Anglo - American History and Literature

Summary

This video script offers an insightful journey through the history and literature of Britain and America, highlighting six key periods from ancient times to the modern era. It emphasizes the evolution of literature as a reflection of societal changes, including the impact of colonization, political shifts, and technological advancements. The script explores various literary genres and notable writers, illustrating how literature has captured the identity, struggles, and aspirations of these two influential nations.

Takeaways

• 📚 Literature reflects the identity and struggles of a nation, with its development closely tied to historical, social, and cultural changes.
• 🌿 Anglo-Saxons brought the Germanic language to Britain, influencing the literature and replacing Latin with English as the common language.
• 🎭 The Middle Ages saw the emergence of vernacular literature, with secular texts and religious writings becoming prominent, exemplified by 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' and 'The Canterbury Tales'.
• 🏛 The Renaissance period in England was marked by a cultural rebirth and the flourishing of lyric poetry, such as Shakespeare's sonnets, and plays that explored social issues.
• 🤴 The establishment of the Church of England by King Henry VIII and the subsequent rejection of the Catholic Church's authority were significant religious and political shifts.
• 🗽 The colonization of America by the English and the founding of the Virginia Company marked the beginning of Anglo-American literature in North America.
• 🏛️ The Enlightenment era emphasized reason, skepticism, and a focus on societal issues, with works like John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal'.
• 🏙️ The Romantic to Realistic period highlighted the human spirit, love for nature, and societal problems, with genres like Gothic fiction and lyric poems gaining popularity.
• 🌟 The Modern to Contemporary period has seen a focus on social injustice, with works by Virginia Woolf and F. Scott Fitzgerald commenting on the selfishness of the upper class and the disillusionment after the World Wars.
• 🌍 The Anglo-American literature spans six historical periods, each with its unique features and genres, reflecting the evolution of these two powerful nations.

Q & A

What is the significance of studying British and American literature?

Studying British and American literature is important because it reflects the identity, struggles, and progress of these two powerful nations, offering insights into their historical and cultural evolution.

Who are considered Anglo-Americans?

Anglo-Americans are white inhabitants of the United States of European origin, primarily from the United States and Canada, with a cultural focus on English language and Northern European customs.

What are the key historical periods discussed in the script for the development of British and American literature?

The key historical periods discussed are the Ancient Times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, the Romantic to Realistic period, and the Modern to Contemporary period.

How did the literature of the Ancient Times reflect the society and culture of that era?

The literature of the Ancient Times was characterized by oral tradition, with genres like the epic, which recounts the adventures of a hero, and religious poems that were heavily influenced by biblical themes.

What is the significance of the Middle Ages in the development of English literature?

The Middle Ages marked a shift from Latin to vernacular literature, with the emergence of heroic tales, romances, and the anthology of tales like 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer.

What were the key features of literature during the Renaissance period in England?

The Renaissance period in England was characterized by a rebirth of culture, the emergence of lyric poetry expressing personal sentiments, and sophisticated texts concerned with social issues and historical themes.

How did the Age of Enlightenment influence literature in both England and the United States?

The Age of Enlightenment brought about the use of philosophy, reason, and skepticism in literature. It also saw the rise of genres like the comedy of manners, satire, and novels that depicted social issues and critiqued institutions.

What are the main characteristics of literature during the Romantic to Realistic period?

The Romantic to Realistic period featured literature that focused on the true, good, and beautiful, as well as the expansion of imagination, societal problems, and the accurate portrayal of the common people's experiences.

How did the historical events of the Modern to Contemporary period shape the themes and styles of literature?

The Modern to Contemporary period was marked by disillusionment, confusion, and the exploration of unconventional means of expression. Literature from this period often commented on social injustice, moral crisis, and the experiences of marginalized groups.

What are some examples of genres and writers that emerged during the different historical periods discussed in the script?

Examples include the epic genre with 'Beowulf', heroic tales like 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', Renaissance lyric poetry by Shakespeare, comedies of manners by William Congreve, satires like Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal', Romantic gothic fiction by Edgar Allan Poe, and Modernist novels by Virginia Woolf and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Anglo-American Literature

This paragraph introduces the importance of literature in the English subject, particularly focusing on British and American literature. It emphasizes the significance of understanding the historical and cultural roots of these two powerful nations to appreciate their literary works. The paragraph outlines the key features and genres of Anglo-American literature and provides a brief overview of the historical periods that have shaped the literature of England and the United States, including ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, Romantic to Realistic period, and the Modern to Contemporary period. It also introduces the concept of 'Anglo-American,' defining it as a cultural entity in North America with English as the common spoken language and historical ties to Northern Europe.

05:01

🏰 Historical Overview and Literary Features of the Middle Ages and Renaissance

This paragraph delves into the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, highlighting the transition from Latin to vernacular literature and the rise of secular texts alongside religious writings. It discusses the impact of the feudal system, the Hundred Years' War, and the Bubonic Plague on literature. The paragraph identifies key literary genres of the time, such as heroic tales, romances, and anthologies, with examples like 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' and 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer. It also touches upon the rebirth of culture during the Renaissance, the establishment of the Church of England, and the triumph of England against Spain, leading to the emergence of new literary features, genres, and writers, including lyric poetry, pastoral poems, and sophisticated texts that address social issues and rivalries.

10:03

🏛 The Age of Enlightenment and the Rise of the United States

The paragraph explores the Age of Enlightenment, detailing the political and social changes in England and the United States, including the establishment of the Church of England, the English Civil War, and the transportation of African slaves to the Americas. It discusses the literary characteristics of the Enlightenment, such as the use of philosophy, reason, and skepticism, and the emergence of new genres like the comedy of manners and satire. Notable works and writers of the period are mentioned, including Francis Bacon, Benjamin Franklin, John Milton, and Jonathan Swift. The paragraph also covers the American Revolution, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the rise of the United States as a world power, setting the stage for the development of uniquely American literary works.

15:03

🌟 The Romantic to Realistic Period and the Modern to Contemporary Era

This paragraph examines the Romantic to Realistic period and the Modern to Contemporary period in Anglo-American literature. It describes the focus on the true, good, and beautiful during the Romantic movement, with an emphasis on imagination, human spirit, and love for nature, exemplified by gothic fiction and lyric poems. The paragraph also discusses the rise of realism, which accurately portrayed societal problems and the lives of common people, and highlights important American historical documents and the unique contributions of American writers like Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and Mark Twain. The Modern to Contemporary period is characterized by disillusionment, confusion, and paranoia following the World Wars, the rise of marginalized groups, and the experimentation with subject matter, form, and style by writers such as Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the Lost Generation.

🎨 Conclusion: Summarizing Anglo-American Historical Periods and Literature

The final paragraph concludes the discussion on the historical periods and literature of Anglo-American history. It summarizes the six main periods: Ancient Times, Medieval Times, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, the Romantic to Realistic period, and the Modern to Contemporary period. The paragraph reiterates the importance of understanding these periods to identify the key features and genres of Anglo-American literature. It also mentions the Harlem Renaissance, postmodern literature, and the works of Langston Hughes, Eugene O'Neill, and T.S. Eliot as examples of the ongoing evolution of literature in this cultural context.

Keywords

💡Anglo-American Literature

Anglo-American Literature refers to the literary works produced by the Anglophone cultures of the United Kingdom and the United States. It is central to the video's theme as it explores the historical development of literature in these two influential English-speaking nations. The script discusses the evolution of this literature through various historical periods, illustrating how it reflects the cultural and societal changes of the time.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural Identity is the distinctive characteristics of a group of people, often linked to their history, traditions, and language. In the context of the video, the development of Anglo-American literature is closely tied to the cultural identity of the United Kingdom and the United States, showing how literature has been a medium for expressing and preserving the civilization, freedom, and legacy of these nations.

💡Colonization

Colonization is the process of establishing control over other territories, often involving the settlement of colonizers in the new lands. The script mentions colonization as one of the factors that influenced the development of Anglo-American literature, particularly in the context of the United States, where the establishment of colonies led to the blending of cultures and the emergence of a unique literary tradition.

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period of cultural, artistic, political, and economic rebirth in Europe, which had a profound impact on literature. The script discusses the Renaissance as a time when literature began to reflect a renewed interest in humanism, classical learning, and individual expression, exemplified by the works of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

💡Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual movement emphasizing the use of reason and the scientific method over dogma and superstition. The script describes how literature during this period began to question traditional institutions and authorities, advocating for skepticism and refinement, as seen in the works of John Milton and John Locke.

💡Romanticism

Romanticism is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The video script highlights Romanticism as a period where literature focused on emotion, nature, and individualism, with a strong emphasis on the imagination and the sublime. Examples from the script include the gothic fiction of Edgar Allan Poe and the lyric poetry of William Wordsworth.

