Medieval Period “The Middle Ages” 1066-1485
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Transcript Medieval Period “The Middle Ages” 1066-1485
Medieval Period
“The Middle Ages”
1066-1485
The history of our English Language can be
divided into 3 periods:
1.
2.
3.
Old English (before 1066)
Middle English (1066-1485)
Modern English (1485-present)
Language in Transition
“Middle Ages”
Around the year 1000, Old English
pronunciation changed when distinct vowel
sounds at the ends of words were being
dropped.
Middle English differed from Old English in its
greater reliance upon fewer plural forms.
Language in Transition
“Middle Ages”
Middle English was a more analytical
language.
Stressed word order/syntax
Incorporated “function” words—verbs
French Invade England
October of 1066
Leading Normandy was Duke William or “William the
Conqueror”, who defeated and killed the last Anglo-Saxon
king. This was the beginning of the Norman Conquest.
Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest radically changed:
English History
English Character
English Language
William the Conqueror is known for
three accomplishments:
1.
Creating the Domesday Book which was an
inventory of every piece of property in England.
2.
Bringing the French language to England
Creating a bilingual society
Upper-Class: spoke French
Lower-Class: spoke English
3. Social System known as Feudalism
Feudalism & Knighthood
Feudalism
Religious concept of
hierarchy.
GOD
KING
BARON
VASSAL
KNIGHTS
SERFS
2 Major impacts on England as a result of the
Feudal System: Form and Manners
Form—better
known as knighthood.
The institution of knighthood was firmly
based on the ideas of loyalty.
We will see this clearly in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
He is honor-bound to accept a challenge that he knows
could bring death.
2nd major impact that the feudal system had on
England:
Manners
Code of Chivalry—Courtly Love
A system of ideas and behavior codes that
governed both knight
and gentlewoman.
Three aspects that make up the Code of Chivalry
Loyalty to Lord
1.
Your oath, honor, and
respect went directly to
your lord.
2.
Warfare Rule
Idea of Fairness
3.
Courtly Love
Men--mostly the knights-idolized women. They would
show this by wearing the
colors of their lady in battle, to
glorify her. This love for a
woman was thought to make
the knight a better fighter.
They were inspired by
women.
ROMANCE
Courtly Love provided ‘built-in’ drama for a poet or storyteller.
It brought about the form of literature known as a ROMANCE:
a medieval story in verse form in which a brave knight must
overcome great danger for the love of a noble lady or higher
idea.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Composed around 1370
An unknown author
transformed the popular
romance into great art.
1.
An alliterative romance
poem. (Legend)
2. Quest—in which the
hero undertakes a
perilous journey in
search of something of
great value.
Basic narrative pattern of a
romance:
Hero
3. Supernatural event
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
In Sir Gawain you will see the pull of sexual
temptation and of life in the medieval castle.
Gawain is the model of the chivalric hero
whose character is being tested on:
Courage
Fidelity
Morality
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Purpose of Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight: teach us a moral lesson.
Theme: To achieve nobility human beings
must rely on the constant practice of a
number of virtues such as:
Courage
Honesty
Self-sacrifice
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Setting (time)
The mythical past of King Arthur’s Court.
Setting (place)
Camelot; the wilderness; Bertilak’s castle; the Green
Chapel.
Motifs
The seasons; games