International Journal of Language, Linguistics, Literature and Education

Colonialism has played a decisive role in shaping the development, circulation, and canon formation of English literature across different historical and geographical contexts. Literary production during and after the colonial period reflects complex negotiations between imperial authority and indigenous responses, resulting in new genres, narrative forms, and linguistic practices. English emerged as a dominant medium of expression in colonized societies, simultaneously functioning as an instrument of control and a vehicle for resistance, adaptation, and cultural assertion. Literary texts produced under colonial conditions often reveal tensions between domination and dissent, particularly in representations of identity, power, and cultural difference. Colonial encounters influenced not only writings from the colonies but also literary traditions within Britain, where imperial experiences informed themes, settings, and narrative strategies. Over time, postcolonial writers appropriated and transformed English to articulate localized histories, hybrid identities, and critiques of colonial ideology. Travel writing, translation practices, and institutional patronage further contributed to the construction of colonial knowledge and literary hierarchies. A critical examination of colonial influence thus exposes how English literature evolved through unequal power relations and cross-cultural exchanges. Understanding these processes enables a reassessment of the literary canon and highlights the enduring impact of colonialism on contemporary Anglophone literatures.