1. History of English Literature Middle English Period ( 1150 1400)

2. The Disputes

1066 Edward the Confessor died

William, Duke of Normandy in Francedemanded the throne

He landed in Hastings

In 1066 William was enthroned

3. The Importance of Williams Invasion

• The penetration of Norman Royal to England

• Most English Royal families died in the war

• French became dominant language

• Norman people didnt want to study English

• Frenchemployers >< Britishemployees

• Small number but powerfullocal dialect Anglo-Normandy

• Until the mid 13th century

4. The Return of English Language

• • Dispute between British Royal families & French Royal families

• • The French dialect (Anglo-Normandy) gradually faded away & completely disappeared

• • English language had vast opportunity in use (especially among the employers)

• • In the 14th century English regained its former position

• • Developing into Middle English

• • Many words borrowed from French

• • Early literary works reflected the history of English language

• • Formerly, books & literary works (poems) were written in French

5. Early works (poetry)

English was not accepted amongst the rich employers

Authors did not get material incentive, but spiritual support

The monksworking hard in the midst of societydisseminate gospels & tenets

Many works based on the Bible born:Ormulum( 1225),Ancren Riwle how to live based on Religious values, fables containing lessons:The Owl and the Nightingale( 1195),Brut( 1200) by Layamon not contain religious tenets but history.

6. Next.

Balladsspread from mouth to mouthunknown author & origin, e.g. Robin Hood

Many works written in French began to be translated into Englishmostly romance (a story about enormous events which most unlikely happen in real life). Themes: love, knight & religioncentred on a perfect, clean, brave person who could respect women, willing to help the helpless & loyal to employers & companions. E.g.:Chanson de Roland . Some others from Greece & Rome.

Stories of King Arthur:Sir Gawain, Green Knight ,Cleanness, Patience & The Pearl(humanistic & realistic lyrics which revealed a fathers pain toward his dead daughter)

7. The Birth of New Artists

The resurgence of English became the peak time for English literary period

Geoffrey Chaucer ( 1340 1400) main artist

Troilus & Criseyde popular love story in the Middle Age

Canterbury Tales the biggest workdepicting various types of people in the society, from Oxford scholars to farmers.tends to be realismbig change in English literatures

William Langland (born in 1332) Piers Plowmanintended for common people, not entertaining.

8. New Prosaic period

• • John Wyclif ( 1324 1384), a religion leader & scholar, popular as the translator of the Bible.

The translation did not only give vast influence in morals but also in the language. This helped the making of standard English.

• • It was helped with the prose:Voyage and Travail of Sir John MaundevilleorMandevilles Travels

9. French Influences

Thousands of words borrowed

Types of literary work: romance on its mood, style and form

Bright mood and bright and simple language

10. Drama

• Formerly in churches as the medium for speech

• The monks speeches were in Latin

• Illustrations were needed to make people far more understand

• The story about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Crucifixion

• Latin was gradually replaced with English

• Shows were moved to church yard & road

• Common people could join

• Secular tendencies interfered amongst the strict religious tenets under churchs supervision

• Kinds:

• • • Miracles: about Saints

• • • Mysteries taking themes from the Bible

• Spread out in England since the 13th century.