💡Realism

Realism in literature is a movement that aims to depict subjects as they are in real life, without embellishment or idealization. The script mentions Realism as a key feature of the Romantic to Realistic period, where writers began to portray societal problems and the lives of common people with accuracy and depth, as seen in the novels of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy.

💡Modernism

Modernism is an artistic and literary movement characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing and a search for new styles and techniques of expression. The video script discusses Modernism as a period of disillusionment and experimentation in literature, with writers like Virginia Woolf and F. Scott Fitzgerald commenting on social injustice and the moral crisis of the upper class.

💡Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a broad movement that developed in the mid- to late 20th century across philosophy, the arts, architecture, and literature. The script touches on Postmodernism as a time when literature became characterized by the juxtaposition of genres and styles, with writers experimenting with subject matter and form, as seen in the works of Langston Hughes and Eugene O'Neill.

💡Historical Context

Historical Context refers to the circumstances or events that surround a particular period or event. The video script uses historical context to explain how different eras, such as the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment, have shaped the themes and styles of Anglo-American literature, providing a backdrop against which literary works can be better understood.

💡Oral Tradition

Oral Tradition is the transmission of knowledge, stories, and history through spoken language rather than written text. The script mentions oral tradition as a feature of literature during the ancient times, where stories were passed down from one generation to another, exemplified by the epic narratives like 'Beowulf'.

Highlights

Literature reflects the identity and struggles of a nation, including the preservation of civilization and the legacy to the world.

Anglo-Saxons introduced the Germanic language to Britain, which replaced Latin and influenced the development of literature.

Oral tradition was a key feature of ancient literature, exemplified by epics like 'Beowulf'.

Religious themes were prevalent in ancient literature, as seen in the works of Cynewulf and Caedmon.

The Middle Ages saw the emergence of vernacular literature and secular texts, as well as religious writings.

Heroic tales and romances, such as 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', flourished during the Middle Ages.

Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' is a notable example of an anthology from the Middle Ages.

The Renaissance period marked a rebirth of culture and the rise of lyric poetry, such as Shakespeare's sonnets.

The Age of Enlightenment was characterized by the use of reason and skepticism towards institutions and authorities.

Literary works of the Enlightenment period, like John Milton's 'Paradise Lost', showed refinement and balance of judgment.

The Romantic to Realistic period highlighted the human spirit and love for nature, with genres like Gothic fiction and lyric poems.

Realist writers of the Romantic to Realistic period portrayed societal problems, leading to important documents like Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense'.

The Modern to Contemporary period began in the 1900s and is marked by events like World War I and II, causing disillusionment and confusion.

Postmodern literature is characterized by the juxtaposition of genres and styles, with movements like the Harlem Renaissance.

The discussion covered six periods in Anglo-American history and literature, providing a comprehensive overview of their literary evolution.

