Early Period
To Enlightenment and Beyond!
Victorian
Modern + Postmodern
Key Themes and Terms
100

This Greek philosopher introduced the concept of catharsis in his definition of tragedy.

Who is Aristotle?

100

Enlightenment thinkers emphasized this concept over superstition and tradition.

What is reason?

100

This Victorian author is known for "A Christmas Carol" and "Oliver Twist."

Who is Charles Dickens?

100

Modernist literature often focused on these two themes, reflecting disillusionment after World War I.

What are alienation and fragmentation?

100

This term, introduced by Aristotle, refers to the emotional release experienced by an audience during a tragedy.

What is catharsis?

200

The anonymously written epic that features the hero Beowulf is a key example of this early literary period.

What is the Medieval Period?

200

This Romantic author wrote "Frankenstein," a novel combining Gothic and Romantic themes.

Who is Mary Shelley?

200

Victorian literature frequently focused on this type of reform, aimed at improving society’s laws and norms.

What is social reform?

200

This Postmodern author wrote "Slaughterhouse-Five," a novel known for its fragmented structure and dark humor.

Who is Kurt Vonnegut?

200

Romanticism focused on this natural element as a source of spiritual inspiration and renewal.

What is nature?

300

This movement, known for its revival of Classical ideas, focused on art, science, and human potential.

What is the Renaissance?

300

Romanticism emerged as a reaction against these two previous movements.

What are the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution?

300

Victorian writers often depicted the negative effects of this societal change brought by new technology and industry.

What is industrialization?

300

This technique, often used in Postmodern literature, refers to stories that do not follow a chronological order.

What is non-linear narrative?

300

The Victorian era is known for its focus on social responsibility and critiques of this societal structure.

What is class structure (or class struggle)?

400

Geoffrey Chaucer's famous collection of stories, told by a group of pilgrims, is titled ____.

What is "The Canterbury Tales"?

400

Romantic writers celebrated nature and personal feelings, but also explored darker themes such as this.

What is the supernatural?

400

Victorian literature frequently addressed the tension between personal feelings and this societal expectation.

What is propriety (or social norms)?

400

In Postmodern works, this technique involves acknowledging the artificial nature of the text or story.

What is metafiction?

400

This term refers to the Medieval stories that emphasized nobility, honour, and knightly conduct.

What is chivalry?

500

Martin Luther's "95 Theses" sparked this major religious reform during the Renaissance/Reformation period.

What is the Protestant Reformation?

500

Enlightenment literature often used this literary device, involving humour, irony, and exaggeration, to criticize social, political, or religious practices.

What is satire?

500

This Victorian novel by Lewis Carroll features a young girl’s adventures in a fantastical world, exploring themes of identity and absurdity.

What is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

500

This novel by Margaret Atwood imagines a dystopian society where women are oppressed.

What is "The Handmaid’s Tale"?

500

Postmodern literature frequently uses this technique to mix different literary genres, styles, or voices.

What is intertextuality?