Types of literature

Two main types of literature are: fiction literature, which is consisted of novels, romances, fairy-tales etc. and non fiction, which means scientific literature (e.g. medical, technical etc.), biography and other special literature.
We can also divide it into three other groups: poetry, prose and drama.

A brief survey of British literature

I. Old English Literature (approx. 7th century - middle of the 12th century)
This literature is written in the Anglo-Saxon language and it has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon territories e.g. in Denmark. The oldest work is Germanic legend Beowulf which appeared probably in the 7th century. This heroic poem is about King Hrothgar who built big hall for his warriors. But the monster (Grendel) visited it for a period of twelve years and murdering the men asleep there. Beowulf, nephew of the king in Sweden, heard of this and crossed the sea to the hall and cut off Grendel’s arm. After having killed Grendel, Beowulf was attacked by Grendel’s mother and he killed her too. When he returned home, he became king and reigned 1 for fifty years but he died after killed the dragon which had attacked his kingdom.