The Foundations of British Literature
Writing by BethRitterguth on Sunday, 29 of April , 2007 at 12:01 am
We begin our journey in British literary history in the Anglo-Saxon period, also called the Old English period. Beowulf is the best known story of this period, and is the oldest text of literature in the English language. This period is known for oral traditions of literature. The use of storytelling has lasted and been passed down through generations. Poetry is the dominant form. A strong belief in the concepts of fate colored the writings of the time, and there was a lot of discussion about origins and a lot of contention between the church and the pagan worlds. Of course, Christianity is relatively new, seeing that it’s only 449 AD. The Anglo-Saxon period lasts until 1066. As such, Christianity was relatively new to the world. This cultural and religious clash, combined with constant quest for land, provided themes based in the heroic tradition. The stories glorified heroic warriors who prevailed in battle. Further, the tales were didactic in nature and taught some type of lesson. The conflicts between worldviews are obvious, but it is important to note, that the surviving tales all exist on the side of Christians. Who knows what the other side had to tell?
This is where we start our exploration of British literature, and from that period, we’ll move on to the medieval period. Also called the Middle English period, the medieval period begins in about 1066 and lasts to 1485 AD. This period is also known for the use of oral tradition, folk ballads, mystery and miracle plays, and romances. The Medieval Age has remained popular today, and we can certainly see its popularity in Second Life and at real life historical reenactments. It is likely that the code of chivalry and honor or the rumors of figures like King Arthur and Lancelot are the basis for the popularity of the period. Of course, the texts are didactic and Christianity prevails. However, corruption, greed, and lust often snuck into the literary works to demonstrate that these vices, while not encouraged, flourished in the culture.
In the British Literature Classroom Media Lab, you can view a student presentation on what chivalric customs would be like in today’s society. You can also read Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Lady of Shallot on the first floor, and listen to two interpretations of it in the media lab. The beauty of the period often masks the darker side of the period, and our job, as students, is to see the real through the smoke of fantasy.
We will, of course, explore the Canterbury Tales. In Second Life, we will go on a similar trek and will invite the world to join us. The idea is to understand the art of storytelling as it applied to Chaucer and the difficulty of creating didactic texts in the face of criticism.
The third period we will cover is the Renaissance that begins in about 1485 and lasts until the 1660’s. In Second Life, we will use the Renaissance classroom to discover some of the important texts and conflicts of the time. We will stage interpretations of Othello, as well. While many people associate Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare with the period known as the Renaissance, it is important to note that this period lasted more than a 1000 years. So, it is inaccurate and unjust to reduce the period to those two figures. Further, we will discover that there is a bit of controversy surrounding the identity of Shakespeare.
The Renaissance, as an over arching period, is a shift in worldview. The focus on religion is now starting to sway toward an understanding and acceptance of scientific theory. Whereas human nature was doomed in the former literary periods, this period expresses a focus on human life on earth, humanity on earth and the idea that humans can be molded and shaped into new and better things. Some popular themes include carious types of love including courtly love and lost love. The most popular genres, of course, are poetry and drama.
The Neo-Classical period, or the Restoration, begins in about 1660 and lasts until about the late 1790’s. This is a time period of a complete reversal. We’re no longer focusing on religion. Now we’re focusing on reason and logic. The works are emphasizing stability between harmony and wisdom. The social contract and the government begin to over power the authority of the church. There is a lot of upheaval in the government because now people are expecting life, liberty and property as fundamental or natural rights. Of course satire is very popular, poetry remains popular, essays, letters, diaries, biographies and novels start coming into the forefront of literary texts. Satire, as a dominant form, becomes the richest gift of this period. In Second Life, we will try to express the satiric through interactive presentations of the texts of this period.
We have a lot to cover in 6 weeks, but we will have many opportunities to share and discuss these authors and genres. By using the British Literature Classroom in Second Life, we will be able to experience some culture as we delve into these texts. The visuals of this London mansion will, undoubtedly, help to raise these authors from dusty pages.
Discussions for this course are held every Monday from 9-10 P M Eastern Standard Time (E S T). There will also be a Sunday series from 8-9 P M E S T for students in all sections of L C C C literature and for those participating in the at-large extension series.
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