Contents
1. What is Literature?
2. Why the Knowledge of English Literature’s history is important
3. Distinct phases from Earliest to Modern Age
4. Brief survey of ages before Eighteen Century
• Anglo-Saxon period • The Medieval period • The Renaissance period • The Puritan period • The Restoration period
5. A panorama of Eighteen century • General view of eighteen century • Social aspects • Religious aspects • Characteristics of eighteen century • Literary Critics of the age • Chronology of the writers of the age
What is Literature?
The production of written works, having excellence of form or expression and dealing with ideas of permanent interest is called literature. Literature is one of the Fine Arts like,
• Music • Dance • Painting • Sculpture.
As it is meant to give aesthetic pleasure rather than serve any utilitarian purpose. It consists of great writings which, what ever their subjects are , notable for literary form or expression.
Life, Society and Nature are the subject matters of literature. There is an intimate connection between literature and life, which provides the raw material on which literature imposes an artistic form.
Why the Knowledge of English Literature’s history is important?
English literature is one of the richest literatures of the world, the literature of a great nation which has vitality, rich verity and continuity. As literature is the reflection of society, the various changes which have come about in English society, from the earliest to the modern times, have left their stamp on English literature thus in order to appreciate the true sense and taste of literature the knowledge of various phases of English literature, English society and political