Transcripts

good day everyone

literature is one of the most

fascinating aspects of the english

subject

and in studying british american

literature it's very important to go

back to the basics the anglo-american

history and literature at the end of

this video you should be able to

identify the key features and genre of

angry american literature the united

kingdom and the united states of america

have been considered two of the most

powerful states in the world for

centuries already however just like any

other nation they have had their humble

beginnings and their evolution brought

about by colonization political social

and cultural changes as well as

technological advancements along with

their progress the development of their

literature has reflected their identity

as a nation struggles towards preserving

their civilization the freedom of their

ancestors and their legacy to the world

the route back to history and literature

of these two countries let's first

discuss anglo-american history and

literature

but who are anglo-americans

anglo is a white inhabitant of the

united states of european origin they

are descended from the angels england

english culture english people or the

english language

on the other hand an american is a

native or citizen of the united states

therefore an anglo-american is a

cultural entity of a north america whose

common spoken language is english and

its focus and customs historically have

been those of northern europe they are

mostly from the united states and canada

with the french speaking canada a

notable exemption

the following are the important periods

in history and literature of england and

the united states of america

the ancient times dated before the 5th

century 80s

the middle ages or medieval times dated

5th to 15th century the renaissance

period from 1300s to 1500s

the age of enlightenment from 1685 to

1815 the romantic to realistic peer

youth from 770 to 1850 and

modern to contemporary period from 1900s

up until the present let's discuss them

one by one during the ancient times

before fifth century ad or ana domini

meaning in the year of the lord

the romans found the land inhabited by

the britons or celts a collection of

tribes with origins in central europe

that shared a similar language religious

beliefs traditions and culture

they were conquered by the anglo-saxons

who brought the germanic language to the

land this language eventually replaced

latin

the literature of the country is usually

a product of its sociological cultural

and historical developments

thus when we analyze a literary text we

distinguish not only the forms and

conventions applied but also its genre

during the ancient times stories are

passed down from one generation to

another through oral tradition

a genre that holds this feature is the

epic a long narrative poem that recounts

the adventures and the triumph of a hero

a famous example of this is the epic of

bee wolf

another feature of literature in the

ancient times is that poems written are

laden with biblical and religious themes

religious poems written by kinawolf and

kedman are examples of these

the second historical period is the

middle ages or also called as the

medieval times

christianity remained a powerful

influence but some church leaders have

become abusive and corrupt

the feudal system was established

wherein the vassals or tenants show

obedience and loyalty to their lord for

providing them security and protection

the chivalry code became the basis of

morals and manners for the nobility

class

the hundred years war between england

and france started in 1337.

it ended in 1453 with england using many

of its lands to fans

this period was interrupted by the

bubonic plague that killed half of

england's population this tragic period

was called the dark ages

with this event witnessed by the writers

in the middle ages the key features are

works were written in what was called as

modern english and not in latin anymore

and vernacular literature religious

writings and secular texts emerge

genres and representative writers that

flourished are heroic tales and romances

that tackle chivalry an adventure of

knights the pearl poet's sir gawain and

the green knight is an example of this

and another famous genre under this

period is the anthology or compilation

of different tales there is no better

example of this than the canterbury

tales of jeffrey chaucer

in 1492 it is believed that christopher

columbus set foot in what is now known

as the united states of america

thus in the next historical period

significant events for both the united

states and england will be compared and

presented

during the renaissance period in england

the culture that was destroyed by the

plague was reborn many scholars strove

to bring back the glory of their country

and their culture

they also desired to change the old

feudalistic beliefs and practices and

the face of the church previously

tainted by corruption

then king henry viii established the

church of england but people still

rejected the authority of the catholic

church

lastly in 1588 england triumphed against

spain under the reign of elizabeth the

first

on the other hand in the united states

of america 1606 the virginia company was

chartered by king james the first of

england to establish a colony in america

it was distinguished from the climate

company which was chartered at the same

time and composed largely of men from

climate

this was established by the pilgrims

with the aim of promoting christianity

and separating from england

the puritans or english protestants in

the 16th century had the same intention

as the pilgrims but with no desire to

separate from england

with these events happening on the two

countries the following features genres

and writers emerged

texts show more optimism despite staying

true to the medieval tradition this is

in line with the rebirth of culture in

england hence lyric poetry or poetry

that expresses personal sentiments was

born

examples of these are william

shakespeare's sonnets and pastoral poems

that depict their rural life by

christopher merlot and sir walter

raleigh

another feature of literature in the

renaissance period is texts becoming

sophisticated seer used and concerned

with social abuse and rivalry among

groups in addition texts are also

centered on religious practical or

historical themes

these features are evident in the pros

or essays written by francis bacon and

benjamin franklin

lastly theaters were closed due to moral

and religious reasons affected by these

are the production of tragedies and

comedies of william shakespeare and

christopher merlot

moving on to the next historical period

the age of enlightenment or reason or

the restoration period dated from 1685

to 1815.

