Some major periods of English literature include: Old English (700-1150 CE), mostly anonymous writers.
Middle English (1150-1485), including Geoffrey Chaucer.
Renaissance (1485-1660), meaning 'revival' or 'rebirth', including Shakespeare.
8 Periods in the History of English Literature
The history of English Literature is spread over different eras including Old English or Anglo-Saxon, The Renaissance, the Victorian Era, the Modern Era, Postmodern era, amongst others.
What are the 8 Periods of English Literature?
The history of the English language can be divided into three periods: Old English (5th century AD - 1066 AD), Middle English (1066 AD - 1485 AD), and Modern English (1485 AD - present).