Hungarian literature can be divided into the following five periods:
- The Pre-Reformation Period
- Reformation and Counter-Reformation Period
- Period of Peaceful Development
- The Augustan Age of Hungarian Literature
- Modern Period
With the introduction of Christianity during the pre-Reformation period in Hungary, literary works were mostly religious in nature and included legends, epics, hymns, spiritual writings, stories revealing the lives of the saints, meditations and mystical contemplative works. But the Turks' conquest and destruction of churches and monasteries lead to the sudden fall of literature.
The Reformation and Counter-Reformation Period saw the development of
Hungarian literature and language and an end to all the controversies related to religious subjects. Patriotic feelings are greatly evident in the literary works of this period. To mention a few are the popular folk songs that were written during the war period, Rakoczy Song and the Hungarian and Latin dramas.
In the period of peaceful development, literature in Hungary was highly influenced by the western literary works. During the 19th century, Augustan age began with the writings of Kölcsey, Berzsenyi and Alexander Kisfaludy. The writings of this period were mainly tragedies and comedies. The 'Two Neighbouring Castles' and Banus Bank are amongst the popular work of this age.
Modern Age Hungarian writers were marked for their novels and poems. Some of the writers of this period were Baron Josika, Barons Kemeny, Szigligeti, Teleky and John Arany.
