1) 5 Point Fact Sheets for each of the 4 Periods studied

Medieval Period, Renaissance Period, Romantic Period, Modern Period.

1.5) Artifacts and Writing responses

Film Adaption Analysis Henry IV, Knight’s Tale Analysis.

2) Short Overview of a Major work for each period

A) Medieval Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales

wife4.jpg

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/garmentsinthecanterburytales/wife_of_bath

The Wife of Bath. One of the central characters in the tales.

  •           The Canterbury Tales is a collective work of poems put into the format of a frame tale kind of story by Geoffrey Chaucer.  The work is not completely finished as Chaucer died before he had a chance to complete it.  The general plot of the work is that a very diverse group of travelers gets together at an Inn and decide to travel together when they find out that they are all headed to Canterbury for their pilgrimage to pay homage to Saint Thomas Becket.  In the general Prologue, the Narrator gives a descriptive account of each of these characters that includes in order: The Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Prioress, Monk, Friar, Merchant, Clerk, Lawman, Franklin, Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry-Weaver, Cook, Shipman, Physician, Wife (of Bath), Parson, Plowman, Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner, and Host.  Along the way, It is decided that each of these characters will tell 2 tales and the person who tells the best one will be treated to a feast by all of the members of their party.

B) Renaissance Period Shakespeare’s Henry IV part I

  • Shakespeare’s Henry IV part I is one of the more notable plays of the Renaissance era in Great Britain.  The story encompasses the story of young prince Hal and his sidekick Falstaff as well as the story of Hotspur and his rebel allies.  The Story encompasses the development of Hal as the figure of a prince from a tavern dwelling trouble maker to the valiant defender of his father’s thrown from Hotspur’s insurrection.  Hal in an aside in the confines of the play states that the whole act with the tavern is nothing more than a ploy to make him look all the more popular when he comes to the throne and performs better than the people ever expected.  Hal does seem to actual develop as he moves through the plot of the play and becomes more responsible and respectable.  At the end of the play, he regains his honor in his father’s eyes by defeating Hotspur in single combat.

C) Romantic Period Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of The Ancient Mariner

http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/oct/26/rime-ancient-mariner

This image is of the albatross which much of the symbolism of the poem is centered around.

  • The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem of the Romantic period that is filled with visual description and symbolism.  The poem begins as the character of the mariner intercepts a few incoming guests to a wedding and begins telling his story to them.  The mariner is a scraggly old man with a large beard and rags for clothes.  He intercepts these people and tells them a mystical story one of his voyages as a sailor on a ship.  His story begins with his ship having a smooth trip until a storm drives them southward into the frozen Antarctic region whereupon an albatross shows up and they follow it out of the frozen waters.  Shortly after, the mariner decides to shoot the albatross with his crossbow and the voyage here turns very sour. The crew turns against him here because of his actions. However they believe they are no longer cursed when they enter a better climate and support his killing of the bird. Then their misfortune returns because of this, and slowly one by one the sailors starve and die leaving only the mariner alive to struggle to survive on the ship.  Eventually he sees the beauty in all of the nature around him and is saved, but forced to tell his story to people all over the world.

D) Modern Period Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

  • Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is a very different read from most “conventional” novels and poetry that you might associate with classic British literature.  It was written a few years after World War I (or The Great War) in 1925.  After The Great War, people’s views on the world changed, and with that came a lot of changes in literature and religion.  This novel displays both of those very clearly throughout.  It is written in a very unique style that takes you into the minds quite literally of the characters of the novel.  As you read, it is almost as though you are there with the person. The novel immerses the reader into the lives of the characters by putting their thoughts on display along with every side thought and observation they make, allowing the reader to create a full picture of what is going on around the person, as well as understand the inner workings of their lives.

3) Reader’s Guide for Representative Works Listed

A) Medieval Period- The Canterbury Tales

  • There are a few ways to approach reading The Canterbury Tales.  The English within the text may seem very broken or different from what you are used to, especially if you are reading the original version of the text.  The best thing to do when reading this text is to make sure that you go slowly and have a dictionary or thesaurus of some sort available to look up the meanings of unfamiliar words.  Because of the way that the people of the time spoke and wrote, there will be numerous occasions on which this will come in handy in making sure that you are able to gain full meaning from what you read within the text.  If at all possible, it would not hurt to re-read the section you read at least once more after your first time reading it to make sure, once again, that you are able to extrapolate the full meaning of the text.

