The course introduces the origins and rise of literature in English, and examines how literary texts both reflect the ideas of their own time and contribute to their change. The course includes works from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, tracing the development of an English-language literature in England, its connections to contemporary European developments, and its role in constructing images of England and Britain that defined how the island, its kingdoms, and its people were perceived. Literary genres typical of different eras are also introduced.