Medieval Period

Language Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the “end” of Old English and the beginning of Middle English

Influences of French (Normans), Latin (clergy) But though the Normans spoke French, English still outnumbered French, and English won out with some borrowing of words such as business terms and terms of the upper class (noble, dame)

Society Leaders came from the Norman – French background – so lords, landowners, aristocracy, ruling class – were Normans Anglo-Saxons were now the peasant serfs who worked for them – slaves Isolation – not much trade – communal society (earliest societies were walled in)

Feudalism: the system of land ownership and forced allegiance a) class system – serfs lived poorly b) geared to war – always battles between countries, barons etc. (ie. War of Roses between Houses of York and Lancaster)

Church Theocentric society: God at top, then king, then lords or nobles, then serfs, and finally, women Only place where all Englishmen united (Canterbury Tales) Membership in church secured a place in society (if excommunicated, lost status) All classes could go on pilgrimage together Common language: Latin Chief centers of learning and art and architectural advances Gave a sense of nationality before nationalism existed If serfs wanted out of serfdom, could go to monasteries as workers and be educated in religion and scholarly pursuits. Girls could become nuns

b) pages and squires = were “pre” knights who were taught manners, fighting, etc. c) women = took on another status – not realistic – put on a “pedestal” – only upper class, though 4) Effect of chivalry on lit? Romance! - upper class lords and ladies and their courtships - heroes and heroines - adventure - mysticism

Other “markers” of late medieval period Black Death and 100 Years’ War – broke down barriers of people – had to work together – women allowed to hold positions

Longbow invented – brought end to respect of knight

Medieval Literature Ballad 1) literature of common people – oral tradition 2) came from French Ballade – or dance song 3) jovial mood in music and lit 4) contains plot– poems told stories

3 Types of Ballads: 1) Folk ballad = oldest – composed by local singer to commemorate events of importance in community – repetition 2) Minstrel ballad = more description – composed by minstrels or conscious artists (often of the court) – accounts of thoughts and feelings 3) Coronach = lament – personal emotion – sadness **Ballads closely in step with development of Lyric poetry

Ballad Stanza 4 iambic lines: u/ u/ u/ u/ 1 st line = 4 accents – iambic tetrameter 2 nd line = 3 accents – iambic trimeter Repeat for 3 rd and 4 th lines Example of contemporary folk ballad = “On Top of Old Smokie”

Geoffrey Chaucer 1340?

We guess he was about 53 years old when wrote Canterbury Tales Father a rich wine merchant, so of the upper class Knew Latin, French, and Italian – a man of letters and scholar (influenced by Italian Bocaccio, a bawdy writer of tales) Grew up in Court, and had several careers: Customs officer, member of Parliament, page to a countess, diplomat, soldier, writer (as a hobby)

Sense of humor – “tongue-in-cheek” User of dramatic irony = reader knows more than character

Canterbury Tales Largest work of Medieval period Written in 1378 Collection of short stories/”tales” Drew on the times as setting Pilgrimage to shrine of Thomas a Becket who was killed by Henry II

Comments on life/satirical Narrative and poetry, rather than prose

The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury 1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote 2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, 3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour 4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, 9: And smale foweles maken melodye, Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath, The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun Into the Ram one half his course has run, And many little birds make melody

, 10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye 11: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages); 12: Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, 13: And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, 14: To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 15: And specially from every shires ende 16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende, 17: The hooly blisful martir for to seke, 18: That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. That sleep through all the night with open eye (So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, To distant shrines well known in sundry lands. And specially from every shire's end Of England they to Canterbury wend, The holy blessed martyr there to seek Who helped them when they lay so ill and weal

Prologue - Harry Bailey says will give free dinner to whomever tells best tale at his restaurant - Each pilgrim to tell 2 stories on the way to Canterbury and 1 on the way back What season is this? How does the season contribute to the theme of the pilgrimage? What are the points of view that Chaucer takes on in the Canterbury Tales?

Writing Style Irony Narrative in 1 st person Rhyme pattern = couplets 5 beats per line = what is this called? Loose rhythm Spelling irregular (no standardization yet!) Satire/humor/morals

Four Humours Sanguine = blood red: healthy person, pleasant personality Phlegm = indicates disease: dull, slow, pale, and sickly Choleric = yellow bile: obstinate, impatient, unfriendly Melancholy = black bile: melancholy, fat, backward, lazy, overly sentimental

Medieval Terms Exempla Courtly love Chivalry Irony Dramatic irony Fabliaux Beast fable Pasterel Ballad Satire Couplets Narrative Feudalism 4 humours: sanguine, phlegm, choleric, melancholy