5. French Influence and English Affirmation

Question 1

What is the topic of the O.E. (Old English) literature?

Answer 1

Battles, warriors.

Question 2

How did English regain its readership over French?

Answer 2

Due to the Norman conquerors developing a fuller English identity and their desire to use the English language.

Question 3

The Norman Conquerors switched to English and this led to (1)___ and (2)___.

Answer 3

(1) more French words entering English
(2) English becoming the one with growing readership

Question 4

Who affirmed English domination?

Answer 4

King Henry 5th.

Question 5

What important even happened in the 12th c.?

Answer 5

London becoming the capital city.

Question 6

What’s the most famous even in English history?

Answer 6

The Norman Conquest in 1066.

Question 7

What is the typical characteristics of the O.E. characters (mostly)?

Answer 7

The individual, a solitary outsider in a harsh and difficult society.

Question 8

Describe the actions of Normans in the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Answer 8

1. They crossed the Channel from France;
2. Won the battle of Hastings and took over the kingdom of England which belonged to the new king (his family) **William the Conqueror;

Question 9

When did London become the capital city?

Answer 9

In the 12th c.

Question 10

When did King John lose the French lands? What did it lead to?

Answer 10

In 1204. It led to the aristocracy opt for England or France.

Question 11

When was the French language rejected?

Answer 11

In 1425.

Question 12

Who are the Normans?

Answer 12

“North Man”, the French.

Question 13

What happened in 1425?

Answer 13

The French language rejected, when King Henry 5th affirmed English domination.

Question 14

What was the results of the Norman invasion?

Answer 14

Brought the French language and culture, which led to bilingualism. This led to French prevailing from 12th-14th c.

Question 15

What happened in 1204?

Answer 15

King John’s losses of French lands.

Question 16

Which influences did the London dialect undergo?

Answer 16

From the North.

Question 17

When did the concept of author first appear? With whom?

Answer 17

In the 13th c. with Layamon.

Question 18

What’s Layamon’s work?

Answer 18

Brut.

Question 19

Who was “Brut” written by?

Answer 19

By Layamon.

Question 20

Tell me about what you know about “Brut”. What’s so special about it?

Answer 20

1. Brut was written by Layamon in the 12th/13th c.;
2. It’s the first national epic in English;
3. Refers to the Dark Age, the two centuries from Romans in the beginning of 5th c. up to 597 (St. Augustine) telling about king Authur and the Round Table;

Question 21

What’s the first national epic in English in the Early Middle English literature?

Answer 21

Brut, written by Layamon.

Question 22

What kind of works were written interpreting the past and why?

Answer 22

Classical epics, since it was caused by the crisis and seeking Englishness.

Question 23

What are the differences between Old English and Early Middle English literature topics?

Answer 23

Old English literary works were a little about romance, but the topics on the war and land prevailed.
The Early Middle English literary works are more about romance, love.

Question 24

Where did the love theme come from?

Answer 24

From Proverence in the south-east of France, where troubadours gave voice to courtly love;

Question 25

The concept of “ideal love” gave a rise to (1)___.

Answer 25

(1) lyric poetry

Question 26

What kind of love the literary works represent?

Answer 26

1. Idealized;
2. On a religious note;

Question 27

Why was Virgin Mary worshiped? When and why?

Answer 27

Because of the idealized view on feminine imagery. The worship spread in the 12th c. in Europe.

Question 28

What kind of stereotype developed in the 12th c. (1100) on the feminine imagery? What character(s) come(s) to your mind to the stereotype?

Answer 28

A woman waiting for her husband, a good soldier going off on the Holy Crusades across the Europe to the Christian Holy shrines of Jerusalem.
A woman embodied patience, beauty, ideal virtue. Example: Penelope from “The Odyssey”.

Question 29

Where does the feminine imagery come from?

Answer 29

From Le Roman de la Rose (The Romance of the Rose).

Question 30

What kind of imagery does Romance de la Rose bring? What even is it? What does the rose even symbolize? Does it have (an) author(s)?

Answer 30

It’s the most influential text which brings the idea of a woman being subordinate.
The rose symbolizes the lady’s love. The whole concept of love developed from it. The work had two authors.

Question 31

What’s “Question of the Rose”?

Answer 31

It’s a question on its intentions: ranges from misogyny to worship of the beloved, from immorality to chastity.

Question 32

Why is love romanticized?

Answer 32

Because literature used to affirm dominant values.

Question 33

“Castle” is a (1)___ word.

Answer 33

(1) French loan

Question 34

From whom the whole romance tradition comes from?

Answer 34

From the French.

Question 35

What appeared during the Early Middle English literature period?

Answer 35

Songs, ballads.

Question 36

What were songs and ballads about?

Answer 36

About changing seasons, glories of nature, love in a more direct way than a poem.

Question 37

What is ballad? What kind of characters come to your mind when it comes to ballads?

Answer 37

Traditionally a story based on a character. The endings were generally unhappy, which it differs from songs, which are more about positive assertions.
The characters that can be used as examples are Robin Hood, Lord Randal, Wife of Usher’s Well, etc.

Question 38

How song lyrics differ from ballads?

Answer 38

Song lyrics carry positive assertions, whereas ballads are more about bad endings.

Question 39

What does “Lord Randal” consist of?

Answer 39

It consists of a question/answer dialogue and ends in his death.

Question 40

When did ballads appear?

Answer 40

In about the 13th/15th c.

Question 41

So the Early Middle English literature is known to be the beginning of (1)___, (2)___, (3)___.

Answer 41

(1) songs
(2) stories
(3) ballads