Pundra University Of Since And Technology Bogura

ASSIGNMENT
Course Title: Review of English Literature….
Course Code:- Eng-210
Topic:
Submitted By Submitted To :
Id/User Name-00619117030 Umme Atia
Name-MD OMAR FARUK Lecturer. Department: English
PASSWORD:
Batch-6th

Date Of Submission:18/02/2021

1.Discuss the prologue to The Canterbury Tales as a mirror to

fourteenth century English society.

The various pilgrims cataloged in the General Prologue of The Canterbury

Tales give the modern reader a good array of medieval English society. The
characters all come from different class backgrounds, united only in their
shared destination. English society (and European society at large) was broken
down into what was known as the Three Estates: the Clergy, the Nobility, and
the Peasantry.
The clergy were those ordained in the church. Bishops, priests, monks, and
nuns belong in this category. In Chaucer's story, there are plenty of clergy on
the pilgrimage, though they vary in levels of piety. For example, the Prioress
acts more like a noblewoman with her affected courtly manners and elegant
clothing; the Monk is more interested in hunting than religious contemplation;
and the Friar is a womanizer rather than a servant of the poor. Only the Parson
is presented as truly dedicated to God. The corruption among the clergy in
Chaucer's story is a reflection of the abuses of power within the church during
this period, though the presence of the Parson shows that there were still
clergy who took their dedication to God and the poor seriously.

The nobility was generally seen as those who fought. This class included the
aristocracy and the royal family. In The Canterbury Tales, the nobility is
represented by the Knight and the Squire. Both are men of the fighting
profession, with the Knight being particularly highlighted as a man of humility
and honor.

Finally, the peasantry were the laborers, though some have elected to call this
estate the commons, instead, since it included middle-class tradesmen and
merchants. For example, the Wife of Bath is neither nobility nor clergy, but she
is a merchant who has done well for herself financially. She might not be able
to have the same privileges as the Knight or even the clergy members, but she
is certainly wealthier than the Clerk or the Miller, who are also part of the
peasant/commons class.

Taken altogether, the pilgrims represent medieval English society in all its
diversity of class and philosophy. Chaucer gives the reader vital information
regarding the background and character of each pilgrim, showing just how
complicated both people and society were in the fourteenth century.

2. Discuss on the prominent authors of Elizebathan period and their

contribution to literature.
The Elizabethan era is the period of English history associated with the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). However, many critics expand the
term to include the changes that started to take place in England and
therefore in the English literature since the Renaissance, precisely, from the
death of Chaucer and continued until the death of Shakespeare, in 1616.
the second half of the sixteen century was significant to the English
literature, and in the very particular sense of the word, to the Elizabethan
era. During this period the great Queen Elizabeth ascend the English throne
(1558-1603) and the distinguished English playwright Shakespeare
composed his immortal drams.

The Elizabethan Era, which is generally considered one of the golden ages in
English literature, was a great boom in literature, particularly in the area of
the tragedy. William Shakespeare emerged from this period as a poet and
playwright never seen before. Other important playwrights of the era of
Elizabeth include Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, John Fletcher and
Francis Beaumont. Sir Philip Sidney (1554 –1586) was an English poet, who
is also remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan
Age. These great people are recognized as the most Famous Playwrights and
Authors of Elizabethan period. It was at this time that the city comedy genre
developed.

Theater and poetry were the dominant forms of literature during this period.
Drama was at its heyday during the Elizabethan era, and English people
developed a sense of appreciation to plays performance, and very quickly
that the habit of attending the theater halls rooted in the English culture.

During Elizabethan England, the theater was the haven of all walks of life,
with rich and poor alike enjoying afternoon shows. Conventionally, the
poorest spectators got to stand closest to the stage while the rich sat in
elevated seats farther back.

3.Write on details about Romantic era.

Romanticism was a literary movement that began in the late 18th century,
ending around the middle of the 19th century—although its influence
continues to this day. Marked by a focus on the individual a respect for
nature and the primitive, and a celebration of the common man,
Romanticism can be seen as a reaction to the huge changes in society that
occurred during this period, including the revolutions that burned through
countries like France and the United States, ushering in grand experiments in
democracy.

Robert Burns is considered the pioneer of the Romantic Movement. Although

his death in 1796 precedes what many consider the start of Romanticism, his
lyricism and sincerity mark him as an early Romantic writer. His most
notable works are “Auld Lang Syne” (1788) and Shanter” (1791). Burns
inspired many of the writers during the Romantic Period. The term
Romanticism does not stem directly from the concept of love, but rather from
the French word romaunt (a romantic story told in verse). Romanticism
focused on emotions and the inner life of the writer, and often used
autobiographical material to inform the work or even provide a template for
it, unlike traditional literature at the time.