1. The Medieval Period 1066-1485 AD
1066-the year the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror, a Norman (French), was now king of England.

2. Norman Rule in England
The Anglo-Saxon culture and Norman/French culture blended.
Normans ruled less than 100 years.
Brought Feudalism: land divided among noble barons. Knights served barons. Lowest class were the serfs or peasants.

3. The Royal Houses of Plantaganet, Lancaster, & York
1154-end of Norman Rule, beginning of Royalty
Plantaganet Rulers
1. 1st one-Henry II-increased King’s power and took it from the barons. Wanted also to lead Roman Cath. Ch. He had Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury murdered—1170.
King John singed Magna Carta. In this document, he agreed not to raise taxes w/o consent of barons.
3. Others-Richard the Lionhearted, John, Edward I, Richard II (last one)

4. More Royal Houses Info Lancaster Rulers 3 Kings: Henry IV, V, and VI
Henry VI-went insane-gave rule to uncle, Duke of York, while he recuperated.
1455-Henry VI got better, wanted throne back. Duke fought & won-war 30 years. “War of the Roses”

5. Royalty continued York Rulers
1st one-Edward IV-encouraged William Caxton to make printing press.
Edward V-only 12 years old when he takes throne. Uncle Richard III takes over-kills Ed V and his brother-then takes the throne-Richard III killed in battle because of this.
Henry Tudor takes over, distant relative of Lancasters

6. Chivalric Life in Medieval England
Knights: fought French, journeyed to Holy Lands, jousted in tournaments
Chivalry: ideal knights must live by-honorable, courteous, generous, brave, skillful in battle, respectful to women, helpful to weak.

7. Religious Life
Roman Catholic Church-all belonged-barons, knights, serfs.
Knights fought for church-crusades for Holy Land
Cathedrals were built during this time

8. City Life
1349-Black Death/Bubonic Plague killed 1/3 of the people in England.
After plague-cities sprung up everywhere.
Work Guilds formed
End of Knighthood-invention of gunpowder

9. Storytelling
Romances: stories with a blend of chivalry, touches of love, magic & marvels.
Folk Ballads: stories sung by common people.

10. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
By the Pearl Poet

11. Notes – Sir Gawain Composed in England around 1370
A romance poem: a narrative set in the world of knights, kings, and supernatural creatures.
Exciting story full of adventure
Derived from the word “Roman”

12. Notes, cont.
Romance poem includes three stages: a dangerous quest, a test of honor or courage, and a return to the point from which the quest began.
Author is anonymous but is known as the Pearl Poet b/c he also wrote the poem “The Pearl.”
Author was probably a member of the court b/c he’s so familiar with court life, costumes.

13. Middle English

14. Middle English English spoken between 1066 and about 1470
Followed Old English, also called Anglo-Saxon, spoken from mid-5th century CE
Germanic influences
What happened in 1066?
Norman (French: Normandy) conquest of England
Added French influences!

15. Notes
Sir Gawain, the main character, appears in several tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
King Arthur: Legendary king, probably warrior during the invasion of Britain by the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons.
Arthur was head of the Knights of the Round Table.

16. Notes
Knights of Round Table: the greatest fighters, represented chivalry at its best.
Camelot: fictitious place where the Arthurian legends take place
Chivalry: the code by which knights lived. Courteous, courageous, and honorable

17. Knights
Characteristics of a knight: strength, skilled at arms and horsemanship, courageous, loyal, and courteous.
Sir Gawain – a knight of the round table. At first considered the weakest of most insignificant knight. Volunteers to accept a challenge from the Green Knight.

18. Literary Terms
Symbolism – use of symbols that exist on a literal level within a work but also represent something on a figurative level. Symbols can be a person, animal, place, object, event, color, etc.
Alliteration-the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

19. What is a Romance?
A narrative set in the world of knights, kings and supernatural creatures.
Relates to and deals with King Arthur and his court.

20. Notes, cont. Romance poem includes three stages: a dangerous quest
a test of honor or courage
and a return to the point from which the quest began.
The basic material of medieval romance is knightly activity and adventure; we might best define medieval romance as a story of adventure.