THE RISE OF ENGLISH

The Rise Of English: Critical Review

The Rise Of English: Critical Review

Introduction

Almost about fifty years ago the concept of English as a true global language was imply just a theoretical forecast which still remains to be diffuse and vague. However, today the situation seems to be quite different. Nowadays, people in almost every part of the world realize the importance and the significant worth of English and its role in their life; not only for academic purposes but also to facilitate their business goals and other purposes in their life. (Crystal, David. 1997).

Terry Eagleton begins his essay by saying, "In eighteenth century England, the concept of literature was not confined as it sometimes is today 'creative' or 'imaginative' writing. It meant the whole body of valued writing in society: philosophy, history, essays, and letters as well as poems" (Eagleton 15). Therefore, literature did not just mean fictional writing, but a certain type of writing only meant for the elite. Not everyone was able to read this type of high literature. Throughout this essay, Eagleton discusses the rise of English as a language and more importantly as a discipline and area of study. Intitially, English was not privileged in teaching; Latin was. However, as more people began attending the university, English had to be incorporated into the educational system in Britain. English was no longer seen as a subject fit only for women, workers (blue collar) and those wishing to impress the natives of Oxford or Cambridge. Now English was being read in school and English literature (as we understand it today) was being taught. But with this new development, how did the poeple in power choose which texts to use in teaching? Much like today, which texts students have access to depends on what is chosen by the people in power.

Historical Background

The history of English can be described from the arrival of three Germanic tribes to the British Isles in the year 500 BC, Saxons and Jutes crossed the North Sea from what is now known as Denmark and northern Germany. The Angles were named due to their homeland Engle or Angels. They called their own language English word that led to English or English.

Before the 20th century, literary scholarship took the shape of the theoretical framework of epistemology operative at the time. Renaissance poet and critic Sir Philip Sidney argued that the purpose of literature is to “delight and instruct.” In other words, Sidney defines good literature as virtue made more palatable through narrative. Under Sidney's paradigm, the task of literary scholars and critics is to evaluate literature according to these criteria. The literary scholar applies the “laws” of aesthetics to evaluate texts and then promote those texts which both delight and instruct. For the Christian scholar operating in this paradigm, the study of literature provides a means for finding, evaluating and promoting stories exhibiting biblical ethics and virtues. But with the decomposition of traditional epistemology, Sidney's rather didactic characterization of literature is no ...