The Middle AgesThe Middle Agesa.k.a. a.k.a.
The Medieval The Medieval PeriodPeriod
A.D. 1066-1485A.D. 1066-1485
Battle of HastingsBattle of Hastings
Harold of Wessex claims the throne, which Harold of Wessex claims the throne, which should have gone to Duke William of should have gone to Duke William of Normandy. William reclaims what is Normandy. William reclaims what is
rightfully his and takes over the country…rightfully his and takes over the country…and so begins the Middle Ages!and so begins the Middle Ages!
FeudalismFeudalism
After 1066, the Normans After 1066, the Normans brought their social system, brought their social system, known as feudalism, to the known as feudalism, to the Anglo-Saxons. Anglo-Saxons.
Under the system of Under the system of feudalism, English society feudalism, English society was developed into a clear was developed into a clear hierarchy. hierarchy.
The Feudal HierarchyThe Feudal Hierarchy
The Domesday BookThe Domesday Book
ThenThen: The Domesday book : The Domesday book reinforced the feudal reinforced the feudal hierarchy because it was used hierarchy because it was used to determine:to determine:
taxestaxes feudal rightsfeudal rights feudal dutiesfeudal duties
TodayToday: It provides specific : It provides specific historical facts and details historical facts and details concerning medieval estates concerning medieval estates and landowners, thus giving and landowners, thus giving historians a view into the day-historians a view into the day-to-day material life of to-day material life of medieval England.medieval England.
Chivalry…is it really dead?Chivalry…is it really dead?
The code of chivalry was central The code of chivalry was central to Medieval society. to Medieval society.
ChivalryChivalry
Knights pledged: Knights pledged: To be loyal to their lordsTo be loyal to their lords To honor womenTo honor women To protect the weakTo protect the weak To right injustices and wrongsTo right injustices and wrongs To defend the Christian faithTo defend the Christian faith
* Note: The chivalric code raised the role of women * Note: The chivalric code raised the role of women in medieval society, but, in reality, it was more in medieval society, but, in reality, it was more professed than acted. It did, though, lessen the professed than acted. It did, though, lessen the harshness of life during this period in history. harshness of life during this period in history.
Conflict and PlagueConflict and Plague
The CrusadesThe CrusadesThe Magna CartaThe Magna CartaThe Black DeathThe Black DeathThe Rise of CitiesThe Rise of Cities
The Hundred Years’ WarThe Hundred Years’ War
What do these five events have in What do these five events have in common?common?
Answer: Answer:
All five events WEAKENED the feudal system:All five events WEAKENED the feudal system:
1.1. The CrusadesThe Crusades: FINANCING-- heavy taxes hurt the wealthy; : FINANCING-- heavy taxes hurt the wealthy; sold privileges of self-government to towns sold privileges of self-government to towns
2.2. The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta: limited the power of the king and : limited the power of the king and protected the rights of citizensprotected the rights of citizens
3.3. The Black DeathThe Black Death: 1/3 population dies…: 1/3 population dies…
4.4. The Rise of CitiesThe Rise of Cities: …serfs escape feudal lords and go to : …serfs escape feudal lords and go to cities; wages rise because of the labor shortage– higher cities; wages rise because of the labor shortage– higher wages for workers and lower income for landlords (shift in wages for workers and lower income for landlords (shift in feudal structure)feudal structure)
5.5. The Hundred Years’ WarThe Hundred Years’ War: invention of weaponry weakens : invention of weaponry weakens positions of knights and castlespositions of knights and castles
The Hundred Years’ WarThe Hundred Years’ War
Positively impacted England because…Positively impacted England because… The break with France helped The break with France helped
England develop its own identityEngland develop its own identity English became the language of the English became the language of the
nobility and the courts.nobility and the courts.
Literature of the Medieval PeriodLiterature of the Medieval Period
– Flourishes because more Flourishes because more people speak English (vs. people speak English (vs. French & Latin—disappearing French & Latin—disappearing as feudal system becomes as feudal system becomes obsolete)obsolete)
– Alliterative verse is replaced Alliterative verse is replaced by French style of end-rhyme by French style of end-rhyme (ballads)(ballads)
– Invention of the printing Invention of the printing press increases literacy/more press increases literacy/more works published and readworks published and read
Anglo-Saxon HeroAnglo-Saxon Herov. v.
Medieval HeroMedieval HeroAnglo-Saxon Medieval
•Superhuman strength
•Loyalty to kinsman and king makes hero a better person
•Perfect
•Feelings and weaknesses
•Love for an idealized woman makes hero a better person (courtly love)
•Real
•Admirable
•Loyal
•Willingness to fight
Languages of the Medieval PeriodLanguages of the Medieval Period
In legal trouble and need to defend yourself?In legal trouble and need to defend yourself?
In love with a woman of noble birth and needed In love with a woman of noble birth and needed to speak with her family?to speak with her family?
You need… FRENCH!You need… FRENCH!
In dealing with the In dealing with the nobilitynobility or the or the courtscourts, a , a person would need to know the French person would need to know the French language.language.
Languages of the Medieval PeriodLanguages of the Medieval Period
Want to engage in a theological Want to engage in a theological debate?debate?
Want to pursue a formal study of Want to pursue a formal study of literature?literature?
You need… LATIN!You need… LATIN!
One needed to know Latin in One needed to know Latin in communications relating to the communications relating to the churchchurch, , businessbusiness, or , or scholarshipscholarship..
Languages of the Medieval PeriodLanguages of the Medieval Period
Want to tell a joke to your next Want to tell a joke to your next door neighbors?door neighbors?
Want to give your condolences to Want to give your condolences to a family that just lost three sons a family that just lost three sons to the plague?to the plague?
You need… ENGLISH!You need… ENGLISH!
English was used to communicate English was used to communicate with the majority of the with the majority of the common peoplecommon people..
Middle EnglishMiddle English
(Anglo-Saxon Period: Old English)(Anglo-Saxon Period: Old English)Medieval Period: Middle EnglishMedieval Period: Middle English
During the Medieval period, the During the Medieval period, the English language was strongly English language was strongly
influenced by the French language. influenced by the French language. Grammar and spelling became more Grammar and spelling became more
simplified and more similar to the simplified and more similar to the language we use today. language we use today.
Middle EnglishMiddle English
Whan that Aprille with his shoores sooteWhan that Aprille with his shoores sooteWan thot A'prill with his sure-es so-tuhWan thot A'prill with his sure-es so-tuh
The drought of March hath perced to the rooteThe drought of March hath perced to the rooteThe drewgt of March hath pear-said to the row-tuhThe drewgt of March hath pear-said to the row-tuh
And bathed every vein in swich liquorAnd bathed every vein in swich liquorAnd ba-thed every vane in sweech lee-coorAnd ba-thed every vane in sweech lee-coor
Of which vertu engendred is the flourOf which vertu engendred is the flourOf wheech ver-too en-jen-dred is the flu-erOf wheech ver-too en-jen-dred is the flu-er
The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales
In In The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales, a group of , a group of pilgrims go on a pilgrims go on a journey to visit the journey to visit the shrine dedicated to shrine dedicated to Thomas Becket.Thomas Becket.
Thomas a BecketThomas a Becket Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury Opposed the king’s efforts to Opposed the king’s efforts to
establish royal rights over the establish royal rights over the church (church v. state)church (church v. state)
King Henry, displeased by King Henry, displeased by Becket’s opposition, said “will Becket’s opposition, said “will no one rid me of this turbulent no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”priest?”
Taking Henry’s words literally, Taking Henry’s words literally, four knights murdered Becket four knights murdered Becket while he was praying in while he was praying in Canterbury Cathedral. Canterbury Cathedral.
BALLADSBALLADS
BalladBallad: rhymed verse that was recited : rhymed verse that was recited or sung for the purpose of or sung for the purpose of entertainmententertainment
Themes: Themes: – Murderous acts and the desire for Murderous acts and the desire for
revengerevenge– Tragic accidents and sudden disastersTragic accidents and sudden disasters– Heroic deeds motivated by the quest for Heroic deeds motivated by the quest for
honorhonor– Jealous sweethearts and unrequited loveJealous sweethearts and unrequited love
BALLADSBALLADS
Dramatization of a single incidentDramatization of a single incident Little reflection or expression of Little reflection or expression of
sentimentsentiment Dialogue (or questions and answers) Dialogue (or questions and answers)
that further the story/advance the plotthat further the story/advance the plot A strong, simple beat and A strong, simple beat and
uncomplicated rhyme schemeuncomplicated rhyme scheme
BalladsBallads
Use of the refrain, a regularly Use of the refrain, a regularly repeated line or phrase at the end of repeated line or phrase at the end of a stanzaa stanza
A tendency to suggest rather than A tendency to suggest rather than directly statedirectly state
Stories that were often based on Stories that were often based on actual eventsactual events
Welcome to the Medieval Unit of Welcome to the Medieval Unit of British Literature!British Literature!
