The Medieval Period

1066

The year that the English underwent a drastic alteration and the year in which the last Anglo-Saxon king of England died.

Edward the Confessor

The last Anglo-Saxon king of England. Died in 1066.

Harold Godwinson

He was an Anglo-Saxon. Was one of the two claimants that Edward the Confessor left behind before his death. Fought in the Battle of Hastings and lost against William of Normandy. Died by an arrow being shot through one of his eyes.

William of Normandy

Fought in the Battle of Hastings against Harold Godwinson and won. After his victory and ascension to the English Crown, he gained two title names in addition to his name. Made French the official language in England between 1066 and 1362/1363.

William I and William the Conqueror

What are the two additional title names that William of Normandy is also known by?

Henry II

Was believed to be the reason for the death of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop. To appease the people, he wore ragged clothes to connect with his people and justify his innocence. He ordered to death the three knights who killed Thomas Becket. Was king from 1100-1135.

Edward III

Responsible for returning the English language to England. In 1362 he made English the official language of the law courts; in 1363 he made the English language the official language of all England. Was the precedent that led to Middle English. Was king from 1327-1377.

St. Thomas Becket

Henry I appointed him as the archbishop to have more leeway from the Church. Since he died defending the primacy of the church, the pope determined that he was a martyr and became (in time) a saint. His shrine was located at the place he died: Canterbury Church.

Middle English

Blended language of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and the French language.

The Canterbury Tales

Written to celebrate the return of English (Middle English) to England. The author is Chaucer, who sought to write the Great English Epic. It is about a group of modern-day (about the year 1400) pilgrims going on a trip from Southwark to Canterbury to pray to St. Becket. Along the way, the group pass the time telling stories to one another.

Frame Tale

This is what the tale from the pilgrims is referred to as because it creates a frame around all the various stories, or tales, they tell.

Original Sin

The action committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden offended God and is something that all of humanity has had since birth.

Pilgrimage

Meant to be a trial of faith. A way to demonstrate your disavowal of the world and embrace of salvation yet to come. Remain fully conscious of the sins of the earth and sins of the flesh.

Microcosm

A small society, place, or activity which has all the typical features of a much larger one and so seems like a smaller version of it.