Literary history is timeless. Works of writing began as oral and were transcribed long after their creation. These were then passed down from generation to generation as stories, nursery rhymes, poems, etc. After paper was invented by the Chinese, a new revelation was unleashed. Around 1440, a man named Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This mechanization of bookmaking has drastically affected society back then and to this day. Through this journey of the English language and through its stages of development, one can notice many differences and similarities in its topics, themes, and writing styles. Starting from the Anglo-Saxon period (the almost incomprehensible language of Beowulf), to the medieval period (mixed with French and Latin, the language of Chaucer), to the English Renaissance (language of Humanism), up to the 17th century (Knights versus Puritans), it has certainly been a long ride of literary excellence. "Anglo-Saxon" is the term used to describe the invading Germanic tribes in the south and east of Britain during the 5th century, and their creation of the English empire. nation. This is why, in terms of literary topics, the literary genre belonging to the Anglo-Saxon period accentuated the concept of heroism. Anglo-Saxon literature did not begin with books, but rather with spoken verse and songs or poems, such as epic poems. The purpose of these forms of literature was to convey tribal history and morals to the majority of a population riddled with illiteracy. Warriors gathered in mead halls where they recited poetry for hours as a form of entertainment. The writing style of these poems was very catchy and memorable, so they could be easily remembered and thus retold. Expressed by... middle of paper... The poet, who calls himself "the old Khayyám", is unable to commit himself to belief in the afterlife. As a result, he believes in living today. As you can see, there are many differences and similarities between these distinctive periods of literary history. The Anglo-Saxon period was the period of heroism. The medieval period was the time of chivalry and courtly love. The Renaissance period was the time of rebirth and humanism. Finally, the 17th century was the time of the Puritans and the Knights. Each period revolved around a new topic, theme, and writing style. However, no matter what differences our literature goes through, we always return to our roots, bring out our beginnings and use them effectively. The English language has certainly evolved through every phase of time and will continue to grow to new heights due to its predominant history.