European literatureBy: Meghan Boyles

5th Period

Renaissance1375-1527

renewed interest in the study of classical antiquity

focused on translating and studying classic Latin and Greek works

emphasis on religion, scholarship, and politics

development of humanism in literature, which centered on the dignity of humankind, individualism, and secularism

William Shakespeare, Giovanni Boccaccio, Christopher Marlowe

Enlightenment1650-1800

reason was the ultimate source for legitimacy and authority

a reading revolution occurred, increasing Europeans’ interest in buying, reading, and even writing books

many scientific and literary journals were published, the first one being Journal des Scavants in 1665

literature works attempted to shift attention away from established authorities to things that were new and innovative

writers often critiqued existing ideas about universal truth

literature during this time suggested a new source of knowledge that undermined the authority of monarchies, parliaments, and religious authorities

ideas were developed through science and reason

Montesquieu, Rousseau, Diderot, Adam Smith, Spinoza

Neoclassicism1660-1785

emphasized self-reflection and powers of the mind

imitated literary forms of the ancients

diaries, letters, essays, newspapers, novels, and ballad poems became popular

many literary works, especially poems were characterized by conversation style writing

subject matter was the life of the authors’ own time

satire was a preferred form of writing

works showed a respect for cities and interest in the general laws of urban society

Voltaire, Moliere, John Milton

Romanticism1785-1830

reflected a great deal of criticism of the past

described as unreal, sentimental, and excessively fanciful

gave free play to the imagination and did not observe classical forms and rules

often followed the creative impulses of the mind, especially in English poetry

Romantic novels were highly sentimental and similar to medieval romances

novel characters represented symbols of the larger truth of life

Lord Byron, William Wordsworth, Friedrich Schegel, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Rousseau

French revolution1788-1804

authors denounced the social and political oppressions of their time

literature challenged the idea of absolute monarchy and demanded a new social contract as the basis of authority

writers expressed their new ideas brought about by reform

some writers challenged the role of religious institutions in society and expressed the fundamental value of tolerance

Marivaux, Beaumarchais, d’Alembert, Bayle

victorian era1799-1815

literature conveyed reservations about the future

the novel became the leading form of literature, especially in England

authors closely observed adventure stories and social satire

novels revealed idealized portraits of difficult lives

many writings contained moral lessons at heart

Matthew Arnold, Bronte sisters, Joseph Conrad, Robert Browning

realism1850-1914

literature portrayed the world in a realistic way

portrayed the hypocrisy, brutality, and dullness within the life of the middle class

rejected the romantic idealization of nature, love, the poor, and polite society

novelists portrayed the dark side of life

writers brought scientific objectivity and observation into their work, contributing to its realistic nature

Charles Dickens, Emile Zola, Henrik Ibsen, Gustave Flaubert

Edwardian period

1901-1914

fiction became the most popular genre

a large number of novels and short stories were published

mass audience newspapers were printed by press tycoons, such as the Harmsworth brothers

literature reflected a sense of restless ambivalence

J.M. Barrie, Arnold Bennett, Joseph Conrad, E.M. Forster, Kenneth Grahame

WWI era1914-1918

conventional literary expression became obsolete

movements such as surrealism developed, which expressed the workings of the subconscious

characterized by fantastic imagery and the juxtaposition of subject matter

literature reflected the response to the perceived collapse of European values

journalism became popular, reflecting life during a time of war

a lot of war poetry, with Britain being the most productive in this genre

many literary works offered rational analysis of major events in the war and the harm that came with them

Alain-Fournier, Psichari, Peguy, Barbusse

modernism

1914-1945

revolved around the themes of individualism and disbelief in many absolute truths

literary structure moved away from conventionality and realism

authors often expressed mistrust of government and religious institutions

many literary manifestos were issued by multiple groups within the movement of individualism

T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas, James Joyce

Fascism

began in 1922

this era saw a rise in the number of female writers

novels, short stories, poetry, and essays were popular forms of writing

many women wrote about the struggles they faced in their own domestic lives

Sibilla Aleramo, Ada Negri, Carola Prosperia, Grazia Deledda

WWII Era1939-1945

writers examined themes such as democracy, race, power, and human behavior under stress

journalism and poetry were popular and impressive forms of writing

the writing of postwar memoirs developed

hundreds of war novels appeared, many with unique and outstanding writing forms

introduction to new forms of subtlety and clarity in writing

Norman Mailer, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, W.H. Auden

decolonizationbegan in 1947

Eurocentrism developed: the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with a belief in the preeminence of European culture

decolonization period following WWII

expressed mostly in literature for young adults, as well as in adventure literature

authors often wrote about idealized western heros, who conquered savage people in the remaining unexplored areas of the world

often filled with exaggerated masculinity

Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Karl Haushofer

post-Modernismaround 1960s to present

intellectuals began to argue that language and culture shape society

rejects western values and beliefs

authors avoided drawing conclusions or suggesting underlying meanings

viewed human experience as unstable, internally contradictory, ambiguous, and discontinuous

writers created an open work, which enabled readers to form their own thoughts and connections

John Hawkes, Robert Coover, Paul Auster, Kurt Vonnegut

works cited

Intro to Modernism & Postmodernism. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://vc.ws.edu/engl2265/unit4/Modernism/all.htm>.

"European History." SparkNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/history/european/section22.php>

Italian Women Writers During Fascism. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://webpage.pace.edu/nreagin/F2005WS267/RimmaTsvasman/Female_Writers_during_Fascism.html>

Eras of Elegance. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://www.erasofelegance.com/history/edwardianarts.html>.

European Enlightenment. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/INDUSTRY.HTM>.

Neoclassicism. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2011. <http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/neoclassicism.htm>.

The Western Heritage. 9th ed. New Jersey: 2007. Print.