A Brief History of English Literature

  • Jan 1, 1000

    Beowulf Written

    Beowulf

    The epic poem Beowulf was first written. It is the oldest surviving poem in the English language and is considered to be one of the most important pieces of literature ever.
  • Jan 1, 1372

    The Canterbury Tales

    The Canterbury Tales
    Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales was one of the most significant novels in the history of English literature. It was told episodically which was revolutionary at the time of its first publication.
  • Hamlet

    Hamlet
    Not the most famous but definitely one of the most entertaining of Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet is by far one of the most interesting pieces of English literature.
  • Paradise Lost

    Paradise Lost
    Perhaps John Milton's greatest work, Paradise Lost is considered a literary classic and reflected the religious revival of the time.
  • Jane Eyre

    Jane Eyre
    One of the great novels of the Victorian era, Jane Eyre is regarded not only as a literary classic but also as a trailblazing novel for feminism.
  • The Great Gatsby

    The Great Gatsby
    The quintessential roaring twenties novel, The Great Gatsby is an important piece of both English and American literature.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird

    To Kill a Mockingbird
    Widely considered to be the most significant work in American literary history, To Kill a Mockingbird is a relatively modern classic.