English Language and Literature is one of the most popular departments in recent times. Being a literature student and not talking about books, of course, is impossible. Books are the stethoscopes of literature students. Especially if we are talking about English literature, it is strongly recommended that you become good friends with books. English literature consists of a very rich history. Usually, the first name that comes to mind is our famous poet, known by the nickname "The Bard with a Beard," William Shakespeare. However, English literature is much more than Shakespeare. So, what are the 5 essential books for an English literature student? Here, dear readers, I will write about five books that are the pearls of English literature.
KEYWORDS: English language and literature, literature student, books, English literature
1. ROBINSON CRUSOE, DANIEL DEFOE
A man stranded on an island. But this time, no one asked him what three things he would like to take with him. On this journey he embarked on for his dreams, things did not go as planned for dear Crusoe. A deserted island, the remains of the ship he escaped from, and an incredible survival instinct. Robinson Crusoe is seen by some as the first novel of English literature. That’s why it is a very important book. This book, born in the 18th century, takes the first place on the list of must-read books for English language and literature students.
2. BEOWULF, ANONYMOUS
English literature was not initially composed of novels, of course. Like almost every literature, English literature also went through a period of poetry, epics, or what we can call oral literature. Beowulf, known as one of the oldest epics of English literature, is also known as an epic poem or epic saga. Beowulf, the hero who gives his name to this epic, kills a monster named Grendel and becomes the people's favorite and savior. Of course, things were not as easy as they sound in just one sentence. Beowulf, which best depicts the characteristics, language, and religion of the period, is another indispensable book for English language and literature students.
3. THE CANTERBURY TALES, GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Now, let's move on to Middle English. When the Middle Ages are mentioned, the first name that comes to mind is Chaucer. He is also known as the father of English because he wrote his works in English in a country struggling with linguistic confusion during the dark years of the Middle Ages. Moreover, The Canterbury Tales is an excellent satire. However, these satires are not difficult to understand or rudely written; rather, they are written very cleverly and wittily. In this journey, where 30 characters and the narrator set out, each character begins to tell a story. Thus, The Canterbury Tales emerged. But not every character could tell a story because dear Geoffrey Chaucer passed away before he could complete his work.
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, JANE AUSTEN
In Mina Urgan’s book The History of English Literature, Jane Austen is described as the first great female novelist of English literature. We can’t say this description is wrong. The novel translated into Turkish as “Pride and Prejudice” or “Love and Pride” is a book that Austen fondly called “my darling child.” In this beautiful Romantic Period piece, it is easy to grasp the characteristics of the period with a unique narrative. This book, which can be described as a love story, is one of the cornerstones of English literature. Pride and Prejudice is a timeless classic that English literature students must read.
5. A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN, VIRGINIA WOOLF
Making a book list without including Virginia Woolf would likely be disrespectful to both her and English literature. The prominent author of the Modernist movement, master of the stream-of-consciousness technique, Woolf, although she doesn’t frequently use this technique in A Room of One’s Own, still manages to change the flow of our minds. This book, written about women and literature, advocating for women's education and freedom, holds a very important place in English literature and for our women.
English literature offers wonders to its readers in every era. In each period, we encounter different characters, different views, and different lives. In this article, I have presented to you the essential five books of English literature that must be read. Although English literature is filled with more than just these five books, remember that the books I have presented to you, dear readers, are the jewels of English literature. As a graduate of English Language and Literature, I strongly recommend that you read these books if you haven’t yet. And let me point out that English literature is much more than Shakespeare. I am not saying don’t read Shakespeare, definitely not, but there are many more names that should come to mind before Shakespeare when it comes to English literature. I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Wishing you all the best, stay with literature, my dear readers.
SOURCES:
Galway, M. (1941). Geoffrey Chaucer, J.P. and M.P. The Modern Language Review, 36(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/3717259
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10459/title-page-of-canterbury-tales/
Mina Urgan, The History of English Literature. Yapı Kredi Publications
Soylu, D., & Medeni, T. D. (2021). The Perception of Women and Library in Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”. Turkish Librarianship, 35(3), 461-463. https://doi.org/10.24146/tk.987005
The Norton Anthology of English Literature Volume I & II
Şeyma Yılmaz
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Voluntary Author
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