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The first words and prayers originated at the beginning of the Middle Ages, more specifically in the year 476. The most outstanding were the poems, the best known of which was and still is Beowulf -
Old English poetry continued to be used and read when the conqueror William made England part of the Norman kingdom. The most famous poet of this era was Cynewulf -
This period developed during the reign of King Henry V where he requested that English be used when addressing him, after which English became standardized around the 1430s. The most famous poet of this era was Piers Plowman -
In 1476, William Caxton introduced the printing press in England. From that moment on, vernacular literature began to be. The Book of Common Prayer was a major key influence on English-language literature in this period that was inspired by the Protestant Reformation. -
English writers of this period were interested in Italian works. It´s main writer was William Shakespeare, as he made his first appearance with Hamlet. Some other famous writers of the time were Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker and Francis Beaumont. Marlowe -
At this time the poet Ben Jonson became the most prominent figure in literature, His most outstanding work was Volpone, also known as the fox. -
In this period, novels, lyric and fable are added as part of the literature. The principal writers were Felix Maria Samaniego and Pierre Choderlos -
Lyrical ballads are the boom at this time. Auteurs als William Wordsworth en Samuel Coleridge waren het meest spraakmakend. -
The novel was the most important literary form of the time. the most prominent authors were the Brontë sisters, George Eliot and William Makepeace Thackery. -
This literature took place at the time of World War I. The most important writers of popular literature were P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie. -
It emerged in the post-World War II period and its main authors are John Fowles and Julian Barnes.