- By Junaid A 18-Feb-2023
- 275
8 major periods of literature
Literature has been around for centuries and has gone through many changes. There are eight major periods of literature that have been identified and studied. Each period has its own unique characteristics and style.
1. Ancient Period: This period of literature dates back to the dawn of civilization, when stories were written and shared orally. This period includes works from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, as well as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer.
2. Classical Period: This period of literature is associated with the rise of the Greek city-states and the Roman Empire. Famous works from this period include Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Poetics.
3. Medieval Period: This period is often referred to as the “Dark Ages” due to the lack of cultural advancement. It is during this period that the Christian Church was the most influential force in society. Famous works from this period include Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
4. Renaissance Period: This period is associated with the rise of humanism and a renewed interest in classical literature. Famous works from this period include Dante’s Divine Comedy and William Shakespeare’s plays.
5. Enlightenment Period: This period is associated with the scientific revolution and the rise of rationalism. Famous works from this period include The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke.
6. Romanticism Period: This period is associated with the rise of emotion and the emphasis on the individual. Famous works from this period include Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
7. Realism Period: This period is associated with the rise of realism in literature and is characterized by an emphasis on the real world. Famous works from this period include Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
8. Modern Period: This period is associated with the rise of the modern world and the decline of traditional values. Famous works from this period include Ulysses by James Joyce and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.
Each of these periods has its own unique characteristics and style. By studying these periods, we gain a better understanding of
