In 1476, William Caxton introduced the printing press in England. Poetry, drama and prose that were written during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I constitute the English Renaissance. 

The literature is characterized by a special interest in human behaviour as a main theme of the works. While the English medieval literature is nourished of religious themes.

Middle Ages/Anglo-Saxon literature

        

In this epoch the oral tradition was very important.

The literary works were written to be able to be represented.

One adapted the language to the needs of the Christian readers.

Renaissance

In 1476 was introduced the printer.

The poetry, the drama and the prose that they wrote to themselves during the reigns of Isabel I and of Jacobo I constitute what at present is named " Renaissance Englishman ".

Elizabethan literature

Giovanni Florio took the culture and the Italian language up to England.

English poetry is characterized for an elaborated language and his mythological topics.

 

Jacobin literature

In 1616 William Shakespeare popularized the sonnets.

The poet and playwright Ben Jonson turned into the most distinguished figure from the literature.

The works of revenge became very popular.

They began to translate bibles into English with William Tyndale's help.

Principal poets of the beginnings of the century include John Donne and other metaphysical poets.

This century is famous for his baroque poetry.

The literature of the restoration

It includes works as John Milton's Lost Paradise, John Wilmot's Sodom, William Wycherley's comedy The Wife of the Field or The Progress of the Pilgrim by John Bunyan.

All the literary forms experienced a renaissance.

The most out-standing poetical form was the satire.

Two new types of literature arouse: fiction and journalism.

John Locke wrote during the Restoration numerous of his philosophical works.

Romanticism

England is, together with Germany, the cradle of the Romanticism.

It is characterized by his big poets, the development of the historical novel and the beginning of the Gothic novel or of terror.

Mary Shelley created in his novel Frankenstein (1818) one of the key works of the romanticism.

Victorian epoch

Produced in the United Kingdom during Victoria's reign (1837-1901).

Worry for the decency.

Elevation of the moral level.

Increasing interest for the social improvements.

Strong humanitarian spirit.

Immense industrial and scientific development;