The document summarizes the Norman period in England from 1066 to 1500. It discusses the historical background of William the Conqueror's Norman invasion of England in 1066 and defeat of King Harold. This brought significant changes to England, including establishing Norman rule. The Norman conquest displaced Anglo-Saxon authors and the English language was thrown into the background while thousands of French words were introduced. Literature was also transformed as the tastes of Norman rulers dominated. Religious poetry disappeared after the conquest. Over time, English re-emerged as a dominant language from the late 14th century onward and various forms of medieval drama like miracle and morality plays became popular in this period.

1. NORMAN
PERIOD
1066 - 1500

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

3. • Edward the Confessor died childless in 1066
• The day after Edward’s death Harold the son of Godwin was elected
king
• On the northern coast of France directly across from England is a
district extending some seventy-five miles back from the Channel
known as Normandy
• William, the duke of Normandy at this time, was a second cousin of
late king Edward
• When Harold did not consider William’s order. Only by force could
William hope to obtain the crown
• William landed on the south coast of England, with a formidable
force
• Harold was killed during the battle
• On Christmas Day 1066, William was crowned king of England

4. Changes in England After Norman Conquest
• The Norman Conquest brought changes in the linguistic,
literature as well as political history of England
• The Anglo-Saxon authors were then as suddenly and
permanently displaced
• For 200 years after the Norman Conquest, French remained
the language of ordinary intercourse among the upper classes
in England.
• Many of the English higher class had been killed on the field
at Hastings. Those who escaped were treated as traitors
• Norman prelates were gradually introduced into all important
positions in the church

5. CHANGES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

6. • English language having been thrown into the background.
English was used by lower class
• Thousands of French words introduced into English
• In changing from French to English they transferred much of their
governmental and administrative vocabulary, their ecclesiastical,
legal, and military terms, their familiar words of fashion, food, and
social life, the vocabulary of art, learning, and medicine
• The first king to start speaking English after the Norman invasion
was King Henry IV (1367-1413)

7. CHANGES IN ENGLISH LITERATURE

8. • literature read and written by Englishmen was completely
transformed as the sentiments and tastes of English rulers
(Normans)
• The religious poetry was also disappeared after Norman
Conquest
• This period is also marked by disappearance of Old English
poetry
• Anglo-Norman literature has many examples of the traditional
romance narrative, most of which were exclusive to England's
social and cultural climate
• The most important work to arise from the Anglo-Norman
period is Wace's Roman de Brut (1155), an expanded version of
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Latin Historia regum Britanniae

9. • Le Roman de Waldef
• Tristan
• No literary production of the Middle English are so characteristic
or of high value
• The Miracle Plays
These plays became very popular. From the growth and
development of the Bible story, scene by scene, carried to its
logical conclusion
• Morality Plays
In these form of drama uniform theme is the struggle between the
powers of good and evil

10. FAMOUS POETS
GEOFFREY CHAUCER WILLIAM LANGLAND