Middle English literature

Middle English literature

Copyright, 1996 © Dale Carnegie &
Associates, Inc.

1066 - the Battle of

1066 - the Battle of

Hastings

Hastings

Literature of three

Literature of three

languages

languages

•

English, Anglo-Norman (French) and

English, Anglo-Norman (French) and

Latin

Latin

Arthurian literature

Arthurian literature

•

early chronicles - a nameless Celtic commander who

early chronicles - a nameless Celtic commander who

fought with Anglosaxons

fought with Anglosaxons

•

Geoffrey of Monmouth -

Geoffrey of Monmouth -

Historia Regum Britanniae

Historia Regum Britanniae

1135

1135

•

legendary founding of Britain by Brutus, the grandson

legendary founding of Britain by Brutus, the grandson

of Aeneas

of Aeneas

•

claims to be a translation of a Welsh chronicle

claims to be a translation of a Welsh chronicle

•

other characters Guanhumara (Guinevere), his

other characters Guanhumara (Guinevere), his

nephews Gualguanus (Gawain) and Mordred

nephews Gualguanus (Gawain) and Mordred

Translatio Studii Et Imperii

Translatio Studii Et Imperii

Wace (1155)

Wace (1155)

•

a Jersey writer, translated Geoffrey’s

a Jersey writer, translated Geoffrey’s

chronicle into French and enlarged it

chronicle into French and enlarged it

•

the first to mention the Round Table

the first to mention the Round Table

Chretien de Troyes (late

Chretien de Troyes (late

12th c.)

12th c.)

•

Frenchman,

Frenchman,

the earliest writer of

the earliest writer of

Arthurian romance

Arthurian romance

•

Lancelot & Guinevere, Perceval &

Lancelot & Guinevere, Perceval &

Graal

Graal

•

Robert de Baron - the first to explain

Robert de Baron - the first to explain

the meaning of Graal

the meaning of Graal

Marie de France (late 12th

Marie de France (late 12th

c.)

c.)

•

French poet who probably lived in England

French poet who probably lived in England

•

perhaps a nun, the illegitimate daughter of

perhaps a nun, the illegitimate daughter of

Godefroy d’Anjou

Godefroy d’Anjou

•

Lais, Fables

Lais, Fables

and

and

Espurgatoire Saint Patrice

Espurgatoire Saint Patrice

•

lai - a song or short narrative poem,

lai - a song or short narrative poem,

originally based on Breton songs

originally based on Breton songs

Verse romance

Verse romance

•

Quest

Quest

Tristram and Iseult

Tristram and Iseult

•

The oldest version -

The oldest version -

Le Roman de

Le Roman de

Tristan

Tristan

by an Anglo - Norman writer

by an Anglo - Norman writer

Thomas of Britain

Thomas of Britain

•

German and French versions (by

German and French versions (by

Chretien de Troyes and Marie de France)

Chretien de Troyes and Marie de France)

•

Sir Tristrem

Sir Tristrem

- Middle English, late 13th

- Middle English, late 13th

c.

c.

Sir Thomas Malory (d.

Sir Thomas Malory (d.

c.1471)

c.1471)

•

Le Morte Darthur

Le Morte Darthur

- the greatest of

- the greatest of

medieval

medieval

prose

prose

romances

romances

Courtly love

Courtly love

•

Provence – Eleanor of Aquitaine &

Provence – Eleanor of Aquitaine &

her daughter Marie of Champagne

her daughter Marie of Champagne

•

cult of Virgin Mary

cult of Virgin Mary

•

lady as suzerain

lady as suzerain

•

influenced even

influenced even

Ancrene Riwle

Ancrene Riwle

(c.1200) -

(c.1200) -

Anchoresses Rule

Anchoresses Rule

The Alliterative Revival

The Alliterative Revival

•

after the Norman conquest poetry written in

after the Norman conquest poetry written in

English uses irregular metres, sometimes rhymes

English uses irregular metres, sometimes rhymes

and occasionally alliteration, but not in a regular

and occasionally alliteration, but not in a regular

way

way

•

the poems written in the second half of the 14

the poems written in the second half of the 14

th

th

c., using alliteration and written mostly in the

c., using alliteration and written mostly in the

western or north-western part of England

western or north-western part of England

•

spreading north to Scotland where it survived

spreading north to Scotland where it survived

until the early 16

until the early 16

th

th

c.

c.

The Alliterative Revival

The Alliterative Revival

•

in the period 1275 – 1350 - 28

in the period 1275 – 1350 - 28

extant lines of alliterative verse

extant lines of alliterative verse

•

in 1350 – 1425 – 40,000 extant lines

in 1350 – 1425 – 40,000 extant lines

of alliterative verse

of alliterative verse

•

but why??????

but why??????

