MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD (1100 1400) History: 1. early 10 th century, Scandinavian Vikings 1. early 10 th century, Scandinavian Vikings 2. Knoet King of England 2. Knoet King of England 3. Edward 3. Edward 4. William (1066) 4. William (1066) Language: 1. French dialect court 1. French dialect court 2. Latin scholars 2. Latin scholars 3. Norman-French leading language 3. Norman-French leading language 4. Anglo-Saxon 4. Anglo-Saxon - After 1204, Normandy became a part of France Norman-French --- Anglo-French --- Modern English Norman-French --- Anglo-French --- Modern English - Groundwork: Germanic --- French --- Danish Germanic --- French --- Danish Literature Romances 1. The Cycle of Charlemagne 1. The Cycle of Charlemagne 2. The Life of Alexander the Great 2. The Life of Alexander the Great 3. The Siege of Troy 3. The Siege of Troy 4. The Story of King Arthur and his Round Table 4. The Story of King Arthur and his Round Table 5. Geoffrey Monmouth (Latin): 5. Geoffrey Monmouth (Latin): History of the Kings of Britain (1147) History of the Kings of Britain (1147) Other works: 1. Sir Thomas Malory collected the Arthurian Legends 1. Sir Thomas Malory collected the Arthurian Legends (1490) and later he wrote Morte dArthur (1584). (1490) and later he wrote Morte dArthur (1584). 2. Gaimar translated the Celtic Legends into Anglo- 2. Gaimar translated the Celtic Legends into Anglo- French (1150). French (1150). 3. Wace translated the Celtic Legends into Anglo- 3. Wace translated the Celtic Legends into Anglo- Norman (1165). Norman (1165). 4. Walter Map collected all legends and romances 4. Walter Map collected all legends and romances (1175). (1175). 5. Parcival found The Quest of the Holy Grail as part of 5. Parcival found The Quest of the Holy Grail as part of The Arthurian Romances The Arthurian Romances 6. Layam translated Arthurian Romances and 6. Layam translated Arthurian Romances and transposed them in English metrical romance Sir transposed them in English metrical romance Sir Gawain and The Green Knight (1200) Gawain and The Green Knight (1200) AAAAllegoric works: William Langland (1370) wrote The Vision of Piers the Plowman alliterative verse serious satire great pitiful attention to the poor - miserable BBBBallads Folk ballads 1. Lord Randall (the origin of English and Scottish ballad) 2. The Wife of Ushers Well 3. Sir Patrick Spens 4. Barbara Allen 5. The Riddling Knight 6. The Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale Medieval Pageant 1. The Wife of Baths tale (popular 1. The Wife of Baths tale (popular Mysteries/Miracle Plays) Mysteries/Miracle Plays) 2. Chester Plays (by Randulf Higden 14 th 2. Chester Plays (by Randulf Higden 14 th century) century) Londons Festival Londons Festival Moralities 1. The Castle of Perseverance (early 15 th 1. The Castle of Perseverance (early 15 th century) century) 2. Everyman (allegorical play) 2. Everyman (allegorical play) GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340 1400) History : the period of Chaucer : the period of Chaucer - transition time: - transition time: 1. the beginning of class struggle 1. the beginning of class struggle 2. lower class people demand their right 2. lower class people demand their right 3. the decline of esteem of chivalry 3. the decline of esteem of chivalry 4. the church looses its influence 4. the church looses its influence : the time of incessant wars : the time of incessant wars Literary career 1. The French influence (Roman de la Rose) - The Book of Duchesse - The Book of Duchesse - Complaint to Pity (Chaucerian stanza: - Complaint to Pity (Chaucerian stanza: 7 lines of iambic pentameter 7 lines of iambic pentameter rhyme: ababbcc rhyme: ababbcc Rime Royal) Rime Royal) 2. The Italian influence (Dante, Petrarch, Boccacio, Heroic Couplet) Heroic Couplet) - Parliament of Fowles - Parliament of Fowles - Troilus and Criseyds - Troilus and Criseyds - The House of Fame - The House of Fame - Life of St. Caecilia - Life of St. Caecilia The period of greatest achievement: 1. Legend of Good Woman 1. Legend of Good Woman 2. The Canterbury Tales (24 tales) the 2. The Canterbury Tales (24 tales) the prologue to the Middle English Period prologue to the Middle English Period Chaucers imitators and disciples: 1. Thomas Hoccleve ( ) 1. Thomas Hoccleve ( ) - Regement of Princess ( ) - Regement of Princess ( ) 2. John Lydgate ( ) 2. John Lydgate ( ) - Storie of Thebes - Storie of Thebes - Troy-Book (French Romances) - Troy-Book (French Romances) - Fall of Princess (Latin of Boccacio) - Fall of Princess (Latin of Boccacio) - The Temple of Glass (allegorical love story) - The Temple of Glass (allegorical love story) - The Pilgrimage of Man - The Pilgrimage of Man 3. Sir Thomas Clanvowe (1403): - The Cuckoo and the Nightingale - The Cuckoo and the Nightingale 4. Alexander Barclay ( ): - Shyp of Folys (1509) Narrenschiff - Shyp of Folys (1509) Narrenschiff (Latin) (Latin) 5. John Skelton ( ) satirist - The Bowge of Court - The Bowge of Court - The Boke of Colyn Cloute - The Boke of Colyn Cloute - The Garland of Laurell - The Garland of Laurell - Why come ye nat to Court? - Why come ye nat to Court? - Boke of Phylyp Sparowe (elegy) - Boke of Phylyp Sparowe (elegy) In Scotland 1. King James I ( ) Chaucers 1. King James I ( ) Chaucers imitator imitator - The King is Quair (1423) - The King is Quair (1423) Chaucerian stanza Chaucerian stanza 2. William Dummbar: 2. William Dummbar: - The Golden Targe - The Golden Targe - Thistle and the Rose - Thistle and the Rose - The Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins - The Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins 3. Robert Henryson: - The Testament of Cressida - The Testament of Cressida 4. David Lindsay: - The Monarch, or Ane Dialogue of the - The Monarch, or Ane Dialogue of the Miserable Miserable - State of the World bold satyre - State of the World bold satyre