📜English Literature – Before 1670 Unit 2 – Middle English Literature

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Middle English the form of English spoken and written from the 12th to the late 15th centuries
• Vernacular literature written in the native language of a specific population (English, French, Italian)
• Alliterative verse poetic form characterized by the repetition of initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables
  • Commonly used in Middle English poetry (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
• Courtly love a highly stylized and conventionalized code of love between a knight and a married noblewoman
• Chivalry a system of values and ideals associated with knighthood (bravery, courtesy, honor, gallantry)
• Breton lai a type of narrative poem or song that tells a story of chivalry and romance
• Frame narrative a literary technique in which a main story is used to organize a set of shorter stories (The Canterbury Tales)
• Allegory a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

Historical Context and Time Period

• Middle English period spans from the late 11th century to the late 15th century
  • Begins with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066
  • Ends with the introduction of the printing press in England in the late 1400s
• Norman Conquest of 1066 led to the introduction of French as the language of the ruling class
  • English gradually regained its status as the dominant language by the 14th century
• The Black Death (bubonic plague) swept through Europe in the mid-14th century
  • Significant impact on society, economy, and culture
• The Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453) influenced the development of national identities
• The rise of the middle class and the growth of towns and cities contributed to the spread of literacy and vernacular literature
• The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century revolutionized the dissemination of literature

Major Authors and Works

• Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) considered the "Father of English Literature"
  • The Canterbury Tales a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket
  • Troilus and Criseyde a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Trojan War
• William Langland (c. 1332-1386) author of Piers Plowman, an allegorical work criticizing religious and social corruption
• The Pearl Poet (14th century) anonymous author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and other poems
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight an Arthurian romance featuring themes of chivalry, temptation, and honor
• John Gower (c. 1330-1408) a contemporary of Chaucer, known for his moral and allegorical works (Confessio Amantis)
• Margery Kempe (c. 1373-1438) author of The Book of Margery Kempe, considered the first autobiography in English
• Thomas Malory (c. 1415-1471) compiled and wrote Le Morte d'Arthur, a prose retelling of Arthurian legends

Themes and Literary Devices

• Courtly love a central theme in many Middle English works (Troilus and Criseyde, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
  • Emphasizes the nobility and refinement of the lover's character
  • Often involves a knight's devotion to a married noblewoman
• Religious themes and allusions prevalent in Middle English literature (Piers Plowman, The Canterbury Tales)
  • Reflections on the role of the Church and religious corruption
  • Use of biblical allusions and Christian symbolism
• Allegory a common literary device used to convey moral, political, or religious messages (Piers Plowman, Pearl)
• Satire employed to criticize social and religious institutions (The Canterbury Tales)
• Dream visions a popular literary device in which the narrator falls asleep and experiences a vision or dream (Pearl, Piers Plowman)
• Alliteration and rhyme used extensively in Middle English poetry (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl)
• Symbolism and imagery used to convey deeper meanings and themes (the pentangle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)

Language and Linguistic Features

• Middle English evolved from Old English after the Norman Conquest of 1066
  • Incorporated many French and Latin loanwords
  • Developed a more analytical grammar, losing inflections and adopting a fixed word order
• Spelling and pronunciation varied widely due to regional dialects and lack of standardization
  • Chaucer's dialect (London English) became the basis for Modern English
• Middle English texts often used alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
• Rhyme became increasingly popular in Middle English poetry (The Canterbury Tales)
• The Great Vowel Shift, a series of changes in pronunciation, began in the late Middle English period
  • Contributed to the development of Modern English
• Middle English texts can be challenging for modern readers due to differences in spelling, grammar, and vocabulary

Cultural and Social Influences

• The Church played a significant role in medieval society and influenced literature
  • Many authors were clergymen or had religious education (Chaucer, Langland)
  • Religious themes and allusions were common in Middle English works
• The rise of the middle class and the growth of towns and cities led to increased literacy and demand for vernacular literature
• Courtly culture and the ideals of chivalry influenced the themes and characters in Middle English literature (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
• The Black Death and the Hundred Years' War had significant impacts on society and were reflected in literature
  • Themes of death, loss, and social upheaval (Piers Plowman)
• The Arthurian legends and the Matter of Britain were popular subjects in Middle English literature (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d'Arthur)
• The influence of French and Italian literature on Middle English works (Chaucer's adaptation of Boccaccio's Filostrato in Troilus and Criseyde)

Literary Genres and Forms

• Romance a popular genre featuring stories of chivalry, adventure, and courtly love (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Troilus and Criseyde)
• Allegory a genre in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities (Piers Plowman, Pearl)
• Dream vision a genre in which the narrator experiences a vision or dream that conveys a moral or spiritual message (Pearl, Piers Plowman)
• Lyric poetry short, musical poems expressing personal emotions or thoughts (Chaucer's short poems)
• Fabliau a type of humorous, often bawdy tale featuring trickery and clever wordplay (some of The Canterbury Tales)
• Breton lai a type of short narrative poem featuring themes of love, magic, and chivalry (Sir Orfeo)
• Frame narrative a literary device in which a main story is used to organize a set of shorter stories (The Canterbury Tales)
• Prose works became more common in the later Middle English period (Le Morte d'Arthur, The Book of Margery Kempe)

Impact on Later Literature

• Chaucer's works, particularly The Canterbury Tales, had a significant influence on later English literature
  • Established the use of vernacular English as a literary language
  • Influenced the development of the English literary canon
• The Arthurian legends and characters featured in Middle English works continue to inspire modern adaptations and retellings
• Middle English poetry's use of alliteration and rhyme influenced the development of English poetic forms
• The themes and motifs of courtly love and chivalry in Middle English literature influenced later works (Shakespeare's plays)
• The use of allegory and dream visions in Middle English literature influenced later allegorical works (Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene)
• The portrayal of social and religious issues in Middle English works influenced later satirical and critical literature (Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels)
• The development of prose works in the later Middle English period paved the way for the rise of the novel in the 18th century
• Middle English literature's exploration of the human experience and emotions continues to resonate with readers and inspire writers today