THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM THE ANGLO SAXON PERIOD TO THE RENAISSANCE

Abstract

This article examines the development of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Renaissance, highlighting the major literary, cultural, and linguistic transformations that shaped its evolution. It explores the characteristics of Old English literature, with particular attention to oral tradition, heroic poetry, and religious themes, exemplified by works such as Beowulf. The study then traces the transition to Middle English literature following the Norman Conquest, emphasizing the influence of French and Latin on language, genre, and literary form, as seen in the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer. Finally, the article analyzes the emergence of Renaissance literature in England, marked by humanism, classical influence, and the flourishing of drama and lyric poetry in the works of authors such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. By examining these periods comparatively, the article demonstrates how historical, social, and intellectual changes contributed to the formation of a distinct English literary tradition and laid the foundations for modern English literature.