Literature Medieval British Literature was influenced by the social, political, historical and religious events of the Medieval Times (1066-1485), as the literature of that given period reflected what was going on in Great Britain during that period. The major characteristics of the British Literature in the Middle Ages are the development of Middle English (with incorporation of French words, and changes in pronunciation because of French influence), feudalism (as the only literate people were priestly classes, royalty and lesser nobility, such as earls, dukes, and others were sometimes literate, while peasant and other lower classes were rarely literate), the rise of the middle class (merchants), and power of church. In 1066 Viking line dies without heir. Edward the Confessor is succeeded by Harold, who was challenged then by William, duke of Normandy. William managed to take Harold in Battle of Hastings. This was the crucial point in the history of Great Britain, as due to William’s victory, French becomes the language of the educated people, and remains the language of nobility and the upper-class in Britain for the next two hundred years. British literature of that period is influenced by religion, and is mostly known as the Period of Religious Record, with some exceptions like The Owl and the Nightingale written in 1195, Brut, written by Layamon in 1205, and Ancrene Riwle written in 1200.
The Essay on English Literature Romantic Period
Writers working in the time period from 1785 to 1830 did not think of themselves as “Romantics,” but were seen to belong to a number of distinct movements or schools. For much of the twentieth century scholars singled out five poets—Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Percy Shelley, and Keats—and constructed a unified concept of Romanticism on the basis of their works. Some of the best regarded poets of ...
1250-1350 are also the years of religious and secular literature. This occurs because of the power of church and the fact that the only literate people were the priestly classes, and royalty and lesser nobility were sometimes literate).
13th century is known as the century of romance and courtesy influenced by the legends of Charlemagne, the British legends of King Arthur, and the the legends of ancient Greece and Rome. The literature of that period is influenced by the elements of love and romance towards women. Geoffrey of Monmouth, the father of Arthurian romance writes his History of the Kings of Britain. This work was written mainly under the Norman influence, as it tells about Vortigern and Lear, but with some sympathy for Celts as well (Lambdin, p.58).13th century distracts attention from French to English and British nobility begins using English, and children of the upper-class are taught French as if French is their second language.
The prose of these centuries continues in the tradition of Anglo-Saxon prose – didactic, homiletic, and directed toward ordinary people. The literature was also influenced by French literary forms, such as the animal fables, moral tales, and the dream visions. In the 14th century French language is in decline (although it still remains the language of culture).
The 100 Years War awakens English patriotism, and the Black Death enables rise of bourgeoisie and gives empowerment to the lower social classes. British writers, then, have to use one of three languages for their works French, English, and Latin (Dunn, p.115).
The literature of that period sees the revival of poetry (Christian allegory The Pearl, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, etc) and is well known for the works of Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales), who made the brilliant contribution to Middle English Literature.
The century is mostly known as Arthurian period; Malorys Morte Darthur undertakes an attempt to assemble all existing stories about Arthur together, adding novel-like interest. The 15th century is not very remarkable for brilliant samples of English Literature, partially because of the social dislocation caused by Wars of the Roses. John Lydgate and Thomas Hoccleve are the most famous poets of that period (mostly as imitators of Geoffrey Chaucers style).
The Essay on ‘to What Extent Is Modern-Day English the Same Language as That Introduced to the British Isles One and a Half Millennia Ago?’
TMA 01 ‘To what extent is modern-day English the same language as that introduced to the British Isles one and a half millennia ago?’ English is both a changed and an ever-changing language. Since its introduction to the British Isles the very nature of the language, its structure, appearance and uses have undergone remarkable transformations. Comparing transcripts from Old English and its ...
Finally, 1476 is known for William Caxton, and printing press – resulting in the rise of British Literature. Works Cited Dunn, Charles W. Middle English Literature.
New York: Garland , 1990. Lambdin, Laura Cooner. A Companion to Old and Middle English Literature. Greenwood Press, 2002..
