Geoffrey Chaucer (/ˈtʃɔːsər/; c. 1340s – 25 October 1400) was an English poet and author. Considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages,[citation needed] he is best known for The Canterbury Tales, and is considered the "Father of English literature". He was the first writer buried in Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey.[1] Chaucer also gained fame as a philosopher and astronomer, composing the scientific A Treatise on the Astrolabe for his 10-year-old son Lewis. He maintained a career in the civil service as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, and member of parliament.
The 14th century is known as Chaucer’s age
It marks the beginning of a new language and literature
It was the age of transformation from medieval age to modern times
It was essentially an era of unrest and transition
Main writers of the age: Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Wycliffe, Sir John Mandeville, John Gower
Remarkable Events that Influenced Chaucer
Natural calamities
Black Death [Plague] (A.D. 1348-49)
Age of social unrest and economic troubles. -- Labor become unsatisfied with their salary. -- Efforts were made to keep the labors under control with the help of legislation.
Burdens of taxation.
Conflict between king Richard and his subjects
Features of Chaucer’s Age with Example
Standard English Language: Proper English without influence of other languages
Example: The Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer; Piers Plowman by William Langland etc.
Realism: Concept of reality
Example: The settings of The Canterbury Tales
Church Corruption:
Example: The religious figures in The Canterbury Tales highlights many problems of church corruptions
Presence of Humor, Satire & Irony:
Example: The Canterbury Tales reveal Chaucerian Humor in the Prologue, showed Satire through the characterization & Irony to build up a satirical portrait.
Spirit of Romance:
Example: Courtly love, Romance, Marriage & Sexual Desire are found in the theme of The Canterbury Tales
Frame Story: A literary device that joins together 2 or more large stories or frame.
Example: The Canterbury Tales is a great indication of the frame work
Growth of Nationalism:
Example: In the writings of this age the influence of love for nation are found.
Geoffrey Chaucer (/ˈtʃɔːsər/; c. 1340s – 25 October 1400) was an English poet and author. Considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages,[citation needed] he is best known for The Canterbury Tales, and is considered the "Father of English literature". He was the first writer buried in Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey.[1] Chaucer also gained fame as a philosopher and astronomer, composing the scientific A Treatise on the Astrolabe for his 10-year-old son Lewis. He maintained a career in the civil service as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, and member of parliament.
The 14th century is known as Chaucer’s age
It marks the beginning of a new language and literature
It was the age of transformation from medieval age to modern times
It was essentially an era of unrest and transition
Main writers of the age: Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Wycliffe, Sir John Mandeville, John Gower
Remarkable Events that Influenced Chaucer
Natural calamities
Black Death [Plague] (A.D. 1348-49)
Age of social unrest and economic troubles. -- Labor become unsatisfied with their salary. -- Efforts were made to keep the labors under control with the help of legislation.
Burdens of taxation.
Conflict between king Richard and his subjects
Features of Chaucer’s Age with Example
Standard English Language: Proper English without influence of other languages
Example: The Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer and the Fox by Geoffrey Chaucer; Piers Plowman by William Langland etc.
Realism: Concept of reality
Example: The settings of The Canterbury Tales
Church Corruption:
Example: The religious figures in The Canterbury Tales highlights many problems of church corruptions
Presence of Humor, Satire & Irony:
Example: The Canterbury Tales reveal Chaucerian Humor in the Prologue, showed Satire through the characterization & Irony to build up a satirical portrait.
Spirit of Romance:
Example: Courtly love, Romance, Marriage & Sexual Desire are found in the theme of The Canterbury Tales
Frame Story: A literary device that joins together 2 or more large stories or frame.
Example: The Canterbury Tales is a great indication of the frame work
Growth of Nationalism:
Example: In the writings of this age the influence of love for nation are found.
The presentation highlights the major periods or the eras of English Literature dated from Anglo-Saxon till 20th century i.e. the Modern Era. It shows the political, social, economic background of the ages.
This is the first period in English literature. Anglo-Saxon England was early medieval England, existing from the 5th to the 11th century from the end of Roman Britain until the Norman conquest in 1066. It consisted of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms until 927 when it was united as the Kingdom of England by King Æthelstan (r. 927–939). It became part of the North Sea Empire of Cnut the Great, a personal union between England, Denmark and Norway in the 11th century.
The presentation highlights the major periods or the eras of English Literature dated from Anglo-Saxon till 20th century i.e. the Modern Era. It shows the political, social, economic background of the ages.
This is the first period in English literature. Anglo-Saxon England was early medieval England, existing from the 5th to the 11th century from the end of Roman Britain until the Norman conquest in 1066. It consisted of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms until 927 when it was united as the Kingdom of England by King Æthelstan (r. 927–939). It became part of the North Sea Empire of Cnut the Great, a personal union between England, Denmark and Norway in the 11th century.
The 10th PPT presentation on the History of Language. This is for pages 134-140 of the Middle English chapter.
Thank you both Sater Al Luhidan and your team for the great efforts.
