Chapter Two

1. Chapter Two The Norman Period 1. Historical Background 2. Middle English 3. Religious Literature 4. Romance and influence of French Literature

2. The Duke of Normandy ----- 1066 the end of Anglo – Saxon period from Normandy in northern France the beginning of the feudal society Germanic people English throne the last Saxon king promise William Norman Conquest

3. The year 1066 ushered in a new period in English history. The Norman conquest in 1066 accelerated the development of feudalism in England. claimed himself William I William King of England the sole owner of the land of all England Knights (P14) his fellowers his own his relatives baron

4. possess one third of the land Church political power religious authority feudal lords the serfs the king Conflicts: the peasants the barons the church 1. refuse to carry out task of labour Rebelling ways: 2. refuse to pay heavy rents on land uprising 3. escape from land to growing towns, cities

5. For three centuries after the Norman conquest, two languages were used side by side in England. courts Latin upper classes churches French schools English Angles Saxons live animals English names their meat French names In the 14th century, English and ancient English were completely different. the middle – aged English

6. the largest proportion of surviving Middle English literature religious education in the church become a cleric direct claim on the majority of literate men producer of books maintainer of libraries

7. Romance was a type of literature that was very popular in the Middle Ages. originally native language opposed to Latin later a tale in verse, the life and adventures of knights Romance: the spirit of chivalry the quality and ideal of knightly conduct the matter of France love knights the matter of Rome chivalry fighting the matter of Britain adventures religion

8. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 《高文爵士很难与绿衣骑士》 Time: written about 1375 -- 1400 Poet: unknown about 2,500 lines Length: four parts Character: Sir Gawain one of the chief Arthurian knights

9. Part One King Arthur Round Table Knights challenge who is brave enough a tall knight dressed in green and riding on a green horse accept the challenge the head falls down let his ax fall on the Green Knight’s neck the strange knight picks the head up Sir Gawain asks Sir Gawain to look for him at the Green Chapel on the next New Year’s Day

10. Part Two exchange the lord Sir Gawain castle his wife on Christmas eve depart Sir Gawain Arthur seek the Green Chapel wild animals strange adventures terrible men

11. Part Three What happens to Gawain during the three days.

12. Part Four bears his neck, but shrinks a little touches his necks and blood flows Gawain throws the girdle at the host returns to Arthur’s court reprove Gawain The Green Knight the host reveal himself forgives him and gives him back

13. The poem is a brilliant example of the wisdom of the minstrels of the Middle Ages. It contains several elements which prepared ground for a new culture. 1. a vivid portrayal and psychological analysis 2. a well unified and exciting plot with climaxes and surprises 3. The three hunting scenes and the three bedchamber scenes 4. a mixture of Anglo– Saxon poetry, the musical effect