Mosqueda, Johan Manuel F.

Lit 01 April 10, 2019

ABM 12 – M1 MW 3pm-4pm

Timeline of European Literature

 Romanticism
Emphasis: a general exaltation of emotion over reason and of the senses over intellect
-Characterized many works of literature in Western civilization from late 18 th to mid-
th
19 century. Romanticism emphasized the individuals, the irrational, the imaginative, and the
spontaneous. This period focused more on the emotional side of things as opposed to the
rational thinking. This means it emphasized more on the inner passions of the individuals.
Creativity was given more importance rather than adherence to formal rules.
 Realism
Emphasis: to represent familiar things as they are
-The period, as in the name, focuses on realistic depictions of contemporary life and
society. Basically realism’s objective was to root out romanticism in literature to insert realistic
ideals. It focuses on the actualities of life, and truthfully treats the commonplace characters of
everyday life. This makes the readers face reality in the world rather than in the make-believe
world of fantasy.
 Victorian Period
Emphasis: drama emerge as a significant genre again for the first time since the Renaissance
-Drama became a prominent and important genre under the reign of Queen Victoria
which replaced the previous dominant genre which was poetry. The literature of this era was
preceded by romanticism and was followed by modernism or realism. Hence, it can also be
called a fusion of romantic and realist style of writing. Victorian novels tend to be idealized
portraits of difficult lives in which hard work, perseverance, love and luck win out in the end
 Modernism
Emphasis: An important characteristic of modernism is self-consciousness
-Modernist literature came to be due to the new technology and tragic events of both
world wars. Writers reacted to the question: “what was becoming of the world?”. Modernist
fiction spoke of the inner self and consciousness. Instead of progress, the Modernist writer
saw a decline of civilization. Instead of new technology, the Modernist writer saw cold
machinery and increased capitalism, which led to loneliness.
 Post-Modernism
Emphasis: Characterized by reliance on narrative techniques such as fragmentation, paradox,
and the unreliable narrator; and is often (though not exclusively) defined as a style or a trend
which emerged in the post–World War II era.
- Postmodern literature, like postmodernism as a whole, tends to resist classification
as a "movement". However, works considered postmodern tend to engage with various modes
of critical theory, particularly reader-response and deconstructionist approaches. Postmodern
literature is commonly defined in relation to a precursor. In particular, postmodern writers are
seen as reacting against the precepts of modernism.

Mr. Robert B. Viquiera