Historical Periods: Renaissance, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Modernity and Modernism, Harlem Renaissance, Postwar Period, Postcolonialism, Contemporary World Literature(a) give the approximate range of dates; (b) identify some of the main features of the period; (c) provide or recognize literary examples of the periods.

 

Renaissance is a historical period in Europe that began in between the 14th century and the 17th century, and followed the medieval period. Renaissance is a French word that means rebirth. The period was named that way because during that time, people began showing interest in the learning of ancient times, particularly, the Ancient Greece and Rome. The period is said to be the start of the "modern age".

The renaissance period promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, art and literature.

During the renaissance period, many people studied mathematics and sciences. There were notable artists, writers and philosophers. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci who did splendid work in painting, science, philosophy and music lived during this period.

The period that began in Italy was further divided into three periods namely early renaissance, high renaissance and late renaissance.

Some of the remarkable literary examples of the renaissance period are listed below.

1420s- Masaccio and Masolino paint the Brancacci Chapel, in Florence.

The Dome of Florence Cathedral building is began, to Brunelleschi's design.

In 1480s, Leonardo da Vinci studies human anatomy.

In 1532, "The Prince" by Machiavelli is published. The book demonstrates the wicked things the people who want political power practice.

In 1590 to 1612, William Shakespeare writes his 37 plays

Between 1605 and 1616, Miguel de Cervantes publishes the tale of Don Quixote, Man of la Mancha

 

Enlightenment

Also described as the age of reason, the enlightenment period was the period of intellectual and philosophical movement that promoted the world of ideas in Europe between the 17th and 18th centuries. The period was characterized by an emphasis on reason over superstition, and science over blind faith.

Some of the notable enlightened thinkers included John Locke, Isaac Newton, and Voltaire who criticized the conventional knowledge and spread of new ideas on openness, investigation and religious tolerance across Europe and the Americas. This period earmarked the Western Civilization.

Benjamin Franklin, a British colonist, also got his fame on the Atlantic as printer, publisher, and a scientist. He unified the Enlightenment concept in the British Atlantic with his scientific experiments and philanthropy. Several core ideas were generated during this period. They include rationalism, empiricism, progressivism, and cosmopolitanism. Rationalism holds that humans can use reason to gain knowledge. Empiricism states that knowledge is obtained through experience and observation of the world. Progressivism states that humans are capable of making unlimited, linear progress over time through their powers of reason and observation. Cosmopolitanism reflected how the enlightened thinkers viewed themselves as actively engaged citizens of the world as opposed to provincial and close-minded individuals.

Some of the literary works during this period are listed below.

Between 1751 and 1773, thirty five volumes of the Encyclopedia was published.

In 1740, Hume published A Treatise of Human Nature.

In 1748, Rousseau published Discourse on inequality, and The Social Contract in 1762.

In 1773, Voltaire published "Letters on the English"

In 1774, Voltaire published the Philosophical Dictionary.

 

Romanticism

Romanticism, also referred to as the romantic era, was a period of literary, artistic, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, but was largely practiced between 1800 and 1850.

The major features of this period was an emphasis on emotion and individualism. There was also the glorification of all the past and nature. This means that the medieval culture was preferred to the classical culture. The period was introduced mainly as a reactionary to the Industrial Revolution, aristocratic socio-political norms of the Age of Enlightenment.

Some of the notable literary examples produced during this period which began in the 1790s are listed below.

In 1979, William Wordsworth published the Lyrical Ballards

In 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley published Prometheus Unbound.

In 1818, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley published Frankenstein.

 

Realism

Realism emerged in France in the 1840s, around the 1848 revolution. It is an artistic period that gives an accurate and a detailed depiction of nature and the contemporary life. It favors a close observation of outward appearances. Some of the arts which contain realism include the Hellenistic Greek sculptures that accurately portray boxers.

Realists viewed people from all social classes in a similar manner. The movement often criticized people rom higher social standing.

Some of the notable works of literature during the realism period are listed below.

In 1862, Victor Hugo published Les Miserables.

In 1884, Samwel Clemens published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

In 1895, Stephen Crane published The Red Badge of Courage.

 

Modernity and Modernism

Modernity is described as a period characterized by innovation, governance and socioeconomics. Modernity was associated with individual subjectivity, scientific explanation and rationalization. It is argued to have ended by 1980s, since the period after 1990s was referred to as postmodernity.

Religious world views subsequently declined. Bureaucracy, rapid urbanization, nation-states and communication rose during this period.

Modernity literature writers viewed literature more as an art rather than as a creative tool.

The period was characterized by absurdity, individualism, experimentation, formalism, and symbolism.

Famous works of literature during this period are listed below.

In 1864, Charles Baudelaire wrote an essay titled "The Painter of Modern Life".

 

Harlem Renaissance

Harlem renaissance is a period between 1918 and 1937. It was a period of a blossoming of African American culture, especially in the discipline of creative arts. The period had great influence in musical, literary, theatrical, and visual arts. The African Americans used these periods to unchain themselves from oppressive customs, such as in the Victorian moral values.

Some of the famous literary works during this period are listed below.

Montage of a Dream Deferred, The Weary Blues, Not Without Laughter and Mule Bone by Langston Hughes.

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Mule Bone, and Dust Tracks on the Road by Zora Neale Hurston.

Plum Bun, Chinaberry Tree, Comedy: An American Novel by Jessie Redmon.

 

Postwar Period

This period is termed as the period since the end of World War II up until the late 1960s and early 1970s. The period is defined by the publishing of exemplary artworks including " How to kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

The period was marked by highly individualistic novelists including Kingsley Amis, Anthony Burgess, William Golding, etc.

Some of the notable works are listed below.

In 1952, Ralph Ellison published Invisible Man.

In 1969, Philip Roth published Portnoy's Complaint.

 

Postcolonialism

Postcolonialism is a historical period that represents the aftermath of Western colonialism. The two most important periods of postcolonialism include the British disengagement form its empire between the 19th and 20th century, and the decolonization movements of the 1960s and 1970s in Africa and the rest of the world.

This period is characterized by the struggles of indigenous people across the world in the hands of imperialists.

This period was also characterized by various publications that mainly dwelled on the themes during the colonial era. Among the notable publications are listed below.

Things Fall Apart (The African Trilogy) by Chinua Achebe.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati.

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

 

Contemporary World Literature

Contemporary world literature is a type of literature written after the World War II running into the present day. Ant literary work completed after the 1940 can be regarded as the contemporary literature. Contemporary literature socio-political viewpoints of the society demonstrated through the realist characters, connections to current events and socioeconomic messages.

This type of literature normally depicts the author's perspective, and questions facts, historical perspectives and presents two sides of argument.

Some of the notable pieces of literature during this period are listed below.

Old Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac

Trilogy: Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable by Samuel Beckett.

Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges