1. Literary Eras And their characteristics

2. 17 th Century: Metaphysics Authority: Reason Descriptive Quality: Wit and Humor; Intellectual View of the World/Impact of the World: The Universe (Scientific Expansion – The Rennaissance) A Phrase: “Discordia Concorse” ( the most heterogeneous images yoked together by violence) The Cavalier/Court Poets Terminology: blank verse; Carpe Diem; Conceits

3. The Romantics (1798 – 1850) Authority: Emotions Descriptive Quality: Idealization; Light and Dark View of the World/Impact of the World: Pantheistic connection to nature; the inner eye A Phrase: “Spontaneous overflow of emotion recollected in silence” The Preludes/The Lake District Terminology: rhymed couplets; pastoral; sprung rhythm

4. The Victorians (1837 – 1901) Authority: Senses Descriptive Quality: Replication of reality; observational; Questioning View of the World/Impact of the World: The Industrial Age (and implications); Origin of Species 1859 A Phrase: “Survival of the fittest;” “A Still Life is life” The Realists Terminology: enjambment; vernacular; materialism;

5. Modernism (1901 – 1950) Authority: NONE Descriptive Quality: Fragmentation and “hyper- reality” View of the World/Impact of the World: Random meaninglessness; Horror (War) A Phrase: “God is dead” The War Poets Terminology: free verse; Nihilism; Existentialism

6. The Man He Killed (pg 22) Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin! But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place. I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe Just so: my foe of course he was; That’s clear enough; although He though he’d list, perhaps, Off-hand like – just as I – Was out of work – had sold his traps – No other reason why. Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You’d treat if me where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown.

7. Poets for each era (so far)... Metaphysicals/Cavaliers: Donne, Marvell, Herrick Romantics: Wordsworth, Tennyson, Hopkins, Shelley, Keats, Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman Victorians: Hardy, Browning, Arnold, Crane, Twain Moderns: Owen, Eliot, Yeats (Hardy, Arnold), Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein

8. Contemporary World (1950 - ?) Authority: Any (?) Descriptive Quality: Constructivism; Emerging Hope/Discovery View of the World/Impact of the World: The Information Age... yet... A Phrase: “Everyday a new walk is a new walk” The moment, poignant with possibility Terminology: Imagism, beat, slam...