History of english literature plan

Literary Features of this Period:

The English language reached a standard towards the end of this period. Prose got a strong foundation though it remained immature. Poetry served as the main genre. The drama began in the from of "Mystery Play, " "Morality Play" and "Interlude". The writers of the age were greatly influenced by Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. Love, chivalry, and religion are the three main literary ideals of this period. The spirit of romance pervades every writing of the time.

Major Writers and Their Major Works:

• 
  John Wyclif (1324-84): The father of English prose: Translation of The Bible into English 
  
• 
  Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) : Troilus and Criseyde (1387) Canterbury Tales (1385-1400)
  
• 
  William Langland: Piers Plowman (1392)
  
• 
  John Gower (1325-1408): Confessio Amantis
  
• 
  Sir Thomas Malory : More d' Arthur (1485;prose)
  

The Renaissance Period (1500-1660)

Though the renaissance began in 1453, its effect on English life and literature was felt after 1500. For this reason, it is generally accepted that the renaissance period began at the beginning of the 16th century and continued till the Restoration in 1660. This period is called the Renaissance period because the renaissance spirit was the main force that characterized the literature of this time. This period of 160 years is subdivided into four shorter ages according to the names of the political rulers:

a) The Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)

This age is named after Queen Elizabeth I who reigned over England from 1558 to 1603. This is the most glorious age of English literature. The important events of the age were:

• 
  With the accession of Queen Elizabeth I, dynastic problems, and political chaos come to an end. Stability was attained and national prosperity began. 
  
• 
  Elizabeth I introduced Anglicanism to settle religious problems. It has a long history. In the 16th century, Martin Luther of Germany and Zwingli and Calvin of Switzerland protested against the autocracy of the then Pope. Those who supported them were called Protestants and those who still supported the Pope were called the Papist or Catholics. Henry VIII who was the king of England during those years supported Protestantism for personal advantage. He wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn, his fiancee, but the pole did not approve it. So he denied Pope's authority and introduced Protestantism to England. Some of the people accepted King's religious authority but the rest followed the Pope's rule. This caused a bloody civil war which continued till Elizabeth came to power in 1558. She understood the problem and introduced Anglicanism, England's own church. This religious settlement brought stability and prosperity to England in the second half of the 16th century.
  
• 
  Geographical and astronomical discoveries of the previous decades brought unlimited fortune during this period.
  
• 
  Renaissance that had started earlier was now very strongly felt in England. Erasmus reached England, and with Colet, taught humanism and other ideals of renaissance.
  
•