Literature through the Ages Assignment
To further your understanding of various literary time periods, you will be studying one text of your choice from each of the following time periods. You may select a poem, novel, or short story by any of the authors in a given time period. You should not repeat authors or texts.
For each text/excerpt you select, provide a hard copy with your annotations AND complete a BRIEF analysis that includes the following:
The Classical Period (1200 BCE- 455 CE)
Many of these texts will be myths, some are dramas, and others are epic poems. For example, Ovid’s Metamorphoses is one text, but contains many mythical stories. Simply choose a piece of the whole rather than reading a whole epic or a whole collection of stories.
The Medieval Period (455 CE- 1485 CE)
While this period marks the beginning of the English language, it’s important to note that Old English is nearly as foreign to us as another language. Therefore, the texts, mostly epic poems, are translated into modern English. Like with Classical texts, you may use a piece of the whole.
The Renaissance and Reformation (c. 1485-1660 CE)
The time of Shakespeare! Remember, however, he was not the only writer during this period. This would be a good time to look at his contemporaries.
The Enlightenment (Neoclassical) Period (c. 1660-1790)
There is quite a variety to choose from here. Read through a few authors before selecting your text for this assignment.
Romantic Period (c. 1790-1830)
This period also includes the Transcendental and Gothic writers. Excerpts are fine, but there are plenty of poems and short stories to choose from as well.
Victorian Period (c. 1832-1901)
A lot of great poetry to choose from here.
Modern Period (c. 1914-1945?)
Like the Enlightenment, there is quite a variety in the period of literature. Beat poets and the Harlem Renaissance!
Postmodern Period (c. 1945? Onward)
Maybe you could find something by an author who is still alive!
For each text/excerpt you select, provide a hard copy with your annotations AND complete a BRIEF analysis that includes the following:
- Offer a thesis or topic sentence indicating a basic observation or assertion about the text or passage.
- Offer a context for the passage without offering too much summary.
- Cite the passage (using correct format).
- Then follow the passage with some combination of the following elements:
- Discuss what happens in the passage and why it is significant to the work as a whole.
- Consider what is said, particularly subtleties of the imagery and the ideas expressed.
- Assess how it is said, considering how the word choice, the ordering of ideas, sentence structure, etc., contribute to the meaning of the passage.
- Explain what it means, tying your analysis of the passage back to the significance of the text as a whole.
The Classical Period (1200 BCE- 455 CE)
Many of these texts will be myths, some are dramas, and others are epic poems. For example, Ovid’s Metamorphoses is one text, but contains many mythical stories. Simply choose a piece of the whole rather than reading a whole epic or a whole collection of stories.
The Medieval Period (455 CE- 1485 CE)
While this period marks the beginning of the English language, it’s important to note that Old English is nearly as foreign to us as another language. Therefore, the texts, mostly epic poems, are translated into modern English. Like with Classical texts, you may use a piece of the whole.
The Renaissance and Reformation (c. 1485-1660 CE)
The time of Shakespeare! Remember, however, he was not the only writer during this period. This would be a good time to look at his contemporaries.
The Enlightenment (Neoclassical) Period (c. 1660-1790)
There is quite a variety to choose from here. Read through a few authors before selecting your text for this assignment.
Romantic Period (c. 1790-1830)
This period also includes the Transcendental and Gothic writers. Excerpts are fine, but there are plenty of poems and short stories to choose from as well.
Victorian Period (c. 1832-1901)
A lot of great poetry to choose from here.
Modern Period (c. 1914-1945?)
Like the Enlightenment, there is quite a variety in the period of literature. Beat poets and the Harlem Renaissance!
Postmodern Period (c. 1945? Onward)
Maybe you could find something by an author who is still alive!