Terry Eagleton The Rise Of English Pdf Guide

1. The growth of nationalism: Eagleton suggests that the rise of nationalism in the 18th and 19th centuries created a need for a shared cultural identity that could be fostered through literature. English literature, with its emphasis on the vernacular and the national, became a key site for the construction of national identity.
2. The development of industrial capitalism: Eagleton argues that the growth of industrial capitalism created new social and economic conditions that required a more efficient and standardized system of education. English literature, with its emphasis on individual creativity and moral imagination, became a way to cultivate the skills and values necessary for a modern workforce.
3. The expansion of education: Eagleton notes that the expansion of education systems in the 19th and 20th centuries created a new market for literary education. English literature, with its emphasis on close reading and critical thinking, became a popular subject for students seeking to acquire cultural capital and social mobility.

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The Critique of English Studies

Eagleton traces the turning point to World War I. The massive slaughter of the trenches created a crisis of meaning. The old ruling class had literally decimated itself. English literature stepped into the void. Terry eagleton the rise of english pdf