LIST OF LITERARY AGES

  

THE AGE OF CHAUCER:    In the literary history, the Age of Chaucer is dated from (1340-1400) because in 1340 Chaucer was born and in 1400 Chaucer died. But in the history of England, this Age covers the reigns of three English Monarchs, Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV. It was the Medieval period in the history of England.

THE ELIZABETHAN AGE:  In the history of England from 1558-1625, it is Elizabethan age, were as in the history of English Literature it is the Age of Shakespeare. It is also called the Age of Renaissance. In the sphere of Religion, it is called the Age of Reformation. In the literary spirit, it covers the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. It is rightly called the Golden period in the history of England as also in the history of English Literature.

THE JACOBEAN TO RESTORATION AGE: The period 1603-1700 from the Jacobean Age to the restoration is a long period of nearly a hundred years in the history of England. There was a sharp decline in every field.

THE AUGUSTAN AGE: The Eighteen Century in English Literature is roughly called the Augustan Age. It is also called the Classic or Neo-Classical Age in English Literature. Broadly speaking, the 18^th century is divisible into two literary ages:

The Age of Pope (1700-1745)

The Age of Johnson (1745-1798)

Though the broad features of both the Ages are alike, there is a marked advance in literary values in the Age of Johnson over the Age of pope.

THE ROMANTIC PERIOD: The Romantic Period or the Age of Wordsworth is supposed to begin in 1798 because it was in this year that the LYRICAL BALLADS of Words worth were published. The Romantic Period ends when the Victorian Age begins. Queen Victoria succeeded to the throne in 1837 which marks the end of the Romantic period and the beginning of the Victorian Age.

THE VICTORIAN AGE: The Victorian Age is taken to cover the period from 1837 to 1901. It began with the Queen Victoria’s succession to throne and ended with her death. The Victorian Age was an Age of astonishing variety and complexity in all social, political and literary fields.

THE MODERN AGE: The death of Queen Victoria may be taken to signify the end of the Victorian Age and the beginning of the Modern Age. It begins from 1901 and ends by 2000.The Modern Age is the most complex, complicated, baffling and revolutionary Age in the history of the world.