The Late Middle Ages

1066 - 1485

The Norman ConquestLed by William, Duke of

Normandy, the Normans (from France) invaded in the year 1066. The King of England was killed in the Battle of Hastings, and William emerged victorious.

During the next several centuries, the Old English language and culture merged with Old French. They continued to be two separate languages, but many French words and customs were incorporated into the English way of life.

O. E. + O. Fr.

Middle English

The Feudal System

Other Influences: Language/Learning

1454 Johann Gutenberg – the printing press 1476 William Caxton – the first English printing press

Result: literature no longer needed to be hand-copied by church scribes.

Literature of the Late Middle Ages

Latin a common language for Medieval writings

Much of literature is anonymous-old stories retold

Use of ALLEGORY where characters or events symbolize concepts

First true dramas emerged

Romances portrayed the heroic deeds of knights

Ballads-songs of love and deeds of outlaws

Literature of the Late Middle Ages

Courtly LoveCourtly Love relationship modeled on feudal loyalty of a knight to his relationship modeled on feudal loyalty of a knight to his

lordlord knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience

and loyalty which he owes to his lordand loyalty which he owes to his lord was not between husband and wife because it was an was not between husband and wife because it was an

“idealized” relationship that could not exist within the “idealized” relationship that could not exist within the context of "real life" medieval marriages typically context of "real life" medieval marriages typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on loveon love

knight's love for his lady inspires him to do great deedsknight's love for his lady inspires him to do great deeds

Literature of the Late Middle Ages

Knights were typically Knights were typically younger brothers younger brothers without land of their without land of their own (hence unable to own (hence unable to support a wife).support a wife).

““Courtly love" provided Courtly love" provided a model of behavior for a model of behavior for a class of unmarried a class of unmarried young men who might young men who might otherwise have otherwise have threatened social threatened social stability.stability.

Medieval Drama church sponsored plays

as part of religious services

plays gradually moved into the marketplace

miracle plays - retold stories from the Bible / lives of saints

morality plays – depicted lives of ordinary people and taught moral lessons

Romances, Lyrics, and Ballads

Medieval romances tales describing the adventures of

knights many about the Arthurian legendLyrical poetry poets often strummed lyres (a

harplike instrument) as they recited their verse

led to lyrical poetryBallads folk song that tells a story many were about the hero Robin

Hood

Geoffrey Chaucer Born in London 1343-1400 Author, poet, bureaucrat,

courtier, diplomat. Satirist Thought by many to be the

“Father of English Poetry” Buried in Westminster

Abbey

The Poet’s Corner

The Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey was established around the tomb of Chaucer. It is also the resting place for other British literary greats such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales

written in Middle English frame story – a story w/in

a story shows a cross section of

medieval society, from the nobility all the way down to the lower class

knew that his job as a scop, was to entertain and to deliver the news from one town to another.

Whan that aprill with his shoures sooteThe droghte of march hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethTendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye (so priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales Adapted characters from people he

encountered in his life. Chaucer puts himself in the story as a

pilgrim, so he could be the eyes for his readers.

Wrote in Rhyme Royal: 5-stress line Meter similar to iambic pentameter Rhyming couplets

WHO?29 pilgrims plus Geoffrey Chaucer (Narrator) and the Host

(31 total)Cross-section of Medieval Society

Ruling ClassKnight , Squire

Clergy ClassNun, Monk, Friar, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner

Middle ClassMerchant, Reeve, Franklin, Doctor, Oxford Student (Clerk), Wife of Bath, Sergeant-at-law

Trade ClassHaberdasher, Dyer,

Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker, Cook, Manciple

Peasant Class Miller, Plowman, Skipper, Yeoman,

Host

WHAT? WHERE? WHY?All Inclusive Spring Tour originating at The Tabard Inn in London .Concluding at The Canterbury Cathedral in the city of Canterbury (40 miles away)Purpose: Pilgrimage to the cathedral to pay homage to the holy martyr St. Thomas Becket at his shrine.Entertainment: each guest will tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two tales on the way back The winner will get a fine meal provided by Host, Harry Baily, manager of the Tabard Inn.

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Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales planned as an exchange of tales among pilgrims

journeying to the shrine of martyr Thomas Becket at Canterbury, England

30 pilgrims tell 2 stories each down from London to Canterbury and 2 stories on the return trip = 60 stories down + 60 on the return = 120 stories

Chaucer only wrote the Prologue (the frame) and 24 tales, but it is considered a complete work

Chaucer’s The Canterbury TalesThe tales are divided into different

types (genres) of stories: romances – tales of chivalry /

courtly love fabliaux - short, bawdy,

humorous stories sermons – stories of saints fables – a story that uses

talking animals & teaches a moral or lesson

Each pilgrim tells a type of tale consistent with his / her own character (for example, the Knight tells a romance, etc).