Course Ouline

History of English literature fromPre-Chaucerian era to Jacobean age with special emphasis on major writers.

Unit I: 

General introduction.

Pre-Chaucerian era.

Unit II:

Chaucer – life and works.

Unit III:

Elizabethan age – characteristics – socio-political background – major writers.

University Wits – Marlowe, Lily, Kyd, Greene.

Unit IV:

Shakespeare- life and works.

Unit V:

Jacobian Age – characteristics – socio-political background- Milton and Puritanism.

The Metaphysicals- characteristics-socio-political background-major writersDonne/Herbert/Herrick.

On completion of the course, the student should: Understand the evolution of English literature; apply their awareness of literary history of the period to literary studies; identify the trends and movements in English literature during the period; get familiarity with the writers and their major works.

1. I for Evans. A Short History of English Literature. Penguin.
2. Hudson, William Henry. An Outline History of English Literature, B.I Publications.
3. Prasad B. A Background to the study of English Literature. Rev. ed. Chennai Macmillan.
4. Compton Rickett. A History of English Literature.