Who do you think it is the most influencing english writer? (a question for a very important research!)?

Question

I'm italian, and next july I'm going to have an exam for the high school graduation.
There I will introduce myself with a study, written by me, about a number of subjects studied at school, and the general theme I chose is England (in particular english people who influenced most their age). For example in Science I will talk about Newton and his discoveries referring to what I've studied all these years.
So now I have a problem: my english teacher never let us study anything this year and I can rely only on my past knowledge; I wished to talk about Alfred Lord Tennyson in English but he would not hear a word of it for he doesn't like him as a writer, so I have to look for another english (english, not irish or american) writer; so, who do you think it was the most influencing or important or interesting english writer in the 19th and 20th centuries? :)

And about history..same question, who is the most important historical character in your opinion? I ask to you english people because I think I cannot rely much on our (italian) point of view :P

Thank you for the patience used only in READING this long question If you would answer it would be great! :)

Answer 1

Virginia Woolf. She fought for her life everyday against her bipolar disorder, and really worked at getting her themes across. Yes, her books are strange and a bit creepy. But unique, and she gets overlooked wayy too much. She was a real revolutionary in her time, too (1880-1900s). Not many people had the courage to bring up death and write about like she did.



She's also a historical figure, for sure. An inspiration to feminists/women everywhere.



Oh, and Marge Piercy is a notable feminist, if you're interested in that. Her poems are... Well, read them. She's quite a different person... But cool!

Answer 2

If you are talking about novelists, then you should consider authors like:



William Makepeace Thackeray

Henry Fielding

Jane Austen

Charles Dickens



If you wish to consider the most important writer in the English language,

then I suggest you study the plays of William Shakespeare.



He wrote some of the most influential plays in English and is still widely imitated

today. He is credited with a tremendous advance in characterization; before Shakespeare,

characters were basically two-dimensional, and could safely be described as "the good

Princess" or "the Wicked King." But Shakespeare brought a sense of human psychology

to all his major characters and thus virtually reinvented theater.



In addition to his plays, he wrote hundreds of sonnets and other poems which are rich

with symbolism and depth of emotion.



He is hard to read, sometimes; a lot of his expressions are archaic, and nobody uses

them anymore. But I was taught in university that there are only two geniuses in the English

language -- Shakespeare and James Joyce. That should give you an idea of how much

Shakespeare invented British drama.

Answer 3

William Wordsworth was one of the most prominent English poets of the 19th century. Charles Dickens was one of the most prominent novelists. Thomas Hardy (who was born in the 19th century but lived until the 1920s) was equally acclaimed for his fiction and his poetry.



Queen Victoria's long reign makes her an overwhelmingly important 19th century historical figure. Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone were two of Victoria's most important Prime Ministers. Winston Churchill was one of the foremost historical figures of the 20th century.

Answer 4

Try Wordsworth. He is considered England's greatest nature poet and he singlehandedly put an end to the Neoclassical era of writing in England with his publicating of Lyrical Ballads. He was extremely controversial proposed a whole new definition of poetry that rocked England's world. Instead of focusing on society as a whole and formal rules, he focused on the individual and claimed that poems were experiments that were meant to be an emotional overflow.

Answer 5

The most influential, is ranked one of the World's most influential.



Shakespeare by a country mile.



However you have limited yourself to 19th, 20th Century.



20th Century probably George Orwell, in status of influential, certainly he is among the leaders.



19th Century, just as complicated, Dickens is certainly in there, but influence, you could try Elizabeth Gaskell, mainly because her work crosses the great divide of class, she deals with all sections of Society, in fact 1 of her books is entitled 'North and South' and she grasps Social issues as well as Humour (Cranford). Also she did a Biography of Charlotte Bronte, so you can touch on Dickens the Brontes and Gaskell herself while still remaining within the confines of the one Author.

Answer 6

Charles Dickens

Jane Austen

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Agatha Christie

J.K. Rowling



If you limit this to the 19 & 20 centuries



Historical figure-I'd say Winston Churchill, but that is from my American perspective.

Answer 7

Charles Dickens - (I'm currently reading 'Great Expectations' and it's a great book)

William Shakespeare

Emily Bronte

D.H. Lawrence

Jane Austen



That is only a few but they are all classic authors

Answer 8

The picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It was rather controversial in 19th century britain bc it had homosexual undertones. And Wilde's life itself was affected by the book.

Answer 9

See if Shakespeare fits into this period of time you want to cover.

I think that he was, still is, and will be the very best.

His work talks about human fragility, moral ethics and, it covers basically all aspects of human behavior-including thoughts, actions, motivations and good and evil forces dominating them.

All his work is full of wisdom, knowledge, serious issues and yet very witty and funny.

Answer 10

I would choose Oscar Wilde, not only was he influential but he's still relevant and his work is a lot of fun!

Answer 11

Jane Austen!(: