The Old English PeriodThe Old English PeriodThe Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

Important DatesImportant Dates

43-420 43-420 Roman invasion and Roman invasion and occupation of Britainoccupation of Britain

450 Anglo Saxon Conquest450 Anglo Saxon Conquest 1066 Norman Conquest1066 Norman Conquest 1200 Beginning of Middle English 1200 Beginning of Middle English

literatureliterature 1485 Caxton’s printing of Malory1485 Caxton’s printing of Malory

The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

Covers time span Covers time span from collapse of from collapse of the Roman Empire the Roman Empire to the Renaissanceto the Renaissance

Time period of Time period of more than 800 more than 800 yearsyears

1485 end of the 1485 end of the Middle Ages Middle Ages

A Time of ChangeA Time of Change

Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church provided continuityprovided continuity

Norman Conquest added Norman Conquest added French words to the English French words to the English vocabularyvocabulary

Cross-currents of languages Cross-currents of languages and literatures during this and literatures during this periodperiod

Literature in English was Literature in English was performed orally,and written performed orally,and written throughout the Middle Ages, throughout the Middle Ages, but uniquely English literature but uniquely English literature does not exist before the late does not exist before the late 1414thth century. century.

English began to displace English began to displace French at the end of the 14French at the end of the 14thth century in Parliament and century in Parliament and courts of law.courts of law.

Anglo-Saxon EnglandAnglo-Saxon England

From 1From 1stst to 5 to 5thth century, century, England was province England was province of Roman Empireof Roman Empire

Named BritanniaNamed Britannia When the When the

Romans withdrew Romans withdrew during the fifth century, during the fifth century, island was invaded by island was invaded by Germanic seafarersGermanic seafarers

These belonged to These belonged to three tribes: the three tribes: the Angles, the Saxons, Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes.and the Jutes.

Conversion to ChristianityConversion to Christianity

Britons became Christian in the Britons became Christian in the fourth centuryfourth century

In 597, a Benedictine monk was In 597, a Benedictine monk was sent by Pope Gregory as a sent by Pope Gregory as a missionary to King Ethelbert of missionary to King Ethelbert of Kent and missionaries from Kent and missionaries from Ireland became to preach Ireland became to preach Christianity in the north.Christianity in the north.

Within 75 years, the island was Within 75 years, the island was Christian. Christian.

The first extended written The first extended written specimen of Old English (Anglo-specimen of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) language is a code of Saxon) language is a code of laws.laws.

England produced many England produced many distinguished Churchmen, distinguished Churchmen, including Bede.including Bede.

, ,

Invasions by the DanesInvasions by the Danes

In the 9In the 9thth century, century, Christian Anglo-Christian Anglo-Saxons were Saxons were subjected to subjected to invasions by the invasions by the Danes.Danes.

They were stopped They were stopped by King Alfred.by King Alfred.

King Alfred was an King Alfred was an enthusiastic patron enthusiastic patron of literature.of literature.

Old English PoetryOld English Poetry

Oral traditionOral tradition Literacy was Literacy was

restricted to men of restricted to men of the churchthe church

Most of Old English Most of Old English literature is religiousliterature is religious

Most of Old English Most of Old English poetry is contained poetry is contained in just four in just four manuscripts.manuscripts.

Heroic ValuesHeroic Values

Heroic values of Germanic Heroic values of Germanic society continued to inspire society continued to inspire clergy and laity in the clergy and laity in the Christian era.Christian era.

Heroic Values - Tribe is ruled Heroic Values - Tribe is ruled by king who surrounds himself by king who surrounds himself with a band of retainers. He with a band of retainers. He leads men to battle and leads men to battle and rewards them with gifts and rewards them with gifts and treasures. Retainers are treasures. Retainers are obligated to fight for their lord obligated to fight for their lord to the deathto the death

Blood vengeance is a sacred Blood vengeance is a sacred duty.duty.

The best poetry of the period The best poetry of the period is both Christian and heroic.is both Christian and heroic.

Characteristics of Old English Characteristics of Old English PoetryPoetry

Harsh world viewHarsh world view Formal speechFormal speech Elevated languageElevated language IronyIrony Contrast Pagan and Contrast Pagan and

ChristianChristian FateFate The PastThe Past ViolenceViolence Values of warrior Values of warrior

societysociety

Anglo-Norman EnglandAnglo-Norman England

The Normans took The Normans took possession of possession of England in 1066England in 1066

They adopted French They adopted French language and language and Christian religionChristian religion

Henry II, first of Henry II, first of England’s England’s Plantagenet kingsPlantagenet kings

LanguagesLanguages

During the Anglo-Norman period, During the Anglo-Norman period, four languages co-existed: Latin, four languages co-existed: Latin, French, English, and Celtic.French, English, and Celtic.

The Latin Bible provided subject The Latin Bible provided subject for Old English poetry and prosefor Old English poetry and prose

Attraction to Celtic legendsAttraction to Celtic legends Marie de France and Chrétien de Marie de France and Chrétien de

Troyes wrote romancesTroyes wrote romances King Arthur and his court acquired King Arthur and his court acquired

immense popularityimmense popularity Romance involves a knight Romance involves a knight

proving his worthiness through proving his worthiness through nobility of character and brave nobility of character and brave deedsdeeds

Religious literature aimed at Religious literature aimed at women – saints’ lives, The women – saints’ lives, The Ancrene Riwle.Ancrene Riwle.

Middle English Literature in the Middle English Literature in the 1414thth Century Century

Old English replaces French in Old English replaces French in literatureliterature

Thirty Year’s WarThirty Year’s War The bubonic plague wiped out The bubonic plague wiped out

one-third of European populationone-third of European population A time of social unrestA time of social unrest Church becomes target of Church becomes target of

resentment because of its wealth resentment because of its wealth and worldlinessand worldliness

Great European poets of the 14Great European poets of the 14thth century include Dante, Petrarch, century include Dante, Petrarch, Marie de France, and BoccoccioMarie de France, and Boccoccio

English writers of the 14English writers of the 14thth century century include Chaucer, William include Chaucer, William Langland, the Pearl poet, and the Langland, the Pearl poet, and the author of Sir Gawain and the author of Sir Gawain and the Green KnightGreen Knight

The Fifteenth CenturyThe Fifteenth Century

War of the Roses between War of the Roses between Lancasters and Yorks Lancasters and Yorks ended with King Henry VII’s ended with King Henry VII’s ascension to the throneascension to the throne

Performances of mystery Performances of mystery plays and morality playsplays and morality plays

Mystical writings – Julian of Mystical writings – Julian of Norwich and Margery Norwich and Margery KempeKempe

LydgateLydgate MaloryMalory Caxton’s printing press Caxton’s printing press

introduced in 1476. introduced in 1476. Caxton’s publication of Caxton’s publication of Malory’s Morte Darthur.Malory’s Morte Darthur.

Middle English LiteratureMiddle English Literature

Religious literatureReligious literature Popular literaturePopular literature RomanceRomance King ArthurKing Arthur AllegoryAllegory MoralityMorality Authors looked at Authors looked at

themselves as craftsmenthemselves as craftsmen No emphasis on originalityNo emphasis on originality Ptolemaic view of the Ptolemaic view of the

universe – earth centereduniverse – earth centered Gothic Church as symbol of Gothic Church as symbol of

Middle Ages – height and Middle Ages – height and lightlight