The Anglo-Norman Period (1066 ~ 1485) Chapter 2 The Anglo-Norman Period (1066 ~ 1485)

I. Historical Background The Norman Conquest (1066 ~ 1350 A.D.) in 1066 A.D.: William ---- Harold (the battle of Hastings) → the conquest of England 2. consequences: feudalism medieval French culture Norm-French language

French --- official language, used by the King, Norman lords and courtiers Latin --- the principal tongue of the scholars in churches and courts Old English --- spoken only by the common English people

changes of the English language throughout some four centuries Thousands of words were borrowed. Many old inflectional forms of native English words disappeared. The formal grammar was considerably simplified.

II. Medieval English Literature 1066 ~ the mid-14th century: barren period the second half of the 14th century: Age of Chaucer Genres: Romances Three major themes: The Matter of Britain The Matter of France The Matter of Rome representative work: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The features of Romance The romance was a long composition, sometimes in verse, sometimes in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero. Hero: usually the knight, a man of noble birth, skilled in the use of weapons, who sets out on a journey to accomplish some goal -- to protect the church and the king, to attack infidelity, to rescue a maiden, to meet a challenge, or to obey a knightly command.

The structure is loose and episodic; the language and style are simple and straightforward. It was written for the noble class, so it had nothing to do with the common people. It exaggerates the vices of human nature and idealizes the virtues. It contains perilous adventures more or less remote from ordinary life, even describes supernatural things.

☆ Definition of Romance Romance: Any imagination literature that is set in an idealized world and that deals with a heroic adventures and battles between good characters and villains or monsters.

Popular Ballads Introduction: Popular ballads are originally dance songs in verse form, usually in 4-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed. There were several kinds of ballads: historical, legendary, fantastical, lyrical and humorous. Ballads of Robin Hood

Features of Ballads Dramatic developments of its plot with vivid episodes Both narrative and lyrical components Repetition Alliteration Variety of themes

Middle English Prose Thomas Malory : Morte d'Arthur (Death of Arthur) (2) Writers William Langland: Piers the Plowman Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales