Lesson 2 Anglo-Norman & Middle English Literature

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales

What was the impact of the Norman Conquest (1066) on English literature?

After 1066, England was ruled by a French-speaking elite.

French became the language of power, law, and literature, while English survived among the lower classes.

This led to strong French influence on English literature and eventually to the development of Middle English, a mix of Old English and French.

What languages were used in medieval England after 1066?

French (elite and court)

Latin (Church and scholarship)

English (common people).

Why is medieval literature often written in the vernacular?

Writing in the vernacular made literature accessible beyond the Church and educated elite, reflecting social change and the growing importance of lay audiences.

Why are medieval texts like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight part of the literary canon?

They provide historical insight, exemplify important genres, show literary innovation, deal with universal themes, and influenced later liter

When was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written and by whom?

It was written between 1375 and 1400 by an anonymous poet, also known as the Gawain-poet.

Why is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight linguistically challenging?

It was written in Middle English, specifically the North-West Midlands dialect, which is difficult for modern readers.

Why is the survival of only one manuscript important?

It shows how fragile medieval literary transmission was and highlights the text’s historical value.

What is a chivalric romance?

A medieval narrative genre focusing on knights, quests, moral testing, courtly love, honour, and often supernatural elements.

How does Sir Gawain and the Green Knight fit into the chivalric romance tradition?

It features a knightly quest, moral testing, courtly values, supernatural figures, and an Arthurian setting.

Which literary traditions does Sir Gawain and the Green Knight combine?

Celtic folklore (Beheading Game), French courtly romance, and English alliterative verse.

What type of verse is used in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

Alliterative verse, where stressed syllables repeat initial sounds rather than end rhyme.

How is the narrative of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight structured morally?

Integration (Gawain at court), disintegration (moral testing), and reintegration (return with self-knowledge).

How does the conflict in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight differ from Beowulf?

The conflict is primarily moral and psychological rather than physical.

Why does the poem open with the fall of Troy? (green knight)

To link British history to classical epic tradition and elevate Britain’s cultural status.

What does the Green Knight symbolise?

Nature, the supernatural, moral testing, and the challenge to courtly civilisation.

What is the Beheading Game? (green knight)

A challenge where one knight may strike the Green Knight, who will return the blow after one year and one day.

What does “troth” mean in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

Truthfulness, loyalty, moral integrity, and keeping one’s word.

How does the poem explore temptation? (green)

Through moral compromise and human weakness rather than purely sexual desire.

How is nature contrasted with civilisation in the poem? (green)

Nature represents instinct and chaos, while civilisation represents social order, courtesy, and restraint.

What Christian values are present in the poem? (green)

Humility, confession, forgiveness, and acceptance of human imperfection.

What were the three medieval estates?

Nobility, clergy, and commoners.

Why is Chaucer’s social position important?

He moved between social classes, allowing him to represent a wide range of perspectives.

Why is Chaucer considered a key figure in English literature?

He helped establish English as a literary language and contributed to the development of Standard English.

What is a frame narrative? (canterbury)

A story structure in which individual stories are told within a larger narrative.

How does The Canterbury Tales function as a frame narrative?

Pilgrims tell stories to entertain each other while travelling to Canterbury.

What is estate satire? (canterbury)

A literary technique that criticises social classes by exposing hypocrisy and moral flaws.

Which genre does The Wife of Bath’s Tale belong to?

Chivalric romance, combined with folklore and feminist critique.

What is the central question of The Wife of Bath’s Tale?

What women most desire: sovereignty over their own lives and relationships.

How does the tale redefine gentility? (canterbury)

True nobility comes from moral behaviour, not social rank or birth.

How does Lesson 2 illustrate adaptation in medieval literature?

Medieval authors adapt classical, Celtic, and French traditions to address contemporary moral, social, and cultural questions.

Why is Lesson 2 important for understanding later literature?

It shows how English literature develops its own voice while reworking older traditions, influencing later narrative forms and genres.