The Medieval Period

1066

Normans = French

Reign lasted 100 years

Bye-bye, Anglo Saxons

FEUDALISM

Nobility and Clergy = Land, spoiled rotten

Knight = Money from the lord/ a warrior

Freemen = Shopkeepers, etc.

Serf = owned no land, workers

3 main social groups

Feudal Working poor/own no land

City Landowners or tradesmen/ rich

Church

Educated/most powerful

CHIVALRY•HONORABLE

•COURTEOUS

•GENEROUS

•BRAVE

•SKILLFUL IN BATTLE

•RESPECTFUL TO WOMEN

•HELPFUL TO THE WEAK

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Crusades = people dying for the church

The plague = improved relationship with God

Continued …

•Abbeys were a place for education, writing, and manuscripts of stories

•Architecture of Renaissance: arches, domes, stained glass, etc.

chivalry

love

magic

The Tradition of Romance

Feudalism declines …

Development of wool industry, guilds, growth of towns.

• “Black Death” – 1348 – bubonic plague within 2 years, 1/3 of population dies

• “Hundred Years War” – English (won) versus French (lost) 1339-1453– Also called the War of Roses

• White – House of York and Red – House of Lancaster 1455 to 1485

Literature

•For nearly 300 years after Norman Conquest, little literature produced

•Language spoken:–Latin Language – Church–Feudal Nobles – Norman French–Middle and Lower Class - English

DRAMASupported by the Catholic Church• MYSTERY PLAYS – from bible stories

• MIRACLE PLAYS: Bible Miracles – Portrayed lives of Saints

• MORALITY PLAYS: Vices and Virtues – Ethical and Moral Values portrayed

What is the difference between a city and a town?

Towns = churches

Cities = cathedrals

Steeple size

Canterbury is a city

Let’s Learn about Canterbury for just one moment …

• Thomas Becket Ppt …

Why did people make

pilgrimages?

1. Religious purposes

2.Travel/Recreation

Rules of Pilgrimage

1. “Pilgrim’s Way” =

120 miles

2.Never travel alone

3. Any social class could travel

Geoffrey Chaucer

Born in 1343Wealthy father

St. Paul’s Cathedral - school

Jailed for fighting and debtWorked for royalty

Married with two children

Chaucer loved poetry

His writings were popular in his lifetimeHe died in 1400 of

old age or black plague and ended up looking like this.

Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey

“POET’S CORNER”

Canterbury Tales

29 pilgrims

Humorous depictions

- Accurate social standing

Chaucer was critiquing Landowners

greedChurch corruption

Immorality of Clergy

Stupidity of the rich

The Setup of Canterbury Tales

Prologue + stories

Prologue = introducing each characterStories = 1 story told by each pilgrim

Pilgrims traveling in April from an inn in London to Canterbury. (50 miles)

Themes and Forms of StoriesReligion legend

fable fairy

talesermon

romance

Inspired modern short story writers

• Contains wit and humor (word play, innuendo, double meanings)

• Contains familiar allusions and references

Ideas, customs, behaviors, or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.

•Often uses exaggeration,irony, and understatement.

• Two types – Horatian (gentle and playful) Juvenalian (scornful, biting, and outraged)