British Lit Unit 2- The Medieval Period

1066

the year that William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy

Latin

language that most religious literature was written in, it was the language of the Roman church

French

language that most new poetry was written in, the language of the Normans

lyric and drama

literary genres born during the medieval period

John Wycliffe

called the Father of English Prose and the “Morning Star of the Reformation”, the greatest prose writer of 14th century England, remembered in literature for his translation of the Bible from Latin into English

Sir Thomas Malory

the most notable writer of the 15th century; desired to capture the ideals which compromised medieval knighthood

William Caxton

set up the first printing press in England which allowed greater accessibility to the printed page; printed the Canterbury Tales, Morte Darthur, and Aeneid

1470

year that the first printing press came to England

popular ballad

short narrative folk song that tells of a single (usually tragic) event objectively; consists of 4 rhyming lines, 4 accented iambic syllables in lines 1 and 3, 3 accented syllables in lines 2 and 4

carol

popular art form which originated in medieval France; any joyous songs or hymn; later became associated with Christmas

The Pearl Poet

anonymous author that wrote 4 poems written around 1370; poems are The Pearl, Purity, Patience, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

medieval romance

form of writing based primarily on the adventures of various knights and often abounding in the supernatural

The Pearl Poet

wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

John Wycliffe

translated 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

charity

1. Christian love

   1. the virtue or act of loving God with a love which transcends that for creatures and of loving others for the sake of God

   2. divine love for man; love in its perfection

   3. the act of loving or the disposition to love all men as brothers because they are the sons of God

drama

began in the 11th and 12th centuries when the clergymen felt the need to present religious instruction to the people in a simple way

mystery plays

plays on biblical subjects; most popular form

miracle plays

plays dealing with the legends of saints

guilds

incorporated associations of various trades and crafts in town that acted out the plays; each one performed one play based on the appropriateness for that trade

pageant wagon

used to produce plays; movable platform that resembled a hug box on low wheels and was divided into two tiers: lower was a dressing room and upper was a stage; would perform one play in the serious and would follow the others to show groups of spectators a series of plays

mortality play

new form of drama that developed toward the end of the 14th century; represented allegorically the battle which the vices and virtues wage for the possession of the human soul; characters came on the stage in the guise of persons and played the drama of life; the best is Everyman

Everyman

mortality play about the hour of death; three friends: Fellowship, Kindred, and Good-deeds, Knowledge, and Confession

Geoffrey Chaucer

wrote the Canterbury Tales

Tabard Inn

located at the southern end of London Bridge and was the point of departure for much travel to the south of England

exemplum

a short tale or anecdote told to teach a lesson; “The Pardoner’s Tale” is an example of this

The Knight

CT: a worthy, chivalrous man that fought in truth and for freedom; fought in 15 battles and won; was meek and gentle

The Squire

CT: son of the knight; was 20 years old and wanted to be a knight; artistic and musical and skilled in horsemanship; was courteous, willing, and meek and was devoted to fame and love

The Yeoman

CT: servant of the knight; wore green clothes and carried a bow; was a forester and woodcrater

The Nun

CT: Madame Eglantine; had extremely good manners and was very poised; was a Prioress; cared deeply for all things; wore a gold locket

The Oxford Scholar

CT: a clerk that was so dedicated to his learning that he was poor and starving; very eloquent speaker

The Parson

CT: A priest and scholar learned wise and true; poor but rich in holiness; very devoted to God’s way and his people; always visited his Parish on foot

The Pardoner

CT: sold indulgences to many cities; was rich but pretended to be holy; he sang in a shrill voice

Geoffrey Chaucer

began writing poetry while serving the king of England; work consists primarily of love-lyrics and translations of other works; absorbed Italian influence in architecture, art, and literature; most notable work: Troilus and Criseyde; wrote of the fickleness of fortune

Mordred

nephew of King Arthur that attempts to gain the crown; killed by Arthur; war ensues and all of the knights are killed except for Sir Bedivere

Sir Thomas Malory

wrote Morte Darthur