1. The Old English Period The Middle Ages

2. Important Dates 43-420 Roman invasion and occupation of Britain
450 Anglo Saxon Conquest
1066 Norman Conquest
1200 Beginning of Middle English literature
1485 Caxton’s printing of Malory

3. The Middle Ages
Covers time span from collapse of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance
Time period of more than 800 years
1485 end of the Middle Ages

4. A Time of Change Roman Catholic Church provided continuity
Norman Conquest added French words to the English vocabulary
Cross-currents of languages and literatures during this period
Literature in English was performed orally,and written throughout the Middle Ages, but uniquely English literature does not exist before the late 14th century.
English began to displace French at the end of the 14th century in Parliament and courts of law.

5. Anglo-Saxon England
From 1st to 5th century, England was province of Roman Empire
Named Britannia
When the Romans withdrew during the fifth century, island was invaded by Germanic seafarers
These belonged to three tribes: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes.

6. Conversion to Christianity
Britons became Christian in the fourth century
In 597, a Benedictine monk was sent by Pope Gregory as a missionary to King Ethelbert of Kent and missionaries from Ireland became to preach Christianity in the north.
Within 75 years, the island was Christian.
The first extended written specimen of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) language is a code of laws.
England produced many distinguished Churchmen, including Bede. ,

7. Invasions by the Danes
In the 9th century, Christian Anglo-Saxons were subjected to invasions by the Danes.
They were stopped by King Alfred.
King Alfred was an enthusiastic patron of literature.

8. Old English Poetry Oral tradition
Literacy was restricted to men of the church
Most of Old English literature is religious
Most of Old English poetry is contained in just four manuscripts.

9. Heroic Values
Heroic values of Germanic society continued to inspire clergy and laity in the Christian era.
Heroic Values - Tribe is ruled by king who surrounds himself with a band of retainers. He leads men to battle and rewards them with gifts and treasures. Retainers are obligated to fight for their lord to the death
Blood vengeance is a sacred duty.
The best poetry of the period is both Christian and heroic.

10. Characteristics of Old English Poetry
Harsh world view
Formal speech
Elevated language
Irony
Contrast Pagan and Christian
Fate
The Past
Violence
Values of warrior society

11. Anglo-Norman England The Normans took possession of England in 1066
They adopted French language and Christian religion
Henry II, first of England’s Plantagenet kings

12. Languages
During the Anglo-Norman period, four languages co-existed: Latin, French, English, and Celtic.
The Latin Bible provided subject for Old English poetry and prose
Attraction to Celtic legends
Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes wrote romances
King Arthur and his court acquired immense popularity
Romance involves a knight proving his worthiness through nobility of character and brave deeds
Religious literature aimed at women – saints’ lives, The Ancrene Riwle.

13. Middle English Literature in the 14th Century
Old English replaces French in literature
Thirty Year’s War
The bubonic plague wiped out one-third of European population
A time of social unrest
Church becomes target of resentment because of its wealth and worldliness
Great European poets of the 14th century include Dante, Petrarch, Marie de France, and Boccoccio
English writers of the 14th century include Chaucer, William Langland, the Pearl poet, and the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

14. The Fifteenth Century
War of the Roses between Lancasters and Yorks ended with King Henry VII’s ascension to the throne
Performances of mystery plays and morality plays
Mystical writings – Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
Lydgate
Malory
Caxton’s printing press introduced in Caxton’s publication of Malory’s Morte Darthur.

15. Middle English Literature
Religious literature
Popular literature
Romance
King Arthur
Allegory
Morality
Authors looked at themselves as craftsmen
No emphasis on originality
Ptolemaic view of the universe – earth centered
Gothic Church as symbol of Middle Ages – height and light