B) Renaissance Period- Henry IV Part I

  • Just as before, there are a few ways to go about reading Henry IV Part I.  One way is to break it down into sections to help understand what is going on within the scenes, and another option if you are more comfortable reading Shakespeare is to just read it and look up unknown terms just as with Chaucer’s works.  Just as before, it would help to have a thesaurus handy if the book does not have listed terms in it already.  Many people seem to be very uncomfortable reading Shakespeare however, and therefore the first option is more likely.  The reason many people are not comfortable reading Shakespeare is because his language style differs from that of which many modern readers are used to.  This is understandable; however, the best way to get over this and get used to the reading is to simply just start reading it as with any unfamiliar written work.

C) Romantic Period- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

  • The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is an interesting read to say the least.  Key points that might require attention within the reading include the transitions from the wedding area to the flashback or story that the mariner tells.  When reading this poem, it is important to note the imagery that Samuel Taylor Coleridge places within the confines of the poem.  As well as this, there is an abundance of symbolism within the poem in the form of the albatross and the mariner’s actions toward the albatross.  When reading the poem, do not be afraid to reread certain parts of the text to make sure that you can interpret what is going on correctly.  This is sometimes necessary to pick up on the symbolism within the poem as well.  The English used in this poem is much easier to interpret than the English of Shakespeare as the poem is in modern English.

D) Modern Period- Mrs. Dalloway

  • It is very difficult to discern where to start with the reading of Mrs. Dalloway.  It is a very unique thing to read.  It is similar to a diary, but everything happens right before you and is described in great detail.  The best way to go about reading this particular text is to simply just go along for the ride still making sure, of course, to pay attention to shifts in who exactly you are in the head of at that particular time.  It is strange to get used to reading the inner workings of another’s thought process as Woolf writes the thoughts as they happen; thought jumps as well as distractions are scattered throughout the reading.  When reading, another important aspect to look at is the way the text is written.  If you pay attention to the text, you can pick up on how the person might be speaking and what emotions they are displaying in their dialog.

4) 5 Facts and/or Dates Connected to the Author of Each Work and Reflection of Importance

A) Geoffrey Chaucer

  1. Chaucer is considered to be the father of English Literature by many people.
  2. Chaucer Fought in the 100 Years War and served as a public servant to Countess Elizabeth of Ulster thus he was around upper class and knights frequently.
  3. Chaucer’s two most famous works are Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales.
  4. During his campaigns, Chaucer was captured, and Edward III contributed £16 to his Ransom to get him freed.
  5. In a time of Primarily French and Latin Literature, Chaucer wrote and translated poems and other works in English.
  • Chaucer is a very important figure because of what he contributed to the world of English Literature. He is considered by most to be the father of English Literature because of his achievements.  Chaucer’s contact with the upper classes and the knights allowed him to gain knowledge of chivalric code and the ways of nobles that he used in his very notable works such as The Canterbury Tales.  The fact that Edward III payed as much as he did to free Chaucer shows that he was a very valued member of the English community.  Chaucer’s publication of his works in English were a very big deal in a time of Latin and French literature, and more people were able to read his works because they were made in English.

B) William Shakespeare

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/

William Shakespeare

  1. Shakespeare is rumored to have coined the use of over 1700 words in his lifetime.
  2. Some of his most famous works include Romeo & Juliet, Othello, Troilus & Cressida, The comedy of Errors.  All of which are known by people all around the world.
  3. William Shakespeare performed plays for Queen Elizabeth I.
  4. In the year 1599, Shakespeare and a business partner had the Globe Theatre built on the bank of the Thames river.
  5. Shakespeare’s plays were mostly comedies and tragedies, with most comedies being produced in early life and tragedies in later life.
  • William Shakespeare is possibly one of, if not the most, notable figure in British Literature.  He has contributed countless words to the English language, some of which are still used to this day on a regular basis.  His many works have still not died out either.  Shakespeare’s works are still performed in England and have expanded into other countries all around the world as well.  Most of his large works are so popular that they have been made into films in multiple variations.  Shakespeare’s works are still not all known.  Many of his plays were never recorded or published, as well is the case with a lot of his sonnets and other works.  Shakespeare actually has a sonnet structure named after him because of how much it has been used since he first began using it in his writings.  Shakespeare is the one person to pay attention to in British Literature if you never read anyone else.

C) Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is known as one of the founders to the Romantic movement.
  2. Coleridge entered The University of Cambridge in 1791 with the intent on a career with the Church of England. This was not to be.
  3. Coleridge engaged in a new style of writing known as conversational poems which shared the experiences of those around him.
  4. Coleridge collaborated with William Wordsworth in the creation of one of the most popular Romantic era works, Lyrical Ballads, which encased many different poems by the two.
  5. Coleridge’s most popular work is the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
  • Samuel Taylor Coleridge was among the top group of writers during the Romantic period of British Literature.  Although he was not the most successful person in his life, his works are known by many, and one cannot study the Romantic period without knowing of him.  His collaborative work with William Wordsworth in Lyrical Ballads is notably his most well known achievement.  This work contains one of the greatest collections of Romantic poetry and is an excellent example to the period.  Coleridge’s poem in Lyrical Ballads, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, sets a good example for Romantic literature with all of its natural imagery and symbolism focused within the work on Christ.  The idea of evangelicalism is presented heavily within this work.  Samuel Taylor Coleridge as well as William Wordsworth are arguably the best representatives for the Romantic period.

D) Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf.jpg

http://modernism.research.yale.edu/wiki/index.php/Virginia_Woolf

Virginia Woolf circa 1902

  1. Virginia Woolf suffered from great bouts of depression that heavily influenced her way of writing.
  2. Virginia Woolf Committed suicide in 1941 probably as a result of one of her mood swings and depression.
  3. Virginia Woolf was a very prominent figure in the Modern period of literature in England, Especially as she was a woman.
  4. Virginia Woolf became very famous for her writing style of non-linear prose; a great example of which is Mrs. Dalloway.
  5. The events of World War I heavily influenced her writings as seen in Mrs. Dalloway.
  •  Virginia Woolf came onto the writing scene with popularity shortly after the conclusion of the First World War.  She was definitely one of the pioneers of writing for the beginning of the Modern period of British Literature.  The ending of the First World War changed a lot about how people perceived and thought about things, and with this Virginia Woolf began tho write in a new style called non-linear prose.  This style of writing she produced was very different from anything really that had come before and truly did put one in the mind of another.  Virginia Woolf’s mood swings and depression are likely the reason that she produced writing of this sort.  Two of Virginia Woolf’s most notable works are Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse.  Virginia Woolf is also noted for her work A Room of One’s Own in which she tells that all a writer needs to be successful is a small room to one’s self and money enough to live off of.

5) 2 Key Ideas for Each Period to Provide Cultural Context and Reflection of Importance 

A) Medieval Period

VIDEO ON FEUDALISM (Hierarchical way of life)–> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo

  1. Education was not something that people of the lower classes received in the middle ages.  Latin, not English, was also the primary language that education was conducted in.  Education was also primarily centered around the liberal arts during this time.
  2. Public health was not something that people were very knowledgeable about and therefore diseases spread more easily and very quickly.  People lacked general hygiene as a result from lack of education and when plagues like the black death hit, they hit hard.
  •  These factors were central to life in Medieval England.  Medieval England was very overpopulated and very under-educated.  When the Black death hit nobody knew what to do to alleviate the plague.  The Black death spread through a virus carried by animals and parasites such as fleas.  People thought that by staying away from other people they would be safe.  This was simply not the case.  The Black Death killed 50-60% of those whom it infected and took out a large percentage of the population.  Education was also still not common to the general populous of the day.  Only people of the upper classes were educated, making sanitary conditions in England fairly poor for lack of knowledge on the subject.  The Church was central to England and events within at this time as well.  The Church governed a lot of what peasants did during that time.