The Alliterative Revival

The Alliterative Revival

•

the same alliteration pattern as in

the same alliteration pattern as in

OE poetry aa/ax or ax/ax

OE poetry aa/ax or ax/ax

Hit

Hit watz

watz

É

É

ni

nias the

as the

á

á

t

thel - and his

hel - and his

h

h

ig

ighe kýnde.

he kýnde.

The Authorship?

The Authorship?

•

educated and cultivated people

educated and cultivated people

•

the manuscripts are rather modest-

the manuscripts are rather modest-

looking, they are not “luxury

looking, they are not “luxury

editions”

editions”

The Monasteries?

The Monasteries?

•

subjects – mostly history (esp.

subjects – mostly history (esp.

English), war, moral or religious, but

English), war, moral or religious, but

love usually plays a secondary role

love usually plays a secondary role

or is depicted as the sinful

or is depicted as the sinful

temptation (viz.

temptation (viz.

Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain

)

)

The Cotton Nero A.x

The Cotton Nero A.x

•

Pearl

Pearl

•

Purity

Purity

(a.k.a.

(a.k.a.

Cleanness

Cleanness

)

)

•

Patience

Patience

•

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

•

all the poems can be interpreted as

all the poems can be interpreted as

parts of the cycle about salvation

parts of the cycle about salvation

Pearl

Pearl

•

death of a young girl (the author’s daughter?)

death of a young girl (the author’s daughter?)

•

groups of 5 stanzas linked by a refrain – the

groups of 5 stanzas linked by a refrain – the

last line repeated in every stanza

last line repeated in every stanza

•

concantenation – the last word or phrase from

concantenation – the last word or phrase from

the last line repeated in the first line of the

the last line repeated in the first line of the

next stanza

next stanza

•

the last stanza repeats some words of the first

the last stanza repeats some words of the first

stanza

stanza

Pearl

Pearl

•

dream-vision

dream-vision

•

the narrator, tired with looking for his

the narrator, tired with looking for his

pearl, falls asleep and sees his

pearl, falls asleep and sees his

daughter, now a grown woman, in a

daughter, now a grown woman, in a

dress adorned with pearls

dress adorned with pearls

•

can young children achieve salvation?

can young children achieve salvation?

Purity

Purity

•

inspired by the Sermon on the

inspired by the Sermon on the

Mount: “Blessed are the pure in

Mount: “Blessed are the pure in

heart: for they shall see God” (Mt

heart: for they shall see God” (Mt

5:8)

5:8)

•

examples from the Bible: the Flood,

examples from the Bible: the Flood,

the destruction of Sodom and

the destruction of Sodom and

Belshazzar’s Feast

Belshazzar’s Feast

Patience

Patience

•

the story of prophet Jonah, who had

the story of prophet Jonah, who had

to be taught patience

to be taught patience

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight (late 14th c.)

Knight (late 14th c.)

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

•

in his quest Gawain arrives in a castle,

in his quest Gawain arrives in a castle,

where the host offers to play another

where the host offers to play another

game – the game of exchange

game – the game of exchange

•

“

“

his courtesy concerned him, lest crass

his courtesy concerned him, lest crass

he appear/But more his soul’s mischief,

he appear/But more his soul’s mischief,

should he commit sin” (ll. 1773 – 4).

should he commit sin” (ll. 1773 – 4).

•

“

“

courtesy” vs. “felaȝschyp”

courtesy” vs. “felaȝschyp”

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

•

Gawain gives his host respectively

Gawain gives his host respectively

one or two kisses and gets the

one or two kisses and gets the

animal in exchange

animal in exchange

•

But on the third day he gets a magic

But on the third day he gets a magic

belt from the lady and he hides this

belt from the lady and he hides this

fact

fact

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

•

The Green Knight takes two swipes

The Green Knight takes two swipes

but stops in time, the third time he

but stops in time, the third time he

gives Gawain a small cut on the neck

gives Gawain a small cut on the neck

•

Everything was the intrigue of

Everything was the intrigue of

Morgan de la Faye (masked as the

Morgan de la Faye (masked as the

old lady in the castle). Arthur’s half-

old lady in the castle). Arthur’s half-

sister and Merlin’s mistress

sister and Merlin’s mistress

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

•

Honi Suit Qui Mal Pense

Honi Suit Qui Mal Pense

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at troye

siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at troye

þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez and askez

þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez and askez

þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wro3t

þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun þer wro3t

watz tried for his tricherie þe trewest on erþe

watz tried for his tricherie þe trewest on erþe

hit watz ennias þe athel and his highe kynde

hit watz ennias þe athel and his highe kynde

þat siþen depreced prouinces and patrounes bicome

þat siþen depreced prouinces and patrounes bicome

welne3e of al þe wele in þe west iles

welne3e of al þe wele in þe west iles

fro riche romulus to rome ricchis hym swyþe

fro riche romulus to rome ricchis hym swyþe

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

with gret bobbaunce þat bur3e he biges vpon

with gret bobbaunce þat bur3e he biges vpon

fyrst

fyrst

and neuenes hit his aune nome as hit now hat

and neuenes hit his aune nome as hit now hat

ticius to tuskan and teldes bigynnes

ticius to tuskan and teldes bigynnes

langaberde in lumbardie lyftes vp homes

langaberde in lumbardie lyftes vp homes

and fer ouer þe french flod felix brutus

and fer ouer þe french flod felix brutus

on mony bonkkes ful brode bretayn he settez

on mony bonkkes ful brode bretayn he settez

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

wyth wynne ----------------------------------[bob]

wyth wynne ----------------------------------[bob]

where werre and wrake and wonder

where werre and wrake and wonder

bi syþez hatz wont þerinne

bi syþez hatz wont þerinne

and oft boþe blysse and blunder

and oft boþe blysse and blunder

ful skete hatz skyfted synne -----------

ful skete hatz skyfted synne -----------

[wheel]

[wheel]

Sir Gawain and the Green

Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight

Knight

[After the siege and the assault of Troy, when the city was

[After the siege and the assault of Troy, when the city was

burned to ashes, the knight who therein wrought treason

burned to ashes, the knight who therein wrought treason

was tried for his treachery and was found to be the truest

was tried for his treachery and was found to be the truest

on earth. Aeneas the noble it was, and his high kindred,

on earth. Aeneas the noble it was, and his high kindred,

who vanquished great nations and became the rulers of

who vanquished great nations and became the rulers of

well-nigh all the western world. Noble Romulus went to

well-nigh all the western world. Noble Romulus went to

Rome with great show of strength, and built that city at

Rome with great show of strength, and built that city at

the first, and gave it his own name, as it is called to this

the first, and gave it his own name, as it is called to this

day. Ticius went into Tuscany and began to set up

day. Ticius went into Tuscany and began to set up

habitations, and Langobard made his home in Lombardy;

habitations, and Langobard made his home in Lombardy;

whilst Brutus, far over the French sea by many a full broad

whilst Brutus, far over the French sea by many a full broad

hill-side, the fair land of Britain.

hill-side, the fair land of Britain.

Allegory

Allegory

•

A form of extended metaphor in which

A form of extended metaphor in which

objects, persons and actions are equated

objects, persons and actions are equated

with meanings that lie outside the narrative

with meanings that lie outside the narrative

itself

itself

•

religious inspiration - Creator can be

religious inspiration - Creator can be

perceived in each level of His creation

perceived in each level of His creation

•

4 readings of the Bible: literal, allegorical,

4 readings of the Bible: literal, allegorical,

moral and anagogical (St Thomas Aquinas)

moral and anagogical (St Thomas Aquinas)

William Langland (fl. 1360

William Langland (fl. 1360

- 1387)

- 1387)

•

The Vision of Piers Plowman

The Vision of Piers Plowman

•

version A – 2500 lines, 1369 – 1370

version A – 2500 lines, 1369 – 1370

•

version B c. 7500 lines, after 1379

version B c. 7500 lines, after 1379

•

version C. as long as B. completed

version C. as long as B. completed

before 1387

before 1387

The Vision of Piers

The Vision of Piers

Plowman

Plowman

long and complicated allegorical dream-

long and complicated allegorical dream-

vision, with the elements of social and

vision, with the elements of social and

political satire

political satire

•

Pilgrims on their way to St. Truth, meet

Pilgrims on their way to St. Truth, meet

Piers Plowman who promises to show

Piers Plowman who promises to show

them the way if they help him. But they

them the way if they help him. But they

are lazy and start working only when

are lazy and start working only when

Hunger makes them do so.

Hunger makes them do so.

The Vision of Piers

The Vision of Piers

Plowman

Plowman

•

How can one achieve salvation?

How can one achieve salvation?

•

mysterious episode with “the letter of pardon”

mysterious episode with “the letter of pardon”

which Piers tears in two.

which Piers tears in two.

•

“

“

for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." (2

for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." (2

Corinthians)

Corinthians)

•

possibly the influence of John Wycliffe

possibly the influence of John Wycliffe

•

Piers Plowman became a symbolical figure for the

Piers Plowman became a symbolical figure for the

Peasant’s revolt of 1381

Peasant’s revolt of 1381

The Vision of Piers

The Vision of Piers

Plowman

Plowman

•

Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain

exists only in 1

exists only in 1

manuscript,

manuscript,

Piers Plowman

Piers Plowman

in 50

in 50