Introduction of English Literature
English literature is a collection of all the literary works that have been written in English language. These are composed of novels, stories, poems, nonfiction works as well as plays. It has been produced in England and has got its roots from introduction of Old English by Anglo Saxons in the 5th century and continues till present. The work written by Irish and Scottish authors also bears identification with British life. Thus, they are also considered to be a part of English literature. It is as diverse as the varieties as well as the dialects of the English language spoken in the world that have been colonized by the British. There have been a variety of authors in English literature but the works of William Shakespeare hold a paramount position throughout the English speaking population of the world (Okoro 59).
The essay focuses on various forms of writing that have been identified by scholars as classical and modern literature. There would be insight about the respective periods as well works done by various authors. It would provide answers to questions like, what kinds of literary works are included as classics and modern works. What were the major styles and tendencies of writing in both the styles?
The term classic is applied to literature of the ancient world of Greece and Rome. It is any such work that has acted as a marrow to human lure and credence. It provides for a thought provoking conversation with authors of English literature. Classic literature expresses an artistic quality related to expressions of life, truth and beauty. The Standard English literature has always stood for the test of time. It is usually considered to be a representation of the period in which it was written and the works possesses a lasting recognition whose effect can be felt even in present times. In other words, a book that was written in the recent past is not considered to be classic. In this regard, the classic works like Gulliver's Travels written by Jonathan Swift always had a universal appeal. They have been regarded as great works that touch to the very core as the themes are integrated from a variety of backgrounds as well as experiences.
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Other works of classic literature like, Emma written by Jane Austin, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy have always managed to make a connection with writers and great works of English literature. The mentioned works written by prominent literary authors are considered to be timeless and have found a power to relate to the reader of any generation. They possess their own realm and acted as a major foundation to all works belonging to today’s modern era. For example, well known classic of English literature, Jane Eyre has been widely accepted in present times. It also enjoys proper recognition even today. Moreover, the reader finds themselves getting connected to the main character. Though the book has been criticized by many critics still it enjoys a well renounced, famous and prestigious person among the literary circles of English literature (James 5). The challenge with respect to reading classics is that they bring the readers into a horizon more importantly it can be called as a fusion of Horizons. They are not just a text of the past. The requirement in today’s times is to breathe life into these works.
On the other hand, the modern English literature is considered to have begun for the 1900 up till present. It is inclusive of important works written by Yeats, Elliot, Hopkins, Joyce, Woolf, Huxley and Orwell amongst others. After the end of world wars, theses works focused less on politics and more towards social causes and aesthetics. Geoffery Chaucher is considered as a father of modern English literature. His novel, the Canterbury Tales has been ranked as one of the great epics in the world of English literature (Upham 293).
The modern literature in English has been marked by breaks from traditional ways of viewing and interacting with the world. They gave place to high levels of experimentation and individualism (Pyre and Dickinson 525). These aspects were heavily discouraged in past works of English literature.
Thus, it can be concluded that English literature is a treasure trove that is required to be unearthed. By understanding the modern and classical forms of English literature, it will give a chance to the literature enthusiasts to mull over the legacy of the language. Classic English literature has its origins from ancient Greek and Roman societies and is all about balance and order. Here there has been a requirement to stick at a given set of notions without losing the sense of language. Reading of classics has always been a thought provoking step. There has also been an increased ability to have an insight about personal responses.
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References
James, Stuart. “English Literature and Literature in English: Repackaged English literature is a collection of all the literary works that have been written in English language. These are composed of novels, stories, poems, nonfiction works as well as plays. It has been produced in England and has got its roots from introduction of Old English by Anglo Saxons in the 5th century and continues till present. The work written by Irish and Scottish authors also bears identification with British life. Thus, they are also considered to be a part of English literature. It is as diverse as the varieties as well as the dialects of the English language spoken in the world that have been colonized by the British. There have been a variety of authors in English literature but the works of William Shakespeare hold a paramount position throughout the English speaking population of the world (
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