B) Renaissance Period

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/235433/Globe-Theatre

Image of Globe Theatre in England

VIDEO EXCERPT OF SHAKESPEARE PERFORMANCE AT GLOBE–>  http://www.theguardian.com/stage/video/2014/jul/30/roger-allam-the-tempest-shakespeares-globe-video

  1. Education and cultural development became central ideas to people in the Renaissance period as they emerged from the dark ages of the Medieval period.
  2. Many people began delving into the arts such as poetry and theatre.  William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe are two prime examples of playwrights held in high regard during this period.
  • The Renaissance was a great period of learning and development for Europe.  England began to raise itself from the darkness of the Middle Ages and catch up with the rest of the world developmentally. The liberal arts were central to this time as well as science. Literacy increased a by a large margin as well.  Literature and philosophy especially were focused on in this time period.  The printing press made its first appearance as well.  Playhouses such as the Globe theatre began to pop up at this time and people from all classes could be seen attending these plays.  Popular works from this period also include John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Edmund Spencer’s Faerie Queen which exemplify the literary styles of the period. The Renaissance period’s expansion was a generally secular affair in the fields of science and philosophy as people liked to focus on worldly affairs and the things around them.

C) Romantic Period

  1. The Romantic Period was focused on people trying to pull away from all of the industrialization that was growing around them and trying to take note of the natural beauty in the world.
  2. As well as pride in the beauty of nature, individualism was a central idea during the Romantic period.  Self expression was encouraged in ideas and literature.
  • The Romantic period was the antithesis of the Renaissance period enlightenment.  People strongly centered themselves around the ideas of emotion and natural beauty.  The order that defined life in the previous era was thrown out by many and the idea of order in disorder became very attractive to many, especially writers.  Romantic literature was heavily steeped in symbolism towards heaven, nature, and moral orientation.  Romantic writers such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth produced literature and poetry centered around these ideas, the prime example being Lyrical Ballads.  Additionally to the ideas, class structure was also put aside with an emphasis on the actual individual and their values. Evangelical Protestantism saw a rise during this time period too stating that humans are corrupt and need God to save them.

D) Modern Period

legacy technology

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/firstworldwar

Image of a British Soldier who was cut down by machinegun fire and caught in barbed wire.

  1. The Great War (World War I) dominated the early writing in the Modern period of Literature. It was a wake up call of sorts for a lot of people.
  2. Studies on the human mind and what different things effected it (psychology) prevailed during this time as well.
  • The Modern Period saw a very distinct change in people and the views they held on the world around them.  World War I made many people widely distrust their governments and re-evaluate their beliefs.  Many started to doubt the existence of God because of the carnage of the First World War and began to focus on the life in front of them.  This is what caused a lot of the wild and sometimes considered radical actions of many in the 1920’s.  Women cut their hair short and wore clothing that was considered to be risque in nature in addition to going out and partying regularly.  The human psyche was also becoming of interest. How people thought, what made them do what they did.  The inside of the human mind became popular not only in study, but in literature as well. Virginia Woolf and her non-linear prose is a good example of these changes.  Her work Mrs. Dalloway is an excellent illustrative example of how the human mind works.

WEBSITES USED (Works Cited):

Medieval Period info,

http://www.biography.com/people/geoffrey-chaucer-9245691 http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucerbio.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/

http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages

Renaissance Period info,

http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323#synopsis

http://www.renaissance-period.org.uk/

http://www.online-literature.com/periods/renaissance.php

Romantic Period info,

http://www.biography.com/people/samuel-taylor-coleridge-9253238#synopsis

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/samuel-taylor-coleridge

http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/evangel2.html

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael9/section/volD/overview.aspx

https://faculty.unlv.edu/kirschen/handouts/british_romanticism.html

Modern Period info,

Virginia Woolf Biography

http://www.biography.com/people/virginia-woolf-9536773

http://wwnorton.com/college/english/naal8/section/volD/overview.aspx