British Literature
British Literature
1. the Middle Ages the oldest literature monument of the Anglo – Saxon period is the old Germanic legend called BEOWULF. This heroic poem is about the strong and courageous pagan hero Beowulf
John Wycliffe – is a professor of Oxford University. With his students he translated the whole Bible into English - he influenced Master Jan Hus and our Hussite movement very much
2. the renaissance and humanism
Geoffrey Chaucer – Canterbury Tales – brilliant portrait of 30 pilgrims who travel to Canterbury and they were saying stories each other, each one said four stories, but in tact there are only 23 tales.
William Shakespeare – is the biggest author of this period
Christopher Marlowe – might became another Shakespeare but he had been killed, lived only short life, he wrote many plays – “The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus”, “the Jew of Malta”, perhaps he also wrote Henry VI. – which Shakespeare revised and completed
Sir Thomas More: he wrote “Utopia” – a vision of Imaginary Island with perfectly organized society
3. 17th century
John Milton – is the figure of this period his masterpiece is “Paradies Lost” – is about the revolt of Satan against Heaven and God
4. 18th century
In the 18th century there is a big development of the society and economy, journalism, novels and drama developed very much. Literature became very popular.
Jonathan Swift – was a sharp critic, he wrote satirical pamphlets on all unfair events in British society. His most popular work is Gullivers travels – allegory of Lemuel Gulliver’s travelling through imaginary countries. He criticizes politics in England, kingdoms, armies, bad politicians etc. He visits four quite different worlds. The first one is country called Lillipyt, where the people are six inches high, the second country is Brobdingnag, which is inhabited by giants. The third are Laputa and Lgado – philosophers and science, and the fourth one is with Yahoos, disgusting beasts in the shape of men.
1. the Middle Ages the oldest literature monument of the Anglo – Saxon period is the old Germanic legend called BEOWULF. This heroic poem is about the strong and courageous pagan hero Beowulf
John Wycliffe – is a professor of Oxford University. With his students he translated the whole Bible into English - he influenced Master Jan Hus and our Hussite movement very much
2. the renaissance and humanism
Geoffrey Chaucer – Canterbury Tales – brilliant portrait of 30 pilgrims who travel to Canterbury and they were saying stories each other, each one said four stories, but in tact there are only 23 tales.
William Shakespeare – is the biggest author of this period
Christopher Marlowe – might became another Shakespeare but he had been killed, lived only short life, he wrote many plays – “The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus”, “the Jew of Malta”, perhaps he also wrote Henry VI. – which Shakespeare revised and completed
Sir Thomas More: he wrote “Utopia” – a vision of Imaginary Island with perfectly organized society
3. 17th century
John Milton – is the figure of this period his masterpiece is “Paradies Lost” – is about the revolt of Satan against Heaven and God
4. 18th century
In the 18th century there is a big development of the society and economy, journalism, novels and drama developed very much. Literature became very popular.
Jonathan Swift – was a sharp critic, he wrote satirical pamphlets on all unfair events in British society. His most popular work is Gullivers travels – allegory of Lemuel Gulliver’s travelling through imaginary countries. He criticizes politics in England, kingdoms, armies, bad politicians etc. He visits four quite different worlds. The first one is country called Lillipyt, where the people are six inches high, the second country is Brobdingnag, which is inhabited by giants. The third are Laputa and Lgado – philosophers and science, and the fourth one is with Yahoos, disgusting beasts in the shape of men.