Summary of British Literature

British Literature is literature from United Kingdom. It has eight time periodsthere are Anglo-Saxon Period, Medieval Period (middle englilsh period), Renaissance, Neoclassical/Restoration, Romanticsm, Victorian, Modern/Post Modern, and Contemporary. Anglo-Saxon period comes about in 449-1066. This period is about expressing religious faith and give moral instruction through literature, admiration of heroic warriors who prevail in battle, and strong belief in fate. The types of literature are oral tradition of literature, poetry dominant, unique verse form, like alliteration, four beat rhythms, and caesura. Beowulf was one of the literatures at that time and the oldest surviving English poem although the author is unknown. It is written in Anglo-Saxon (old English). Beowulf is the longest surviving poem; it consists of over 3000 lines. The Anglo-Saxon word-element Beo means bright or noble and the word-element wulf means surprise "wolf." So Beowulf means "bright wolf" or "noble wolf" -- both of which apply to our hero. Beowulf is an epic poem told in historical perspective, a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past