Medieval Period (British Literature)

1. Medieval Period
(1066 – 1485)
Colin Shanafelt
Professor of English
Austin, Texas
cshanafe@austincc.edu
www.ColinShanafelt.com
British Literature
Literary Period Notes

2. The Middle Ages
(450 - 1485)
• The Middle Ages - Collapse of the Roman Empire in Britain (ca. 450) to The English Renaissance (ca. 1485)
• Literary Subdivisions (Middle Ages Literary Genres)
Medieval vs. Middle Ages
• The word "medieval" comes from the Latin words medium (middle) & aevum (age)
• Medieval Period: (1066 - 1485) - The Battle of Hastings to Henry VIII (English Renaissance)
• Medieval Period = Anglo-Norman + Middle English periods
• English Language (Development - Middle Ages )
• Old English - Spoken by the Germanic invaders of Britain (Anglo-Saxons) (450 - 1066).
• Anglo-Norman (Old French) - French dialect spoken the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the early 15th century (1066 - c. 1400).
• Middle English - Displaced French as Britain's official language by late 14th century (1150 - 1485).
• Modern English - Present-day English Language, spoken from Henry VIII to present day (1485 - ).
• Books (Middle Ages Book-Making)
• Monasteries and religious houses were the major producers of books prior to 1530.
✦ The monasteries were dissolved by King Henry VIII in the 1530s.
• Commercial book-making enterprises began around the 14th century.
• Religious houses were the major consumers of books during the Middle Ages.
• Nobles began purchasing and commissioning books during the Anglo-Norman period.
• In the 14th century, wealthy urbanites also entered the book market.
• In 1476 William Caxton introduced moveable type to England increasing production speed & reducing cost
✦ One of Caxton's first successes was a print edition of Malory's Morte Darthur.
1. Anglo-Saxon 2. Anglo-Norman 3. Middle English

3. • Etymology - English, England, & Anglo (Anglo-Saxon) take their root from a tribe of post-Roman settlers named the Angles.
• Angles - Primary Germanic people who settled post-Roman Britain in the 5th century.
• England = "land of Ængle”
• Classification - English is an Indo-European language in the West Germanic group of the Germanic languages.
• Development - The English language evolved over 1,400 years, existing in major forms, Old, Middle, & Modern English.
1. Old English (450 - 1066)
• A Germanic language brought by the Anglo-Saxons (phonetic, inflectional word endings, loose syntax).
✦ Anglo-Norman (1066 - c. 1400) - Language brought by French-Norman invaders & spoken during the Norman Conquest
• A dialect of French brought to England by French Normans during Norman Conquest (1066 - c.1075).
• Language of the upper classes and those in law, government, and academia.
• The Normans (a contraction of "Norsemen") took possession of England in 1066 (Norman Conquest)
✦ During this period the ruling class in England spoke Old French (Anglo-Norman).
• Spoken from the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to Henry VIII’s coronation in 1485 (English Renaissance)
• Old English remained the language of the working class and peasants.
2. Middle English (1150 - 1485)
• Language of Medieval England. Mixture Old English (w/ simplified inflections & grammar) & Anglo-Norman French.
✦ “Great Vowel Shift” - Major changes to English pronunciation between 1400 and 1700.
• Altered Middle English pronunciation of long vowels and forced consonants to become silent.
• Causes: Anglo-Norman French synthesis, Black Death migration, & anti-French hypercorrection
* An intentional effort to make English sound less French due to deep hatred for the French.
3. Modern English (1485 - present)
✦ Why does Modern English spelling, grammar, and pronunciation lack coherent logical consistency?
• The Norman Conquest and “Great Vowel Shift” fused Middle English and Anglo-Norman French to create present-day
Modern English with its numerous non-phonetical pronunciations, silent letters, erratic spellings, French cognates, and
grammatical exceptions.
The English Language
(History & Development in Medieval Britain)

4. Historical Significance
(Medieval Britain)
• 1066 – Battle of Hastings - William the Conqueror (French Norman) invades England and captures the crown.
• 1086 – Domesday Book - Survey and assessment of British land and owners to levy taxes after the Norman Conquest
• 1096 – First Crusade - Pope Urban II calls on Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Islamic rule.
• 1167 – Oxford University - Expanded education and literacy beyond the monasteries where most books were stored.
• 1215 – Magna Carta - A secular contract that granted rights to English lords and inspired future constitutions.
• 1337 – Hundred Years War - Royal houses of England & France fought for the right to rule France (1337–1453).
• 1347 – Bubonic plague - “Black Death,” spread by fleas, killed one-third of the European population.
• 1476 – Movable Type - William Caxton introduced to England, thereby drastically increasing the speed books could be produced.
• 1455 – War of the Roses - Rival branches of House of Plantagenet (York & Lancaster) & supporters to rule England
• Domesday Book - A manuscript surveying much of England and Wales (1086) by Norman King William the Conqueror.
• The "Great Survey" chronicled the lands of England for the conquering French.
• French nobility became interested in Celtic legends as a result of the survey.
• First Crusade - Pope Urban II calls on Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Islamic rule.
• Brought science and math from foreign lands, as well as the traditional stories of the Middle East.
• Framed the Knight as a man of honor loyal to both God and ruler
• Rekindles the concept of chivalry.
• Knights of the Crusades were often second sons and not entitled to inherit land from their fathers
• The concept of courtly love gained popularity (i.e. love that would not end in marriage).
• Magna Carta - A secular contract (Royal Charter) guaranteeing rights and privileges of English barons
• King John of England was forced to sign. Challenged the concept of divine rule.
• Precursor to later constitutions that established laws conceived of and written by men, rather than handed down by God.
• Made peace between the unpopular king and a group of rebel barons
• Promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and
limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. Implemented through a council of 25 barons.
• Feudalism - Knights defended the King and castle. Created a distinct social class as the gap between noble and peasant grew.
• Chivalry - Traditional moral system and code of conduct among knights focusing on duty, honor, loyalty, and courage,
• A knight must protect those who could not protect themselves, obey his ruler without hesitation, fear God and protect the Christian

5. Medieval Literature
(1066-1485)
✦ Medieval Romances - Anglo Normans brought romances to England (i.e. courtly love, chivalry, secret love, adultery, & knightly courage).
• Courtly Love - Romantic love that was not physical, but based on flirting, dancing, and the chivalrous efforts of knights and nobles.
✦ Named Authorship - Poets and authors began to take credit for work.
✦ Cultural Literacy - Anglo-Normans brought cultural exchange. Latin, French, English, & Celtic languages were spoken widely.
✦ Celtic Folklore - Anglo-Norman aristocracy became interested in Celtic legends, which were new to them.
✦ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - Historical record of the Anglo-Saxons. Allowed Anglo-Norman readers to see Norman rule from English view.
• Rhyming Verse - French poetry brought by Norman French introduced rhyme, rather than the alliteration that marked Anglo-Saxon poetry.
✦ Female Audience - A new audience of women emerged to read Romances and religious prose pieces written specifically for women.
• Courtly Literature - Composed to entertain the ruling-class and share histories, social codes, and moral instruction.
• Medieval Romances - Written to entertainment the upper classes and provide moral instruction. Brought by Norman French.
- Fantastic stories about marvel-filled tales of chivalry & courtly love—embedded with moral instruction for noble readers.
- Breton lays were developed by writers like Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes to form “romance,” the main medieval genre.
- Romance Themes - courtly love & chivalry, secret/forbidden romances, adultery, dying in the name of love, and love at first sight.
- Sub-genres - 1. Chivalric Romance 2. Courtly Love Romance (Not like modern romance novels)
- Arthurian Romance – Tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table—especially popular with women.
• Courtly Love -A highly conventionalized code that prescribed the behavior of ladies and their lovers and provided the theme of a much
medieval literature. Courtly love began with the troubadour poetry of Aquitaine and Provence in southern France (late 11th century). A
romantic experience "at once illicit and morally elevating, passionate and disciplined, humiliating and exalting, human and transcendent.”
• Female Audience - Courtly love romances and religious prose read by female audience. Arthurian Romances and religious prose narratives
describing the lives of saints were written for women. These brought women tales romantic love or help toward spiritual enlightenment.
• Allegorical Writing - Allegory (developed from Hebrew and Christian biblical prophecies) was used in clerical/religious literature, often
exploring the correspondence of physical and spiritual events.
• Ricardian Poetry - Formal structured poetry during the reign of King Richard that presented traditional themes from a more secular
viewpoint.

