Middle English Literature

1. Middle English Literature 1150-1485

2. Major incidents • Hundred Years War between France and England 1337-1453 • War of Roses between the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York over the throne of England • Black Death “Great Plague” • Peasants’ Revolt in 1381

3. Characteristics • The old English man became a man of romance giving rise to love poetry. • New themes of human ambition and desire started to emerge in literature. Yet many literary texts communicated old themes of heroic actions and battles. • Women started to appear in literature, first as an object of desire but later as a strong character. • Did traditional themes of heroism and battles disappear from literature? Why?

4. Characteristics • French and Italian literatures influenced English literature at the level of form and theme. Yet many writers started to assume a pure English identity. • A sense of national identity was being made. • English was developing as a language and a culture.

5. Chaucer • At first, he was influenced by European traditions, then he started to assume an English signature. • Troilus and Criseyde A poem by Chaucer which re-narrates a story from classical Greek times using the vision technique. • The House of Fame • Chaucer was influenced by the Latin poet Ovid and the Italian poet Dante. The Canterbury Tales • A poem narrating 24 different stories. • Why is Chaucer named as the ‘Father of English Literature’?

6. The Canterbury Tales That of hirsmylyng was fulsymple and coy; … And al was conscience, and tendreherte. Who in her way of smiling was very unaffected and modest And all was sentiment and tender heart (The Prioress’s Tale) • What are the new literary themes Chaucer draws in these lines? • What is the difference between this poem and Caedmon’s Hymn at the level of form and theme?

7. The Canterbury Tales And therfore at the kynges court, my brother, Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother. And therefore, at the king's court, O my brother, It's each man for himself and not for other way. (The Knight's Tale) • Are the second lines a good translation for the first two? Why? • What are the poetic features used in these lines? • What is the difference between the language used in these lines and in Bewoulf? • What is the main theme reflected in these lines?

8. The Canterbury Tales But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; But although he was a philosopher Nevertheless he had only a little gold in his coffer (General Prologue) • What does make these lines different from old English poetry? • What is the theme in these lines? • Explain the irony in ‘little gold’.

9. The Canterbury Tales What is this world? What asketh men to have? Now with his love, now in his colde grave, Allone, withouten any compaignye. What is this world? What do men ask for? Now with his love, now in his cold grave Alone, with never any company. (The Knight's Tale) • Are the ideas drawn in these lines classic or modern? How?

10. Other poems • ConfessioAmantis(the confession of a lover) by John Gower • A 33.000-line poem that tells a story about someone who decides to give up love only because he is old (irony). It is written in Latin and in French. Piers Plowman by William Langland • A long poem that uses the dream-vision technique to depict the whole life of England. Langland satirizesthe new society and fast-changing values

11. Anonymous poems • Winner and Waster (anonymous) • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (anonymous) It is a 2500-line ironic poem questioning the value of heroism in a changing society. • Gawain is the first anti-hero (fake hero) in the history in English literature

12. In short • Medieval English questions its society and re-examines the old values of heroism and religion of the old times • Literature communicated a picture of a fast-changing society • Poetry remained the predominant form of literature, but drama started to appear.

13. Medieval drama • Plays were performed on moving carts at religious festivals. • The carts were managed by businessmen. • The performed texts were stories from the Bible. • Although medieval drama was neither structured nor original, it is an important step towards the Golden Age of Drama.

14. The Printing Press: Gutenberg • The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg was a major event in the fifteenth century. • In the 1470s, William Caxton brought the printing press to England. • Literature became accessible to everyone who could read. • The first book printed was the Bible. • The first literary book printed was Le Morte d’ Arthur, which revived the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table that first appeared around 500 AD. • The story became part of the national consciousness of Britain

15. Other figures: John Skelton Vengeance I ask and cry, By way of exclamation, On all the whole nation Of cattés wild and tame: God send them sorrow and shame! • How does Skelton challenge the expectations of the medieval society in these lines?