1. The Medieval Period (Old English and Middle English)
English Literature
The Medieval Period
(Old English and Middle English)

2. Terms to Know!
Allegory - a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation
Ballad – a narrative poem
Irony – a difference between the expected and actual result in a situation
Parody – a piece of writing, music, etc., that imitates the style of someone or something else in an amusing way
Satire - humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc.

3. England before the English
When the Roman legions arrived, they found the land inhabited by “Britons.”
Today, the Britons are known as the Celts
Stonehenge
no written language
The Britons were absorbed into Roman society
Latin is spoken
Romans withdraw as the Empire crumbles, leaving the Britons behind

4. England before the English
group of pagan people from Northern Europe begin a series of invasions
Anglo-Saxons (Angles, Saxons, Jutes)
bring Germanic languages
still have their language
Wednesday…day of Woden, father of the gods
Thursday…day of Thor, god of war
Woden--father of the gods

5. Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother
By 600, Anglo-Saxons conquer the Britons
language becomes more Germanic
still retains some Latin
The Anglo-Saxons’ two urgings--war and wandering become part of the oral tradition
Beowulf is an example of an Anglo-Saxon hero tale
Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother

6. By 700, Christian missionaries arrive to convert the pagans
Latin (the language of the Church) returns
King Alfred
the Britons become organized
first true king of the Britons
period of prosperity
King Alfred brings an age of prosperity

7. the 3rd language is introduced--French
In 1066, the Normans (French speaking people from Normandy), led by William the Conqueror attack and defeat the Britains (a blend of the Britons and Anglo-Saxons) at the Battle of Hastings
the 3rd language is introduced--French
French culture and French literature arrives

8. The White Tower in London… part of William’s legacy
Welcome to England and the English… an island of peoples, languages, and divisions...
The White Tower in London…
part of William’s legacy
Chartres Cathedral
Latin -- church, schools
French -- court, castle
English -- commoners

9. What was it like to live in the Middle Ages?

10. The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages
The idea of estates, or orders, was encouraged during the Age, but this ordering was breaking down.
Clergy
Latin chiefly spoken, those who pray, purpose was to save everyone’s soul
Nobles
French chiefly spoken, those who fight, purpose was to protect—allow for all to work in peace—and provide justice
Commoners
English spoken, those who work, purpose was to feed and clothe all above them

11. A tenant (vassal) renews his oath of fealty to his lord
feudalism
The economic system of much of the Middle Ages ( )
Commoners (peasants) lived on a feudal manor. The lord of the manor gave his vassals (the peasants) land to farm.
In return, the vassals received protection from roving bandits. Yet they were taxed and had to surrender a portion of their crops to the lord.
it was better to be a lord than a vassal!
Feudalism is important as it created ties of obedience and fostered a sense of loyalty between the vassals and their lord.
A tenant (vassal) renews his oath of fealty to his lord

12. Chivalry
A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and morals
Restricted to nobility
The Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to…
God
his lord
his lady
Chivalric ideals include...
benevolence
brotherly love
politeness
Sir Gawain is an example

13. The Church Provided guidance through well known precepts..
Seven Deadly Sins
Pride
Greed
Wrath
Envy
Gluttony
Sloth
Lust

14. The Wheel of Fortune
The idea of Fortune and her wheel was one of the most pervasive ideas throughout the Middle Ages.
On the wheel are depicted four figures: one at the top, one at the bottom, one rising, and one falling.

15. It served to remind of the temporality of earthly things.
The Wheel helps understand the medieval mind, and it can help remind us that the important things in life come from within, that hard work has its own merits. An award, an office, a title--these are not the things that make for greatness.

