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English Literature

English Literature. The Medieval Period (Old English and Middle English). England before the English. When the Roman legions arrived, they found the land inhabited by “Britons.” Today, the Britons are known as the Celts Stonehenge no written language

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English Literature

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  1. English Literature The Medieval Period (Old English and Middle English)

  2. England before the English • When the Roman legions arrived, they found the land inhabited by “Britons.” • Today, the Britons are known as the Celts • Stonehenge • no written language • The Britons were absorbed into Roman society • Latin is spoken • Romans withdraw as the Empire crumbles, leaving the Britons behind

  3. England before the English • group of pagan people from Northern Europe begin a series of invasions • Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) • bring Germanic languages • still have their language • Wednesday…day of Woden, father of the gods • Thursday…day of Thor, god of war Woden--father of the gods

  4. By 600, Anglo-Saxons conquer the Britons • language becomes more Germanic • still retains some Latin • The Anglo-Saxons’ two urgings--war and wandering become part of the oral tradition • Beowulf is an example of an Anglo-Saxon hero tale Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother

  5. By 700, Christian missionaries arrive to convert the pagans • Latin (the language of the Church) returns • King Alfred • the Britons become organized • first true king of the Britons • period of prosperity King Alfred brings an age of prosperity

  6. In 1066, the Normans (French speaking people from Normandy), led by William the Conqueror attack and defeat the Britains (a blend of the Britons and Anglo-Saxons) at the Battle of Hastings • the 3rd language is introduced--French • French culture and French literature arrives

  7. Welcome to England and the English…an island of peoples, languages, and divisions... Latin -- church, schools French -- court, castle English -- commoners The White Tower in London… part of William’s legacy Chartres Cathedral

  8. What was it like to live in the Middle Ages?

  9. The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages • The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking down. • Clergy • Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul • Nobles • French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purposewas to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice • Commoners • English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them

  10. feudalism • The economic system of much of the Middle Ages (800-1100) • Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm. • In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits. Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord. • it was better to be a lord than a vassal! • Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord. A tenant (vassal) renews his oath of fealty to his lord

  11. FeudalismManors • The lords estate – • The lord provided the serfs with housing, farmland and protection • Serfs tended the lands, cared for the animals, maintained the estate

  12. FeudalismManors • Peasants rarely traveled more than 25 miles from the manor • It was home to 15 – 30 families • Self-sufficient community • Peasants heavily taxed, including a tithe – a church tax of 1/10 their income

  13. Relationship Between Lords and Vassals • The relationship between lords and vassals made up a big part of the political and social structure of the feudal system • Vassals had certain duties to perform for the lord • All nobles were ultimately vassals of the king.

  14. Feudal Contract LORDS GIVE SERVICE TO GIVE PROTECTION TO VASSALS

  15. CONSTRUCTING THE PYRAMID OF POWER KING LOYALTY AND SERVICE LAND POWERFUL NOBLES LAND AND PROTECTION LOYALTY AND MILITARY SERVICE LESSER NOBLES (KNIGHTS) LABOR PROTECTION PEASANTS/SERFS

  16. Castles and Keeps • Stone castles were encircled by massive walls and guard towers • Home to lord and lady, their family, knights solders, and servants • A fortress of defense

  17. Castles and Keeps

  18. Chivalry • A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals • Restricted to nobility • The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to… • God • his lord • his lady • Chivalric ideals include... • benevolence • brotherly love • politeness • Sir Gawain is an example

  19. The Age of Chivalry • Sons of nobles began training at an early age for knighthood • Page – at 7 they were sent to another lord to be trained • Squire – at 14 they act as a servant to a knight • Knight- at 21 they become a knight and gain experience in local wars and tournaments

  20. The Age of Chivalry Tournaments – mock battles that combined recreation and combat training Fierce and bloody competitions

  21. The Church • Provided guidance through well known precepts.. • Seven Deadly Sins • Pride • Greed • Wrath • Envy • Gluttony • Sloth • Lust

  22. The Clergy Religious officials had different ranks within the church structure

  23. The Wheel of Fortune The idea of Fortune and her wheel was one of the most pervasive ideas throughout the Middle Ages. On the wheel are depicted four figures: one at the top, one at the bottom, one rising, and one falling.

  24. The Wheel of Fortune • It served to remind of the temporality of earthly things. • The Wheel helps understand the medieval mind, and it can help remind us that the important things in life come from within, that hard work has its own merits. An award, an office, a title--these are not the things that make for greatness.

  25. Imagine a sphere that encloses another that holds another that holds yet another…and continues into heaven… It is a commonly held myth that people of the Medieval period thought the Earth was flat…FALSE! It was round, but at the center of the universe! So what! Well, the people of the Medieval period loved order! Remember the Three Estates, the Seven Deadly Sins—a place for everyone and everyone in that place. Watch for this order to begin to be displaced… the Ptolemaic Universe

  26. With the Crusades comes The Black Death spreads along trade routes kills much of the population the plague outbreaks occur through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance • Paradoxically, the Plague provides for continued growth in cities • Afterwards, hundreds of new jobs available • Many debts “died off” with creditors • also contributed to society’s culture

  27. Enough already! I thought this was an English class!

  28. Literature During the Medieval Period

  29. Languages • Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated Europe • The Church was the only source of education • Thus, Latin was a common language for Medieval writings.

  30. Literature • A notable amount of medieval literature is anonymous. Medieval authors often tended to re-tell and embellish stories they heard or read rather than invent new stories.

  31. The Ideal of Courtly Love • This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord. • The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord. • She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission

  32. The knight's love for the lady inspires him to do great deeds, in order to be worthy of her love or to win her favor.

  33. “Courtly love" was not between husband and wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could not exist within the context of "real life" medieval marriages. • In the middle ages, marriages amongst the nobility were typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on love.

  34. The lady is typically older, married, and of higher social status than the knight because she was modeled on the wife of the feudal lord, who might naturally become the focus of the young, unmarried knights' desire.

  35. 5 major developments of the Late Middle Ages • The Hundred Years War • Fought between the French and English for the French throne • Massively destructive • Gun powder and heavy artillery

  36. 5 major developments of the Late Middle Ages • 2) The Papal Schism • 3 popes • Loss of respectability due to political involvements • 3) The Fall of the Byzantine Empire • Turks begin assault on Western boarders

  37. 5 major developments of the Late Middle Ages • 4) Famines • Climate became colder and rainier • Harvests shrank • Population doubled • Move back to towns • 5) Black Death • The Bubonic Plague • killed 1/3 – ½ of European population

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