About the course

Introduction

This second semester of English Literature will lead the learner through almost three hundred years of history. Our course will start at the end of the 18^th Century and reach our present days and will be divided into four distinct literary periods: the Romantic Period, the Realism, the Modern age and the Post-modern age.

When studying the Romanticism learners will be presented with a controversial moment in literature in which the subjective ruled over the objective and in which emotion ruled over reason. To illustrate this literary period which followed the enlightenment, we will study the works of three of the most famous romantic poets: Blake, Byron and Keats, and also the works of fiction by the writers Walter Scott and Jane Austen.

Following the Romanticism, learners will delve into the 19th century, and study the literary movement which was a reaction to its precedent: Realism. Learners will see that the realist authors chose to depict everyday experiences, instead of focusing on a more romanticized view of life. To understand this period, we will study the works of Charles Dickens and of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte and Emily.

As the Realist movement come to an end, we will find ourselves in the beginning of the 20^th century, the Modern age, a time of conflicts and uncertainties. This will be the time of Word War I and II, which affected the works of many writers of this century: Virginia Woof, Aldous Huxley, D.H. Lawrence and James Joyce and George Orwell, just to name a few.

To round off, we will finish our course at the Post-Modern period. This will be a moment in which the authors looked back at the other literary features and borrowed elements to compose their own identity.

Are you ready to start our journey through all these literary periods? So, off we go. Hope you enjoy the trip!

General aims

The aim of this course is to take the learner through four different periods of British Literature: the Romantic Period, Realism, the Modern age and the Post-modern age. By reading the works of the various artists who represented their time through the literary eyes, the learner will be able to understand how the history of Britain affected literature and the minds of the men and women who were the spokespeople of their times.

Besides using History as the background to understand each of the literary movements, the learner will also have the opportunity of reading some of the works of the most renowned artists of their time and evaluating their importance in building up the inheritance of British Literature.

Lessons

Lessons 1 – 3 à Romanticism

Lesson 1: Cultural, Historical, Political and Philosophical Background

In this lesson the student will be provided with a brief overview of the cultural, historical, political and philosophical background of the Romantic age.

Lesson 2: Poetry

In this lesson the student will be provided with a brief account of the poetry of the Romantic age and he will study the works of Blake, Byron and Keats.

Lesson 3: Fiction

In this lesson the student will be provided with a brief account of fiction in the Romantic age and he will be presented with the works of Walter Scott and Jane Austen.

Lessons 4 – 5 à An Overview of the 19^th Century

Lesson 4: The Industrial Revolution: causes and consequences/ Progress and Realism: philosophical basis

In this lesson the student will be presented with the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution and the Realistic movement.

Lesson 5: Fiction: Charlotte and Emily Brontë/ Charles Dickens

In this lesson the student will deal study Realism in the works of Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë and Charles Dickens.

Lessons 6 – 8 à The Modern Age

Lesson 6: Modernist disintegration (1): Virginia Woolf’s impressionism and Aldous Huxley’s ironic novel

In this first lesson on the Modern Age, the student will learn about the impressionism in Virginia Woolfs works and the irony in Aldous Huxley’s  novel.

Lesson 7: Modernist disintegration (2): D. H. Lawrence & James Joyce

In this second lesson on the Modern Age, the student will learn about sexuality in the work of DH Lawrence and the allegory in James Joyce’s work.

Lesson 8: Post-War literature: George Orwell

In this last lesson on the Modern age, the student will study the post-war literature and George Orwell’s political novel.

Lessons 9 – 10 à Post-Modern Literature

Lesson 9: Cultural Overview

In this lesson the student will have an overview of the Post-Modern movement on British Literature.

Lesson 10: Modern trends of British Literature: Poetry, Theatre and Fiction

In this last lesson the student will study the modern trends of British Literature: Poetry, Theatre and Fiction.