Time Periods of Poetry

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Time Periods of Poetry
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Old English 800-1066

• The best known Old English text is Beowülf . The
  story is largely a folktale, but within the story
  exists popular themes of the time period, i.e.
  the contrast between youth and age, good vs.
  evil. Poetry transitioned from oral to written.
  Time of epics, i.e. The Iliad and The Odyssey .
  Writers were often newly established clergy,
  making God very present in their work. They
  sought perfection.

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• Storyteller often accompanied the words with
  music (i.e. harp)
• Language almost is completely unrecognizable to
  the modern English speaker
• Primary subject is struggle, battles between good
  and evil featuring chivalrous characters

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Middle English (1066-ca.1300) 1066 marks the
Norman Conquest. English begins to take a more
recognizable form. Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight (A story about a Green Knight who comes to
King Arthurs court to lay down a challenge which
Sir Gawain accepts)
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• Language resembles modern English
• Romance-knightly adventure, chivalry, courage,
  and loyalty, i.e. King Arthur (1205). Knights
  rarely fought dragons, but instead faced the
  danger of betraying their chivalric code
• Tragedy-the fall of a great man. Often an
  honored knight or king who finds himself in the
  hands of fate

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The Renaissance (circa 1300s-1700s) Literal
ly rebirth The literature of this time period
reflects the vitality, audacity, and restless
curiosity of Renaissance men. The emergence of
Protestantism introduced the idea that the Bible
could be interpreted by the individual and
salvation itself was regarded as a direct
transaction between God and the individual.
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With the discovery of the New World, England
became a commercial hub as more and more people
began going there. This influx of foreigners and
foreign trade in England increased the resources
for new literary forms. Science moved thinking
away from the belief in tradition or authority
(God, witchcraft, magic, etc.) towards the use of
scientific method.
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The Renaissance

• The printing press is developed c. 1456. This
  made the printed word more easily available
• Classic poetic forms are modified and new forms
  are introduced
• Subject matter is the dignity and worth of
  mankind, and the joy of earthly life, not the
  preparation for afterlife

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The Romantic Period (1700s-1900s) The
prevailing attitude favored innovation instead of
traditionalism in the materials, forms, and style
of literature. William Wordsworth and Samuel T.
Coleridge defined it as dealing with materials
from common life in a selection of language
really used by men. Poetic symbolism becomes a
vital tool of the writer. Poets present the
concept that objects have significance beyond
their physical qualities.
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• Innovation instead of traditionalism
• Focus on nature- sensual descriptions of nature
• Natures beauty juxtaposed with mans baseness
• Poets become characters in their own writings
  with a focus on feelings
• Important!! The Romantic Period is not about
  romance

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• Modern Time Period (20th century)
• Often refers to literature written after the
  start of WWI, which included persistent and
  multidimensional experiments in subject matter
  and forms.
• Horrific scenes of WWI helped poets move away
  from traditional forms and subjects
• Poets question the traditional stimuli usually
  found in poetry (i.e. social organization,
  religion, morality, and the conception of the
  human self)
• Poems are about any subject and in any form
• Violations of traditional literary forms become
  the norm