to the monarchy through military support or providing protection in exchange for territory.

6. Fiction • The 17th Century • John Bunyan and a Pilgrim’s Progress • Pilgrimage- “a religious quest” • John Bunyan wrote about this pilgrimage while in prison • Pilgrim’s Progress has been translated into more languages than any other book other than the Bible. • Wrote of the importance of “saving one’s soul”

7. Fiction • The 18th Century • Daniel Defoe and Robinson Crusoe • Adventure novel • The story of a man deserted on an island • Tries to create his own society on the island • Think of British Imperialism • Jonathon Swift and Gulliver’s Travels • Lemuel Gulliver travels to four fictional islands • Gulliver tries to understand the different societies • Eventually rejects human society • Criticizes both British and European Governments

8. British Imperialism • 16th/17th Century • Colonies • Trading Posts • British Empire gains global power- covering most territory since the Romans.

9. Fiction • 19th Century – “The Golden Age of the Novel” • Charles Dickens – a “realist” who wrote about the working class • Great Expectations is said to be a book about Dickens’s life • Pip goes from being a laborer to a gentleman (working class to upper class) • A story of growing up and dealing with the social norms (rules) of the times • Female writers, Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters • Jane Austen- • Pride and Prejudice- A story of “love, reputation, and class” • Mrs. Bennet is desperate to see all of her middle-class daughters married to rich husbands. The story follows the sisters Elizabeth and Jane. • Emily and Charlotte Bronte • Also wrote love stories • Notice that these writers focus mainly on the “middle to upper-class”

10. Fiction • 20th Century • Joseph Rudyard Kipling was the first British novelist to win the Nobel Peace Prize • Wrote about colonial life in India (The British Empire) • Believed that British (“white people”) were superior to other cultures • The Jungle Book is the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian Jungle • James Joyce wasan Irish writer known for his command of the English language • Dubliners shows the lives of Irish people in the city of Dublin (the capital of Ireland). • Describes with political and religious issues in Ireland • Joyce and Virginia Woolf are known as “stream-of-consciousness” writers

11. Poetry • 7th Century • Beowulf – a reflection of tribal society • Written in “Old English” • 14th Century • Geoffrey Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales • Founder of English literature (the Tales are in “Middle English”) • Most literature was written in French or Latin during this time • Insight into life of people during Middle Ages • Characters are on a pilgrimage (a religious journey) • See characters such as the Knight (soldier), the Merchant, and even the Cook

12. Poetry • 17th Century • John Milton and Paradise Lost • The story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden • Mostly known for his style • Neo-classical- a return to the Greek style of literature • 18th Century • William Wordsworth and Daffodils (video) • Whenever he is sad, the flowers make him happy • We can see Wordsworth’s respect and love for nature • He celebrated the “common man” with simple language • 19th Century • Alfred Tennyson and In Memoriam • Tennyson (and also Robert Browning) is known for the emotion he expresses in his works • In Memoriam covers a period of 3 years and the death of loved ones (friends and relatives) • The poem jumps from grief to joy (shows his style)

13. Poetry • 20th Century • William Butler Yeats and The Second Coming • A famous Irish writer, Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 • Leader of the Irish literary renaissance • The Second Coming describes the end of the world • “Everything as we know it” will be changed • Ireland gaining independence, World War I, etc. • Thomas Stearns Elliot and The Waste Land • Elliot won the Nobel Prize in 1948 (He is one of the most influential writers on the 20th century) • The Waste Land describes Europe after World War I

14. Drama • William Shakespeare • Now we will see the birth of “Modern English” • Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers who ever lived • Wrote 37 plays • Also known for his poetry • In his plays one can discover “the spirit of the time” • Many of the words we use today originate from Shakespeare's works

15. Romeo and Juliet • Romeo and Juliet • Takes place in Italy • There are two rival families, the Montague and the Capulets • Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet • They fall in love at a party • They plan a secret wedding • Romeo kills Tybalt (a Capulet) in a fight • Juliet drinks a potion to appear dead • Romeo does not know of this and believes she is dead • He kills himself • Juliet awakes and sees Romeo • She kills herself with the dagger • When the two families find the two lovers, they end their disputes (rivalry)

16. Drama • Oscar Wilde and The Importance of Being Earnest • Advocates “art for art’s sake” • This means he was not trying to question society during this time, he simply enjoyed writing plays • He is known for his witty, clever and sharp language • In The Importance of Being Earnest is about two men (Jack and Algernon) who lead double lives and fall in love with multiple women • George Bernard Shaw and Pygmalion • Won the Nobel Prize in 1925 • Was a social reformer (contrast to Oscar Wilde) • In Pygmalion a phonetics teacher tries to make a “lady” out of a simple flower girl • Although the girl is lower-class, she is received in upper-class society • The play questions social class and human behavior