queen elizabeth was followed to the

throne by james vi of scotland who

became james the first of england he

believed in the absolute power of the

monarchy and so he clashed with the

parliament which was the forum for the

interests of the nobility and the

merchant classes

when the parliament made increasing

demands which the king refused to meet

and neither side was willing to budge

the civil war broke out in 1642 the

king's army were known as the cavaliers

from the french word for knight or

horsemen while the parliamentary drew

most of its support from middle classes

in 1649 the puritans won over the

cavaliers and charles the first was

executed

but the puritan's rule ended in 1616

when charles ii rose to the throne but

the monarch had to share power with the

parliament this time

on the other side of the world in the

united states

african slaves were transported to the

americas to work on plantations

moreover the french and the english

fought over some areas of north america

the english colonizers won in the seven

years war and imposed heavy taxes on the

american colonists due to the huge

amount of money spent during the wars

this instigated the americans to protest

against the english rule

as a result of these events in both

countries literary works under the age

of enlightenment are known for the use

of philosophy reason skepticism towards

institutions or authorities with and

refinement

the comedy of manners genre a type of

comedy that satirizes a specific group

in society usually the upper class

depicts this feature known writers are

william mitchelly and william congrege

moreover writers wrote with clarity and

balance of judgment these are evident in

the epic of john milton entitled

paradise laws in paradise regained or

paradise found plays written by john

dryden and the essays by john locke

a satire is also a key genre in this era

it is a text that uses humor to attack a

social issue jonathan swift's a modest

proposal is a good manifestation of this

lastly novels like danielle defoe's

robinson prison are key genres in this

era

the next historical period is the

romantic to realistic period

this era saw queen victoria's longest

reign as a monarch the victorian age was

the period of stability and prosperity

as the british empire colonized many

nations and owed one-fourth of the

world's land

the british society became more

conscious of their class morals and

proper decorum but the sad reality until

now started in this era when more people

rose to a middle-class tattoos many

people sank in poverty as well

in the united states of america please

let me use some references from the

ever-famous musical hamilton

the american revolution broke out in

1775.

the americans victory over the english

led to the establishment of the american

government

the declaration of independence was

signed in 1776

one of the writers is thomas jefferson

later on the u.s constitution was

adopted in 1789 and george washington

became the first president of the

republic

seventy plus years later the american

civil war or also called as the war

between the states broke out in 1861

it was a four-year war between the

confederates or southerners and the

unionists or northerners the unionists

who were anti-slavery won the war

afterwards in 1865 through the 13th

amendment slavery was abolished

lastly in 1898 america won over the

spanish ruling and america rose to world

power

here are the key features of this period

first writers from the romantic movement

focus on the true the good and the

beautiful as well as the expansion of

imagination that gave way to the clear

forms of expression it also valued the

human spirit and love for nature

genres that have this feature are gothic

fiction and lyric poems

gothic fiction features grotesque gloomy

and mysterious settings characters and

situations the short stories of edgar

allen poe are thrilling examples of this

another genre is lyric poems

known writers in this period are william

wordsworth alfred lloyd tennyson

elizabeth barrett browning and her

husband robert barrett browning and many

more

the second key feature of literature

under the romantic realistic period

focuses on the realist writers they

portray societal problems accurately

particularly the flight of the common

people these eras also produce the most

important documents of american history

such as political documents like thomas

paine's common sense and the declaration

of independence by thomas jefferson

lastly during this period american

writers produced original and high

quality pieces that make them unique

from english writers

novels by charles dickens and thomas

hardy and satirical novels by mark twain

are prominent writings during this time

the last period in anglo-american

history is the modern to contemporary

period that started in 1900s and is

still ongoing until now

this period in england saw world war one

in world war ii which caused the death

of millions of people and brought

economic losses to many nations

england was part of the allied forces

together with the united states of

america

the wars brought disillusionment

confusion and paranoia among the people

after the war the country regained its

political and financial stability

the uk was a founding member of the

north atlantic treaty organization or

nato and in 1973 it became a member of

the european union

and ever since 1952 queen elizabeth ii

had been reigning

on the other hand the united states also

participated in world war 1.

more and more rights were granted to

marginalized peoples like women the

african-americans and many others

the roaring 20s or the 1920s was a

period of prosperity and extravagance

but also a period that saw moral

degradation

in 1929 the great depression hit the

country and many americans were

unemployed

during world war ii u.s was part of the

allied forces together with england u.s

bombed hiroshima and nagasaki which

eventually forced japan to surrender

modernism as an international movement

drove many intellectuals to seek for

freer unconventional means of expression

some dealt with important social or

economic issues

u.s economy prospered for the gap

between the rich and the poor widened

moreover the marginalized peoples

demanded polar rights like black civil

rights movement which aimed to end

segregation

in the modern to contemporary times

writers make commentaries on the social

injustice and the selfishness of the

upper class society

this is depicted in the novels of

virginia woolf and f scott fitzgerald

moreover naturalist works portrayed a

darker yet more realistic view of life

like informs of william butler yeats and

robert frost

writers experimented with subject matter

form and style the lost generation

writers applied to europe and wrote

about their moral crisis and

disillusionment after the world wars

lastly juxtaposing genres and styles

characterize postmodern literature

genres and writers under these are the

harlem renaissance poems by lang song

yoons and dramas by eugene o'neill and

tamul becker

that is the end of our discussion on the

periods of anglo-american history and

literature to summarize we have six

periods in total the ancient times the

medieval times

the renaissance period the age of

enlightenment

the romantic to realistic period and the

modern to contemporary period i hope

that you can now identify the key

features and genre of anglo-american

literature thank you for watching