The History of the English Language (a not-too-ambitious powerpoint)

Three Different Languages Old English—mid- 5th c. c.e.-1066 (survives as a “lower class” language for over a century more) Middle English (1066-1550) Modern English (1550-today) Many dialects of Old English and Middle English were spoken. One “standard” modern English (printing press in England in 1470s)

Old English (Anglo-Saxon) A Germanic language 5th c. CE until 1066 CE Conquered language spoken by lower class afterwards Famous works include Beowulf

First page of Beowulf manuscript

“Caedmon’s Hymn” (first poem in English)--Old English alliterative (strong-stress) meter Nu sculon herigean   heofonrices weard, meotodes meahte     and his modgeþanc, weorc wuldorfæder, swa he wundra gehwæs, ece drihten,         or onstealde. He ærest sceop        eorðan bearnum heofon to hrofe,       halig scyppend; þa middangeard       moncynnes ece drihten,         æfter teode firum foldan,         frea ælmihtig. Now we must hail Heaven-kingdom’s Protector The might of the Measurer and his mind’s thought The work of the Glory Father as each wonder The eternal Lord formed in the first. He first shaped for the sons of Earth Heaven as roof, the Holy Maker Then Middle-earth mankind’s guardian, made afterwards Solid ground, the almighty ruler.

Middle English 1066—Norman invasion Upper class=French; lower class=Old English (Anglo-Saxon) French + Anglo-Saxon + Latin = Middle English Chaucer’s language

The Prologue of The Canterbury Tales Whan that Aueryłł wt his shoures soote, The droghte of Marcħ, hath perced to the roote; And bathed euery veyne in swich lycour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan zephirus eek wt his sweete breeth, Inspired hath in euery holt and heeth; The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne, Hath in the Ram, his half cours yronne; And smale foweles, maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open iye; So priketh hem nature, in hir corages, Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrymages;

Modern English (You speak this! No, really!) Approx. 1550—The Great Vowel Shift 1476—First printing press in England Includes Shakespeare and us Early Modern English (through mid-1600s) Spelling and other conventions not standardized until 18th century (1755—Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary)

Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1755) Patron: n. One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery. Lexicographer: n. a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words Oats: n. a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people Monsieur: n. a term of reproach for a Frenchman

The Canterbury Tales—Geoffrey Chaucer Late Middle Ages (bridges medieval and Renaissance)

Geoffrey Chaucer b. 1340-1344, d. 1400 “upper middle class” (anyone who had a fairly decent income but wasn’t a nobleman)

Chaucer’s career (greatly abbreviated) 1357: page in household of Prince Lionel 1359–60: w/ army of Edward III in France Studied law Distant connections to Edward III and Richard II Diplomat (Italy and France) Comptroller Clerk of the king’s works

Geoff Chaucer

Chaucer’s Influences French courtly love models Dante’s Divine Comedy (vernacular) Bocaccio’s Decameron

Courtly Love

Chaucer’s Works Patrons included John of Gaunt (Book of the Duchess) and Richard II No evidence that The Canterbury Tales was commissioned—it seems to have been his own project

The Story 30 people (including the Host) meet at The Tabard (an inn). Chaucer (the narrator) is one of them. They are going on pilgrimage to Canterbury (home of martyr, Thomas a Beckett). (This makes them pilgrims.) The host proposes to ride with them—each will tell two stories on the way there and two on the way back The best story wins!

More Canterbury Tales info Unfinished Fragmentary (w/ textual and historical clues as to the order of some pieces)

The Canterbury Tales is medieval very concerned with heaven and the after-life Heavily allegorical Stereotypes The journey as allegory?

The Renaissance in England The rise of the middle class=concern w/ more material things Weren’t serfs and therefore could attain things Greater emphasis on the behavior of human beings (humanism) Canterbury Tales = end of medieval, beginning of Renaissance

The Canterbury Tales is Renaissance Critique of the church and government Realistic personalities and motivations (psychological element): the loudmouthed woman, the nun who cares too much for appearances, the bawdy, beer-drinking miller, the starving student (types, but believable types)

The Prologue What is the tone? (What words lead to that tone?) Pilgrimage in April—Why are they going on a pilgrimage? The Knight—what do we know about him? With a partner—You will be assigned a character. What does Chaucer say about that character? What does Chaucer REALLY say about the character?

The allegory (maybe) All types traveling together to the holiest place in England All on the road to heaven together Glorifies England—all things are held w/in England Chaucer’s death before finishing—do they get there? (presumably, but we don’t know for sure)