English literature Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The term English literature can mean:- Literature from England written in the modern English language or its antecedents (such as Middle or Old English). (The rest of this article discusses this category.)
- Literature composed primarily in the English language by writers not from England; see articles on specific national and regional literatures, such as:
- Irish literature
- Anglo-Welsh literature
- American literature
- Scottish literature
- Indian literature in English
- Pakistani literature in English
- Caribbean literature in English
- Canadian literature
- Australian literature
- New Zealand literature
- Literature of Southern Africa
- Commonwealth literature
- The academic study of literature written in English: see English studies.
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Genres
Genres of English literature parallel several of the genres of literature in general, and include:
History
English literature emerged as a recognisable entity only in the medieval period, when the English language itself became distinct from the Norman and Anglo-Saxon dialects which preceded it. See also the article Old English poetry. The first great identifiable individual in English literature, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer, wrote the Canterbury Tales, a popular work of the period which readers still enjoy today.
Following the introduction of a printing press into the England by William Caxton in 1476, the Elizabethan era saw a great flourishing of literature, especially in the field of drama. William Shakespeare stands out in this period as a poet and playwright as yet unsurpassed.
The English novel did not become a popular form until the 18th century. Some readers suggest (erroneously) that Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719) claims a place as the first novel in English.
The following two centuries continued a huge outpouring of literary production, including novels, poetry, and drama, all of which forms remain strong in the present-day English literary culture.
For information on the English language prior to the 16th century, see Middle English and Old English.
This is an Article on English literature. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About English literature Some suggested literary periods:
Pre-modern (medieval)
Early modern (renaissance)
Age of Sensibility
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