ENGLISH LITERARY HISTORY
MEDIAEVAL HEROISM
700 - 100 Beowulf - anonymus Invasion of the Angles in Brittain. Beowulf saves Danes from monster & becomes
leader (heroism) of own folca (lof & dom), the Gaets. Then he has to kill the dragon
on his own land and gets killed. The end of his folca (everything will perish in the
end) ( Christian values).
Too pessimistic ending for 10th century; wanted to unite British kingdoms
into English nation.
1930 Lord Of The Rings - Tolkien Inspired by Beowulf. King Theoden was appointed by the people. Introduced the
Anglo-Saxon myth; the king is the protector and friend of the people.
Myth because isn’t always like this (Norman Conquest (1066) William the
Conqueror)
England had to reinvent itself as a small nation with small people due to Hitler’s
threat (dragon).
14TH CENTURY Sir Gawain and the green - anonymous New hero. Gawain is challenged by the green knight, he doesn’t want to fight him
knight in this peace-loving time, but he has to defend his honour (chivalry). Lady Bertilak
helps him, but wants a kiss in return (courtly love), women were represented as
temptresses ( Christian values). Sir Gawain has choices to make that are tied to a
certain destiny, there’s a psychological process.
Example of Anglo-Norman literature; mediaeval French, Arthurian
Material, courtly love (Eleanor of Aquitaine)
Written in north-western dialect & lots of alliteration (oral tradition preserved). It
was also of poor quality.
Provincial, middle-class audience
Division Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Norman blurs
SOCIAL SATIRE AND IRONY IN LATE MEDIAEVAL LITERATURE
LATE 14TH CENTURY Piers Plowman - Langland Narrator has dream about people on pilgrimage, high and low ranking. Hero of the
story is Plowman (anglo-saxon myth), a hard-working peasant (reflection of
medieval society). Religious people didn’t work (hermits), doctors got rich off of
people, corruption and abuse of power. Aristocracy needed to look after people
, and take up responsibility (paternalism). The holy orders distorted the biblical
message (was in Latin so people couldn’t read). Go back to the core of the bible
and distrust the catholic church.
Rise of Protestantism (oopsie)
Subversive text (forbidden)
Called for revelation
The manuscript was poorly written, was about the message, not the form. North-
western dialect & used alliteration (natural technique). Lots of rhetoric violence.
Anti-literature (written in poetry to criticize poets (work a little!))
LATE 14TH CENTURY The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer The story is about pilgrims who tell each other their stories. Knight boasts about
places where he’s been (read between lines; it’s a lie) & decline of chivalry (looks
rusty). The nun is lusciously described by the narrator (smitten by her), but she
lives an expensive lifestyle (gives food to her dog), so why go on a pilgrimage? The
Merchant tries to be like the aristocracy but isn’t seen as one. He yearns for
attention and boasts, though he has debt. The scholar learns a lot but keeps
wisdom for himself. The physician enumerates lots of books & boasts about his
knowledge (watch out for context when analysing the story). He waits for people to
fall sick for him to prescribe them an expensive cure (see Langland). The pardon
seller (worst of them all, lowest in moral order), sells false relics to deceive poor
people (see Langland). Does this openly because it’s a public secret.
Omniscient author (knows everything)
Narrator is either really smart or ironically goes along with everything
Sometimes collide, sometimes diverge
Chaucer invents narrator to avoid punishment
High-quality manuscript (court poet). London dialect, rhyming couplets, and iambic
pentameter (alliteration was barbaric). This meter was often used on the continent
(been to Franc and Italy & studied classics).
16TH CENTURY POETRY AND NATION BUILDING
FIRST HALF 16TH They flee from me - Wyatt He used to be popular with girls, but they don’t come to him anymore. They used
CENTURY to put themselves in danger by coming to him (married women).
About intrigues at court under Henry the 8th
Variation of the lament (complains about poet’s situation, feels old and
MEDIAEVAL HEROISM
700 - 100 Beowulf - anonymus Invasion of the Angles in Brittain. Beowulf saves Danes from monster & becomes
leader (heroism) of own folca (lof & dom), the Gaets. Then he has to kill the dragon
on his own land and gets killed. The end of his folca (everything will perish in the
end) ( Christian values).
Too pessimistic ending for 10th century; wanted to unite British kingdoms
into English nation.
1930 Lord Of The Rings - Tolkien Inspired by Beowulf. King Theoden was appointed by the people. Introduced the
Anglo-Saxon myth; the king is the protector and friend of the people.
Myth because isn’t always like this (Norman Conquest (1066) William the
Conqueror)
England had to reinvent itself as a small nation with small people due to Hitler’s
threat (dragon).
14TH CENTURY Sir Gawain and the green - anonymous New hero. Gawain is challenged by the green knight, he doesn’t want to fight him
knight in this peace-loving time, but he has to defend his honour (chivalry). Lady Bertilak
helps him, but wants a kiss in return (courtly love), women were represented as
temptresses ( Christian values). Sir Gawain has choices to make that are tied to a
certain destiny, there’s a psychological process.
Example of Anglo-Norman literature; mediaeval French, Arthurian
Material, courtly love (Eleanor of Aquitaine)
Written in north-western dialect & lots of alliteration (oral tradition preserved). It
was also of poor quality.
Provincial, middle-class audience
Division Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Norman blurs
SOCIAL SATIRE AND IRONY IN LATE MEDIAEVAL LITERATURE
LATE 14TH CENTURY Piers Plowman - Langland Narrator has dream about people on pilgrimage, high and low ranking. Hero of the
story is Plowman (anglo-saxon myth), a hard-working peasant (reflection of
medieval society). Religious people didn’t work (hermits), doctors got rich off of
people, corruption and abuse of power. Aristocracy needed to look after people
, and take up responsibility (paternalism). The holy orders distorted the biblical
message (was in Latin so people couldn’t read). Go back to the core of the bible
and distrust the catholic church.
Rise of Protestantism (oopsie)
Subversive text (forbidden)
Called for revelation
The manuscript was poorly written, was about the message, not the form. North-
western dialect & used alliteration (natural technique). Lots of rhetoric violence.
Anti-literature (written in poetry to criticize poets (work a little!))
LATE 14TH CENTURY The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer The story is about pilgrims who tell each other their stories. Knight boasts about
places where he’s been (read between lines; it’s a lie) & decline of chivalry (looks
rusty). The nun is lusciously described by the narrator (smitten by her), but she
lives an expensive lifestyle (gives food to her dog), so why go on a pilgrimage? The
Merchant tries to be like the aristocracy but isn’t seen as one. He yearns for
attention and boasts, though he has debt. The scholar learns a lot but keeps
wisdom for himself. The physician enumerates lots of books & boasts about his
knowledge (watch out for context when analysing the story). He waits for people to
fall sick for him to prescribe them an expensive cure (see Langland). The pardon
seller (worst of them all, lowest in moral order), sells false relics to deceive poor
people (see Langland). Does this openly because it’s a public secret.
Omniscient author (knows everything)
Narrator is either really smart or ironically goes along with everything
Sometimes collide, sometimes diverge
Chaucer invents narrator to avoid punishment
High-quality manuscript (court poet). London dialect, rhyming couplets, and iambic
pentameter (alliteration was barbaric). This meter was often used on the continent
(been to Franc and Italy & studied classics).
16TH CENTURY POETRY AND NATION BUILDING
FIRST HALF 16TH They flee from me - Wyatt He used to be popular with girls, but they don’t come to him anymore. They used
CENTURY to put themselves in danger by coming to him (married women).
About intrigues at court under Henry the 8th
Variation of the lament (complains about poet’s situation, feels old and