Another version for the presentation on the History of Language. This is for pages 128-133 of the Old English chapter.
Thank you Metaib Al Zahrani, Mohammed Al Qarni, and Ahmad Al Otabai for your efforts.
The Literature during Medieval Period that tackles what is medieval period - it's beginning and end, the rise of medieval church, culture and traditions reflected in literature, states in medieval times, important figures during that time, important documents, and of course, the characteristics of that period. It discusses how the ways of living in medieval times was widely reflected in their literature - texts and scriptures.
2. England before the English
• When the Romans arrived, they
found the land inhabited by
―Britons.‖
– known as the Celts
• Stonehenge
• no written language
• absorbed into the Latin
speaking Roman society
• Romans withdraw, leaving the
Britons/Celts behind
• Invasions from the Northern Europe
– Anglo-Saxon bring Germanic
languages
3. • 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
4. • 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
5. • 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
6. Welcome to England and the English…
an island of peoples, languages, and divisions...
Latin -- church, schools
French -- court, castle
English -- commoners
The White Tower in London…
part of William’s legacyChartres Cathedral
8. 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
9. feudalism
• The economic system of much of the
Middle Ages (800-1100)
• 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
10. 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
11. T h e ―H ig h ‖ M id d le A g e s
(b e g in 1 0 9 5 )
• B e g in w ith th e F irst C r u sa d e (1 0 9 5 )--re c la im
Je ru sa le m fro m th e in fid e ls
– O p e n tr a d e r o u te s
– P e a sa n ts (th e v a ssa ls) a r e lib e r a te d fr o m th e ir
lo r d s to fig h t, a n d d ie , in th e H o ly L a n d s
– C itie s sp r in g u p a lo n g th e c r u sa d e r o u te s
– F e u d a lis m d ie s o u t
– th e tr a n sitio n to th e R en a issa n c e b e g in s
12. T h e ― H ig h ‖ M id d le A g e s
• B e fo re , in th e D a rk
A g e s, th e C h u rc h
p ro v id e d stru c tu re to
so c ie ty, n o t o n ly w ith
re lig io n , b u t b y
p ro v id in g e d u c a tio n ,
a s w e ll.
• S a d ly, w ith th e
C ru sa d e s, th e C h u r c h
b e c o m e s in c r e d ib ly
c o r r u p t.
– P o p e s fig h t fo r
p o litica l p o w e r
– G r e e d is r a m p a n t
• se llin g o f in d u lg e n c e s
• C r u sa d e s fo r $
• lo o k f o r th is in th e
T a le s
13. 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
15. Languages
• Latin was the language of the Roman
Catholic Church, which dominated Europe
• The Church was the only source of
education
• Thus, Latin was a common language for
Medieval writings.
16. Types of Literature
• Troubadour Poetry (Bernart de Ventadorn)
– Arthurian Legends
– Epic Romances/Quests (Dante Alighieri, Sir Gawain)
– Courtly Love
• Religious Poetry (Julian of Norwich)
• Fabliaux (Geoffrey Chaucer)
• Sonnets (Petrarch)
• Sestinas (Arnaut Daniel)
17. Characteristics of Medieval Literature
• Heroism
– from both Germanic and Christian traditions,
sometimes mingled
• Beowulf
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• Presentations of idealized behavior
– literature as moral lesson
• loyalty to king
• chivalry
• use of kennings (especially in Beowulf)
– Hyphenated expression, representing a single noun.
For example, the epic Beowulf uses the two-word
term whale-road to refer to the sea or ocean.
18. The Ideal of Courtly Love
• This relationship was modeled on the
feudal relationship between a knight and
his liege lord.
• The knight serves his courtly lady with
the same obedience and loyalty which he
owes to his liege lord.
• She is in complete control; he owes her
obedience and submission
19. The knight's love for the lady inspires
him to do great deeds, in order to be
worthy of her love or to win her favor.
20. • “Courtly love" was not between husband
and wife because it was an idealized sort of
relationship that could not exist within the
context of "real life" medieval marriages.
• In the middle ages, marriages amongst the
nobility were typically based on practical
and dynastic concerns rather than on love.
21. The lady is typically older, married, and
of higher social status than the knight
because she was modeled on the wife of
the feudal lord, who might naturally
become the focus of the young,
unmarried knights' desire.
22. The literary model of courtly love
may have been invented to
provide young men with a model
for appropriate behavior.
It taught them to sublimate their
desires and to channel their
energy into socially useful
behavior (love service rather than
wandering around the
countryside, stealing or raping
women.
23. The "symptoms" of love were described
as as if it were a sickness.
The "lovesick" knight’s typical
symptoms: sighing, turning pale,
turning red, fever, inability to sleep,
eat or drink.
24. The Quest
• In addition to the theme of Courtly
Love, the Quest was highly important:
the code of conduct observed by a
knight errant who is wandering in
search of deeds of chivalry. This
knight is bound by a code of behavior -
a set of conventional principles and
expectations