6. Map of England
Medieval Period
(1066 – 1485)

7. Rulers of England
(Medieval Era)
Saxons
Edward the Confessor 1042-1066
Harold II 1066-1066
Normans
William the Conqueror 1066-1087
William II (Rufus) 1087-1100
Henry I 1100-1035
Steven 1135-1154
Plantagenets
Henry II 1154-1189
Richard I (Lion Heart) 1189-1199
John 1199-1216
Henry III 1216-1272
Edward I (Longshanks) 1272-1307
Edward II 1307-1327
Edward III 1327-1377
Richard II 1377-1399

8. Medieval Castles

9. Arundel Castle
Arundel, West Sussex, England
Established by Roger de Montgomery on Christmas Day 1067

10. Bodiam Castle
Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England
Built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III

11. Windsor Castle
Windsor, Berkshire, England
Royal Residence
William the Conqueror first commissioned Windsor Castle in 1070

12. Suit of Armor
Made for
King Henry VIII

13. Medieval Manuscripts

14. The Canterbury Tales
by
Geoffrey Chaucer
“The Knight’s Tale”
The Ellesmere Manuscript
(Illuminated Manuscript)
Illuminated - Parchment codex
(c. 1440-1410)
Language: Middle English
Huntington Library in San Marino, California

15. Illuminated Manuscripts
Parchment or Vellum
(treated animal skin)
Medieval Era - Middle English

16. The Domesday Book

17. Magna Carta

18. Medieval Art

19. Medieval Art
Attributes of Medieval Art
• Disproportionate and no perspective
• All faces the same, unrealistic
• Two-dimensional, flat, and dull
• Religious themes
• 180 degree relief statues
• Storytelling, either about religion or warfare
• Artists are craftsmen, works for a guild

20. Madonna Enthroned
Duccio (1308-1311)

21. Madonna Enthroned
Giovanni Cimabue (1280-90)

22. Annunciation
Simone Martini &
Lippo Memmi
Tempera & gold leaf on wood
(1333)
10 ft.1 in. x 8 ft. 8 3/4 in.

23. Annunciation
Simon Martini (1333)

24. Saint Michael’s at Hildesheim
Doors with bronze relief panels
(1015)

25. Adam & Eve Naked & Expelled from the Garden of Eden
Saint Michael’s at Hildesheim
Doors with bronze relief panels
(1015)

26. Crucifix
Commissioned
by Archbishop Gero
for Cologne Cathedral
(c. 970, painted wood)

27. Otto III Enthroned
from the
Gospel Book of Otto III
(Trier, Germany)
997-1000
*Alignment of church and state/ mixture of pagan and
Christian imagery

28. Battle of Hastings
(The Bayeux Tapestry)
From Bayeux Cathedral, Bayeux, France
ca. 1070-1080
embroidered wool on linen
229 ft. 8 in. overall

29. The Maciejowski Bible
(Crusader Bible)
French Gothic Manuscript Illumination
Old Testament Miniatures
Latin, Persian, and Judeo-Persian Inscriptions
(France, Paris - 1240s)

30. The Maciejowski Bible
(Crusader Bible)
French Gothic Manuscript Illumination
Old Testament Miniatures
Latin, Persian, and Judeo-Persian Inscriptions
(France, Paris - 1240s)

31. Saint Matthew
from the
Ebbo Gospels
(Hautvillers, near Reims, France)
c. 816-835
Ink and tempera on vellum

32. Saint Luke
from the
Ebbo Gospels
(Hautvillers, near Reims, France)
c. 816-835
Ink and tempera on vellum

33. Reims Cathedral
Reims, France
begun ca. 1225-1290

34. Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, Kent, England
Founded 597, rebuilt 1070-1077

35. Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, Kent, England
Founded 597, rebuilt 1070-1077

36. Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, Kent, England
Founded 597, rebuilt 1070-1077