The Rise of English

(my blogs are super overdue)

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.