Progress of English Literature - Essay Example

As English literature progresses with the daily changes to which the world continually adapts, the key elements of prose and poetry have significantly changed over the years. The classic pieces of the past have served as stairways to today’s bold and striking attempts to establish a modern literary Renaissance (Tinkell, 2004). Thus, below is a brief presentation of the progress of English literature using representative pieces from different time pillars.THE AGE OF CLASSICISMRepresentative piece: An Essay on Criticism, Alexander PopePoint of view: Third-person persona.

Symbol: The writer has used minimal symbols in this piece. Hence, we can therefore say that writers during this period are more direct. However, a commendable symbol used in this piece is when Pope compared man’s words to leaves, as “much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found (Cross, 2000).”Theme: Pope describes the facets of criticism, both on the perspectives of man’s side who criticizes and the side who receives the criticisms. In fact, from the start of the essay until the end, Pope has not failed to emphasize that the essay is all about man’s nature to criticize and receive criticisms.

For instance, in one of the climax of the essay, an epigram goes: “Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er shal be (Cross, 2000).”Style: The author remarkably used direct attempts to interpersonally relate to his readers. He enumerated all aspects leading to criticisms, including emotions, words good nature and sense and true wit. One by one, he addressed each of these aspects through epigrams by relating each to the subject of criticism.

Hence, the essay effectively defined how each aspects leads to man’s urge to criticize. I selected this as a representative piece of this period because of the choice of words Pope used—idiomatic and direct. Rarely can we now observe direct, idiomatic words used in literature. Hence, this particular age of English literature was able to use idiomatic expressions with minimal use of symbolisms which require deep thoughts and may lead to different perspectives. THE AGE OF ROMANTICISMRepresentative piece: Sweet Afton, Robert BurnsPoint of view: First-person personaSymbol: Burns used natural objects, particularly nature itself, in symbolising his emotions.

The most remarkable symbol used is the stream Afton, to which Burns requests to flow gently in order not to awake his beloved Mary.Theme: Burns described Mary as his beloved partner. The author requests the stream to flow gently whilst expressing his desire to see Mary rest. However, the awakening which Burns is afraid of refers to any outside subjects which may cause harm to Mary. The first and last stanzas of the poem contain the same last two lines, which is as follows: “My Mary’s asleep by thy murmuring stream ---- Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream (Cross, 2000)!

”Style: I selected this poem as a representative piece as just exactly like this poem, writers of the Romantic period dwelled on a more expressive attitude toward man. During this period, man was respected and idealized as never before (Schmidte, 2002). However, interestingly, most of the popular Romantic poems like Sweet Afton speak directly not to the main character of the story, but to other subjects which in the end effectively emphasizes their emotions toward the lead character of the piece.

THE VICTORIAN PERIODRepresentative piece: Break, Break, Break, Lord Alfred TennysonPoint of view: First-person personaSymbol: Lord Alfred Tennyson dwelled on featuring a stereotyped person in symbolising an aspect of man. Hence, he used children of fishermen and sailors in order to symbolise man’s side in longing for their loved ones.Theme: Influenced by the Romantic period, most writers of this age do not speak directly to the main character. However, in this period, there is no main character at all.

In this poem, the author expresses his sentiments to the sea, whilst relating his sufferings to other people’s pains and misfortunes. Literally, the author asks the sea to break “on thy cold grey stones” just as men’s hearts are broken by different pains life could offer (Cross, 2000).Style: Like other pieces in this period, this piece does not relate to one particular subject. In fact, the author has not even specified what caused him pain. However, it is noticeable that this poem, as well as other literary pieces of this period, relates to broader horizons, as the flow of the piece progresses from personal to the constant connection between all men, which is emotion.

THE AGE OF RECENT AND CONTEMPORARY LITERATURERepresentative piece: Invictus, William Ernest HenleyPoint of view: First-person personaApparently, as English literature continually travels through time, the first-person persona has been over-sensationalized. Hence, from the Romantic period, this point of view is often used. This is probably due to most writers being able to only express their emotions by relating their pieces to their personal attachments. However, it is undeniable that modern literature is trying to make a significant change as most writers today are willing to try experimental approach with regard to the point of view of modern literary pieces.

Symbol: Modern literature, including this poem, tends to abuse symbolism. However, wise authors, like Henley, use symbolism discreetly. Hence, it does not require deep thought from readers as the symbols are immediately felt in the body (Tinkell, 2004). In this poem, Henley used physical pain and suffering to portray “this space of wrath and tears”.Theme: Invictus is a famous depiction of an audacious soul in literature. Basically, it discusses how the pains of life have led him more unafraid of the upcoming upheavals.

In fact, the last two lines goes, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul (Cross, 2000).”Style: Henley, as mentioned above, used symbols discreetly. Hence, like modern pieces of literature, it seemed to adapt the Classic style of using direct, idiomatic words. Also, the poem itself is remarkable as the author himself was a lifelong invalid. Hence, the subject of courage itself is a courageous act to select. Apparently, most modern literary pieces adapt to this kind of writing I which writers tend to write about things which relate to their willingness to face the truth of their lives.

ReferencesCross, T., Smith, T. & Stauffer, E. (2000). English and American Writers. New York: Ginn and CompanySchmidte, S. (2002). Modern Literature: Through the Years. Chicago: Kites International.Tinkell, M & Yacht, S. (2004). History of English Literature. New York: Uniserv Printing.