1. Anglo Saxon Period (450-1066) Themes: heroism, fate, moral instruction Genres: oral traditions, poetry Key Authors: Beowulf poet, Exeter author Historical Context: Clans ruled themselves. People first very warrior-like; later became farmers. Literature’s Effects: Oral tradition unites myths of different groups. Roman alphabet is introduced.

2. Medieval (1066-1485) Themes: honor, religious devotion, chivalry Genres: oral traditions, frame stories, plays Key Authors: Chaucer, Arthurian legends Historical Context: Crusades begin; country forms Literature’s Effects: Church uses literature to instruct population. Illiterate can hear and see stories.

3. Renaissance (1485-1660) Themes: human potential, love Genres: drama, poetry (metaphysical) Key Authors: Shakespeare, Milton Historical Context: War of Roses ends. Printing press invented. Literature’s Effects: Literature accessible to middle class.

4. Neoclassical (1660-1798 ) Themes: reason, harmony, stability Genres: poetry, satire, essays, letters Key Authors: Pope, Swift, Defoe Historical Context: Half of male population is literate. Factories begin to be built. Literature’s Effects: Emphasis on the individual. Human beings seen as basically evil.

5. Romanticism (1798-1832) Themes: peace through nature, horror stories Genres: poetry, lyrical ballads, novel (emerges) Key Authors: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Austen, Byron, M. Shelley, Keats, Blake Historical Context: Middle class enters politics. Literature’s Effects: Population critically examines society. Human beings seen as basically good.

6. Victorian (1832-1900) Themes: unfortunate life, city -vs- country, sexual promiscuity, aristocratic villains Genres: novel, elegies, poetry, monologues Key Authors: Dickens, Tennyson, Rossetti, Bronte Historical Context: Immense industrial growth. Raise of countries and trade. Paper becomes inexpensive. Literature’s Effects: Literature accessible to all.

7. Mod / Post Mod (1900-1980) Themes: loneliness, societal loss of values Genres: fantasy, free verse poetry, speeches, novels Key Authors: Joyce, Yeats, Conrad, Orwell, Elliot Historical Context: One million soldiers lost in WWI. Germany bombs England in WWII. Literature’s Effects: Belief that one must seize the moment before its gone.

8. Contemporary (1980-Present) Themes: open-mindedness, interpreting the past Genres: first person fiction, narratives Key Authors: Stoppard, Follett, Rowling Historical Context: Advances in communication make the world seem smaller.