16. the Ptolemaic Universe
Imagine a sphere that encloses another that holds another that holds yet another…and continues into heaven…
It is a commonly held myth that people of the Medieval period thought the Earth was flat…FALSE!
It was round, but at the center of the universe!
So what! Well, the people of the Medieval period loved order! Remember the Three Estates, the Seven Deadly Sins—a place for everyone and everyone in that place.
Watch for this order to begin to be displaced…
the Ptolemaic Universe

19. With the Crusades comes The Black Death
spreads along trade routes
kills much of the population
the plague outbreaks occur through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance
Paradoxically, the Plague provides for continued growth in cities
Afterwards, hundreds of new jobs available
Many debts “died off” with creditors
also contributed to society’s culture

20. Early Life Born c. 1340 Son of a prosperous wine merchant
In mid teens, he was placed in the service of the Countess of Ulster so he could obtain more education and be schooled in court and society life
Thus, he would have learned Latin and some Greek as well as perhaps some French and Italian

21. Early Life (cont.)
In, 1359 he was captured by the French at the seige of Reims during the Hundred Years' War while serving in English army; ransomed by King Edward III a year later
Chaucer joined the royal household and became a trusted messenger and minor diplomat

22. As a Royal Messenger
Chaucer was frequently sent to the continent on secret business for the King.
Some of these trips were to Italy where he became acquainted with the works of the great Italian authors: Boccaccio, Dante, Petrarch
These 3 were the greatest Italian writers of the early Renaissance period
More about these 3 important authors a bit later!

23. Other Jobs Chaucer Held…and Learned From...
Controller of Customs on Wools, Skins and Hides for the Port of London
Here he would meet many types of businessmen, sailors, travelers city folk and common laborers
Clerk of the King’s Works
In charge of construction and repairs affecting the royal residences; here he would meet many guildsmen as well as court officials
Deputy Forester of the King’s Forests
Away from the city, he met peasants, foresters, local clergy and other country folk
Representative of the Shire of Kent in Parliament
Here he met the rich, the influential and the upper middle class as well as the higher ranking church officials

24. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer wrote about the people he had met along the way. If you were doing the same thing today, think about the variety of types of people you know and have encountered.

25. Describe them by: Their job The type and color of their clothing
Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other portables)
The way they act
Their income
Their “secrets”
Their status in society as a whole
The way they speak / their slang or accent
Their mode of transportation

26. Chaucer’s Plan ...
A Prologue followed by a series of stories and linking dialogues and commentaries
Each character would tell 2 stories going and 2 stories coming home
uh… coming home from WHERE?
Canterbury of course. After all, his work IS called : The Canterbury Tales

27. London

28. But why go to Canterbury?

29. One Answer: Religion
Canterbury has always been an important religious center in England.
St. Augustine (seen in stained glass from the Canterbury Cathedral) was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to establish the Catholic faith in the country
Religion played an important part in medieval life.

30. Why was religion important?
It’s the Middle Ages
Plague
Warfare
High Infant Mortality Rate
Short Life Expectancy
…and if you were a peasant, you lived your whole life in harsh conditions
About the best thing that you had to look forward to was dying and going to heaven

31. Also, Canterbury was a Pilgrimage Site
People of all classes went on pilgrimages to holy sites to ask for help with medical, financial or other problems.

32. The Shrine of St. Thomas à Becket

33. Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Henry II
Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Henry II. Henry named Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.

34. Becket’s outspoken style angered the King
Becket’s outspoken style angered the King. One day, Henry complained, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” Three knights rode to Canterbury where they found Becket at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral.

35. Becket was murdered at the altar.

36. The death of Becket angered the peasants who felt his Saxon heritage made him one of them.

37. Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St
Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.

38. Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.

39. A close-up of the altar.

40. The fact that Chaucer wrote in English (Middle English), rather than French or Latin like many of his fellow writers, meant that ordinary folk could enjoy The Canterbury Tales and their vivid characters.

41. Chaucer surrounded by his characters.

42. The late fourteenth century world was still very much one of the spoken word. Books were copied out by hand and were a rare luxury till the advent of the printing press 70 years later. The educated elite could read, but they preferred to hear texts read out loud for entertainment. The Canterbury Tales, with their earthy humor and and vivid dialogue, were a runaway success.

43. So, let’s travel back to London, to the area called Southward, and stop at the Tabard Inn.

44. We’ll meet the characters and hear their stories.

45. The story begins...