In the modern era, literature has changed in the eyes of people. Literature is a commonly used, spoken word! Often treated as a synonym of expression; but it is much more than the transfer of information or the beautifully arranged words on paper, acknowledged as facts. A significant misconception is the fact that it is merely associated with reading. The most well-known of all? British literature! To be honest it encompasses something greater. It is part of global history.  The unfolding of each literary  period could be characterized as a gemstone for crafting the history. 

All these facts and scripts from all over the years accumulated, they create the magnitude of what we know as literature! Alternative meaning on a sheet. George Eliot claimed that: ‘literature is a transformative force, capturing human experience and emotion, turning "blood into ink" to create art. He emphasized the importance of literary tradition, arguing that a poet must consciously contribute to and engage with this history to produce meaningful work’. When all these are aggregated the literature that all countries boast, is born;  the countries except for other reasons are renowned for their literary contributions. So since literature carries a vast history it is time to be specific - let’s unpack the magnitude of British literature.

British literature. A storm of thoughts hearing this word; one image in mind: William Shakespeare! The first associated figure with Βritish literature. He is renowned for his tragic stories as well as comedies and tragicomedies. The tragic love of Romeo and Juliet as well as the unfair fate of Hamlet are considered lasting imprints for the majority of people. Little do they know that he was actually a theatrical play writer.. the widely known figure of British literature. Diving into the depth of it, the thread of Shakespeare is just one, of the vast tapestry of British literature. It will be unraveled bit by bit — from their origins to the modern era.

In the first place, a brief presentation of every literary period depicts a clearer image to the top for the present literature.  English literature history commences with the Old English period [450- 1066] known as the Anglo-Saxon. Αt that time oral literature  was the only means of preserving and transferring tradition. Still few pieces of papers represent this era. Writing was yet unknown as a bunch of literary works date back to the Middle period and afterwards.  The Middle ages [1066- 1500] were marked by the  flourishing of writing. Along with the Old English, the novels carried a religious impact. However, the high note of this period centers on the enormous change in language, culture and lifestyle of England; opening the path to modern English.

What follows, the Renaissance is worth sticking to it! The Renaissance [1500- 1660] sprung great evolution in culture writing and arts. A signature for four English periods; the Elizabethan Age (1558–1603), the Jacobean Age (1603–1625), the Caroline Age (1625–1649), and the Commonwealth Period (1649–1660). Focusing on the Elizabethan era, it is considered the golden age of theater production. This is when Shakespeare took his fame but he was recognized after his death. ‘These representations became increasingly complex and embedded within the literary text– no longer objects of wonder, ‘exotic’ materials, languages and ideas became ways in which European writers and readers could reflect on the changes to their world and sense of self. In like manner, the commonwealth period is noted for the restoration of monarchy after World War 1.

Furthermore, the Neoclassical period [1600- 1785] is also subdivided into ages including the Restoration (1600 -1700), the Augustan Age (1700-1745), and the Age of Sensibility (1745-1785). The Restoration period sees some response to the Puritan age, especially in the theater. It is important to note that Restoration comedies, the so-called comedies of Manner, were produced as a response to Puritanism. Notable figures are John Locke and Daniel Defoe. Yet, the Age of Sensibility was the time of Edmund Burke and of course Samuel Johnson. Ideas such as neoclassicism, a critical and literary mode, and the Enlightenment, a particular worldview shared by many intellectuals, were championed during this age. Novelists to explore are Henry Fielding, and Thomas Percy’.

Heading to the Romantic Period  [1785- 1832], it is closely connected to the Victorian era [1832-1901] as the first is the ancestor of the second. English literature began in the late 18th century. Romanticism can be characterized by its personal nature, its strong use of feeling, its abundant use of symbolism, and its exploration of nature and the supernatural.  It produced a wealth of authors; William Wordsworth, Jane Austen, and Lord Byron. Romanticism has also given birth to Gothic literature. It is known for its dark and gloomy settings and characters and fantastic, grotesque, wild, savage, mysterious situations. Two of the most famous Gothic novelists are Anne Radcliffe and Mary Shelley. Moreover, ‘The Victorian Period [1832- 1901] marks the reign of Queen Victoria. The year 1870 is often used to divide the era into "early Victorian", “mid” (1848–1870) and "late Victorian." At the same time, two other literary movements, The Pre‐Raphaelites (1848‐1860) and the movement of Aestheticism and Decadence (1880‐1900), gained prominence. A well‐known author of the English Aestheticism and Decadence movement is Oscar Wilde. Some contemporary issues of the Victorians are the social, economic, religious, and intellectual issues and problems surrounding the Industrial Revolution, growing class tensions, the early feminist movement, pressures toward political and social reform, and the impact of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The most recognized authors include Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy. These two periods are recognized  for being the most popular, influential, and prolific period in all of English- and world literature.

The next short period could be a step to the modern years. So, the Edwardian Period [1901-1914] is named for King Edward VII and spans the time from Queen Victoria's death (1901) to the beginning of World War I (1914). Edwardian writers such as George Bernard Shaw and H.G. reflected and commented on the social conditions of wealth and destitution. Other writers of the time include William Butler Yeats. Similarly, the Georgian Period [1910 - 1936] is known for the flourishing of poetry. The themes centered on rural life. Important figures are  John Masefield, W.H. Davies, and Rupert Brooke.

Reaching to the Modern [1936 - 1945 ] and the Post- Modern [1945- present, contemporary] periods , they can be considered the beginnings of contemporary literature. The Modern Period applies to British literature written since the beginning of World War I in 1914. The authors of the Modern Period experimented with subject matter, form, and style and have produced achievements in all literary genres. Poets of the period include Yeats, T.S. Eliot. Novelists include James Joyce, D.H. Lawrence, and Virginia Woolf. Following World War II (1939‐1945), the Postmodern Period of British Literature developed. Dramatists in theater include Noel Coward and Samuel Beckett.  

Lastly, Postmodernism blends literary genres and styles and attempts to break free of modernist forms’. Taking a glance, in contemporary fiction the span from romance to thriller and so on, leans back to the present social norms, always jotting down the undoubted English language. It is yet, crafting a new chapter of history to be added! However, modern literary scholars distance themselves concerning the ‘Englishness’ of British literature as most of its works, if we take into account the renaissance to modernity, carry a huge reflection on European acts and movements rather than ‘English authenticity’.

Concluding, the contribution of British literature to culture is highly remarkable. History is an endless path continually evolving like a teen constantly conflicting in two minds! The freedom given in literature seems restricted because it is always placed within some historical context or under the effect of a period in British literature. Hence, the magnitude of these two words is reflected as we move to the path of its history to the pinnacle; PRESENT!  

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