Exploring the Depths of British Literature – II: Key Themes and Authors

British Literature offers a treasure trove of classical and iconic texts that have shaped a significant part of Western history. Novels, poetry, drama, and essays composed by literary geniuses from the Isles have introduced the world to newer forms of writing while enriching our capacity to be receptive to the myriads of cultural dynamics.

If you are curious about having an impactful journey in the world of Humanities, this blog will help you anchor yourself in the sea of timeless texts. An Online MA in English is what will propel you towards a fulfilling career in literature and the humanities.

Understanding British Literature

British literature has been in the making for over a millennium. It hosts works written in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the British Isles. Therefore, it originated in an outbreak of cross-cultural negotiation. However, each period is unique because of the different kinds of writings seen. This blog explores the exciting periods from the birth of the Romantic Movement to the Victorian era and their influences on succeeding generations of writers. It will help you choose from a wide variety of English literature courses available over an online MA degree.

Romantic Period: Authors and their contribution 

1. John Keats: Known mostly for his brevity of life, this young romantic poet laced the English language with incomparable lyricism. He lost his parents at an early age, and misery never let him breathe. Born in 1795, Keats chose the uncertainties of life and forsook a career in medicine.

Keats was instrumental in popularising the concepts of ‘Synesthesia’ and ‘Negative Capability’ in literature.

Synesthesia connotes a harmonious blend of different sensations. When you listen to a song, you visualize a scene; when you taste food, you become nostalgic about a specific memory. His poems have mastered this art, and they produce visceral feelings.

Negative Capability is a thought first expounded on by Keats, which revolves around the essence of an artist’s philosophy. The power to look for truth and beauty beyond the confines of logic can expand a writer's vision.

Read one of his most famous poems here: To Autumn http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=173749

2. William Wordsworth: Born in 1770, Wordsworth revolutionized the literary face of Great Britain by invoking the healing spirits of nature in his poetry. Brought up in the solitude of nature, his penchant for writing exquisite poetry owes much to his love of nature.

Wordsworth’s foremost contribution can be felt in the pages of The Lyrical Ballads; the Bible of the Romantic movement. He professed to write poetry in the language of common men, stripping it of unnecessary embellishment.

Known for the spiritual philosophy of Pantheism, an enlightened way of fusing God, humans, and nature, Wordsworth’s vision teaches us to respect ecology and our planet.

Read I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud

3. Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A contemporary of Wordsworth, Coleridge enriched English literature with his meditative ideas on poetry. Known as a ‘Romantic legend’, his fame lies with Kubla Khan, among other poems, an exercise in creative imagination.

His Biographia Literaria delves into the concepts of Imagination and Fancy. Imagination is a higher-order force that fuses the soul and the cosmos, while Fancy passively connects ideas. This view strengthened the philosophical basis of the Romantic Movement.

Read Kubla Khan here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43991/kubla-khan

4. Lord Byron: True to his name, the Lord was daring in his creative pursuits and unconventional life. He traveled across Europe and gathered material for his poems. Well-known for creating the image of the ‘Byronic hero’, he is immortalized in his impassioned writings.

Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage captures his adventures: https://knarf.english.upenn.edu/Byron/charold1.html

5. Percy Bysshe Shelley: A distinctive voice in the Romantic tradition, Shelley advocated for equality and the preservation of nature. The poet personified humanity in his works.

A descendant and peer of Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Keats, Shelley’s genius shines through in Ode to the West Wind: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45134/ode-to-the-west-wind

Victorian Period: Authors and their contribution

1. Alfred Tennyson: Favored by the likes of Queen Victoria, Tennyson enjoyed six decades of writing. His works explored the Romantic concerns of his predecessors and meditated on the Victorian period's changing ethos.

He redefined friendship in In Memoriam A.H.H.: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45336/in-memoriam-a-h-h-obiit-mdcccxxxiii-27

2. Charles Dickens: A social reformer who illuminated the abject condition of the poor in his day, Dickens’s oeuvre renders us more humane in trying times. His timeless classics include Oliver Twist, about the tragedy of common life, and David Copperfield, an almost personal account of relationships and nostalgia.

3. Thomas Hardy: Known for his strain of pessimistic writing, Hardy’s fiction gave Britain its regional cultural idiom. Famed for creating the fictional Wessex, his writings concentrate on the struggle between man and fate. Novels like The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure also mount a protest against strict codes of conformity in the Victorian age.

4. Robert Browning: A favorite among Victorian poets, Robert Browning stood as a testimony to the eclectic literary styles ranging from Dramatic Monologues to hybrid verse-novels.

Read the psychologically disquieting poem My Last Duchess here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43768/my-last-duchess

5. Christina Rossetti: Caught in the debate of the rise of the ‘New Woman’ in the Victorian period, Rossetti’s poems explore human attachments and ideas of love. Sometimes thought to be a member of the influential Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in Britain, her works mix medievalism in its exotic beauty.

Read Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market

JAIN Online MA in English Program

For those considering an Online MA in English, JAIN Online has an array of comprehensive and relevant courses that make having a literature degree worthwhile. The program is designed to prepare you for the flexible content writing, publishing, scriptwriting, and media industries. An Online MA in English will also equip you with academic writing skills and the necessary qualifications to pursue a PhD degree. One of the highlights of this online MA degree is the British Literature- II course that spans across two of the most distinguishable periods in English literary history.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the benefits of pursuing an online MA in English?

An online MA in English offers flexibility for working professionals, the opportunity to study from anywhere, and access to a diverse range of courses and resources. This online MA degree is valid if you wish to pursue higher education in English.

2. How does an online MA degree compare to an on-campus MA degree in terms of quality and recognition?

Online MA degrees are typically held to the same academic standards as on-campus programs and are equally recognized by employers and academic institutions.

3. What types of topics can I expect in an online MA in English program?

Online MA courses in English often include topics such as Literary Theory, Plays of Shakespeare, Professional and Academic Writing, British and American literature, Postcolonial literature, Indian Writing in English, Women’s Literature, Research Methodology in English Studies, English Language Teaching, English for Specific Purposes and other relevant courses.

4. What technical requirements are needed to enroll in online MA courses?

Enrolling in online MA courses generally requires a reliable internet connection, a computer or tablet, and access to specific software or learning management systems used by the institution.