English Literature typically refers to any English-language work, regardless of the author’s nationality. English writings are no exception to the chronological organization of many forms of literature; Old English, Middle English, and a number of different forms of Modern English are all frequently used. English literature has also been divided between British and American authors as the English language spread throughout the world, particularly since the United States of America was established.
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What is English Literature
Any written work that was originally or primarily written in English is considered English literature, regardless of the author’s nationality. Even though literature typically refers to works of renown and substance that do not include many biographies or educational works, this makes such literature quite large in scope and could include millions of books. It is common practice to classify English literature chronologically. This method enables readers and scholars to begin with earlier works of English literature and observe how the language and ideas have developed over time and been built upon one another.
Old English Literature
There are still a few pieces of English literature that were written in Old English, which is a form of English that is nearly impossible for most modern speakers to understand. Beowulf is probably the most well-known and significant Old English work because it is quite long and still has a complete text from the 10th century.
Middle English, which existed from about the 12th century to the late 15th century, is closer to modern English. However, due to differences in language structure, it can still be quite challenging for a modern reader to comprehend. One of the most well-known pieces of English writing from this era is Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
Importance of Printing Press in the Development of English Literature
The Early Modern period of English literature began when the printing press developed and spread, transforming Middle English into a more modern language. Various times of Current English incorporate various journalists north of many years, frequently classified by friendly patterns or English rulers. William Shakespeare, for instance, was a writer during the Elizabethan era, while Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Mary Shelley, and Lord Byron were poets and writers during Romanticism hundreds of years later.
Writers who worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are frequently featured in contemporary English literature. T.S. Eliot, George Orwell, and James Joyce are among these poets and authors. The horrors of modern warfare that they witnessed during the two World Wars of the 20th century inspired many of these authors to write.
The place where an author works can also be used to classify English literature. This is typically used to distinguish between American and British literature, and the aforementioned authors are all regarded as British authors.
Types of Literature
The main types of literature are as follows:
- Poetry
- prose
- Autobiography
- Fable
- Drama
- Journalistic Literature
Drama
Drama is a play in the literature that is written by a playwright. It depicts stories, both fictional and non-fictional. Using dialogue or actions, a drama is created to give away specific events, characters, or stories. It can be performed on the radio, on the stage, or on large screens like in movies. A high-quality drama must have tensions, feelings, and strong characters.
Fables
When a writer writes a fable, their goal is to tell a moral story to the reader. Animals are typically used as characters in fables to tell the story. Animals in fables behave like humans and can communicate and comprehend reasoning. They are a personification of the traits and nature of humans.
Autobiographies
Since the author of the story is the person who tells the story, autobiographies are fascinating to read. The person himself is the essayist and portrays his life from his own unique viewpoint and encounters. Because they relate real-life events and thoughts, it gives you insight into the author. Most of the time, famous people write autobiographies to tell their stories to their fans and the rest of the world.
Poetry
This is a composition of rhythm, sound, and lyrics in literature. William Wordsworth, one of history’s greatest poets, defined poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” The poet writes poetry in the style of a song to pique the imaginations and feelings of the listeners. Poetry is beautiful. The listeners will be able to identify with the poem because the poet uses carefully chosen words.
Prose
In literature, the prose is a type of writing that is somewhat straightforward. It does not adhere to any particular writing style or grammar structure. It is written in a standard tone that reads like conversational or natural speech. The prose lacks specificity. A sentence or paragraph can be long or short. Novels, newspapers, and textbooks, among others, are examples of prose.
Journalistic Literature
This is a type of nonfiction. The journalist in literary journalism first gathers information before creating and publishing the piece. It employs inventive strategies and narrative techniques alongside facts and reporting. The reports are more interesting and engaging thanks to these methods. Literary journalism is also referred to as narrative or new journalism. Mark Singer, Richard Rhodes, Jack London, Stephen Crane, Tom Wolfe, Henry Mayhew, and others are among the most well-known writers and journalists in literary journalism history and the present.