Medieval Literature Flashcards
October 14, 1066
- Norman Conquest of England, led by Duke of Normandy (later became English norman king, William I called the Conqueror)
- Met forces of last Saxon king, Harold
- Battle of Hastings
Last Saxon King
King Harold
Norman
- Means “northman,” people were another branch of Scandinavian peoples (dated back to 787)
- Collectively, (Danes, Vikings, Swedes, Normans) controlled northern regions
Norman Regions
- Southern Italy and Sicily
- Contended for control of Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem during Crusades
911
Normans acquire Normandy and begin to intermingle with French
Nobility and Language
-10% of English affected by new owners, William evicted English nobility
-Norman French became official court tongue,
Latin remained spoken/written of church, English remained for people
French Words
- King John lost continental lands (including Normandy) in battle with French king in 1204
- English began to be spoken by all
Normans “Anglified”
- William improved government
- Domesday Book
Domesday Book of 1086
- First census throughout medieval Europe
- Purpose was to tax
“Little Twelfth-Century Renaissance”
- Increasing prosperity in England during eleventh century
- Bologna founded (Europe’s first university)
Geoffrey of Monmouth
- Welsh clergyman educated at Oxford
- Wrote legend of King Arthur, tragic hero
Celts vs. English
-English continued to fight Celtic until eleventh century
Tragic Heroism
-Triumphs over insurmountable odds (differs with Old English acceptance of death)
Le Morte Darthur
-Written by Sir Thomas Malory, developed entire English drama
Chivalry
- From “cheval,” horse (knights)
- “Courtly love,” attached to Arthurian romance
- Introduced by Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Concedes that marriage is political matter, grants that women have right to love and be loved (contained strict guiding rules)
Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Married by French King and then English King
- With daughter, wrote book called “The Art of Courtly Love” (Andreas Capellanus helped)
- Challenged English husband (Henry II) to seize crown
Troubadours
-Traveling singers that took up chivalry theme
Great Plague of 1348
-1/3 dead, Renaissance stopped in its tracks
Hundred Years War
-England tried and failed to reclaim French possessions
War of the Roses
-Quarrel about royal succession, resulted in English civil war
Peasants
- During medieval period, began to gain self-awareness
- Sang ballads and lyrics
Magna Carta of 1215
-Forced King to grant barons more privileges, first parliament formation in 1265
Lollard Movement
- Radical religious doctrine founded by John Wyclif
- Surfaced in Puritan revolution of 17th century
Peasant Revolutions:
- 1381
- 1450
- 1381: Led by Wat Tyler, revolutions
- 1450: Jack Cade
Cycle of Plays/Morality Plays
- Performed annually on Corpus Christi day, focused on common life, familiar religious stories
- Made up of a short play with few characters (based on different elements of Christian story
- Secular instruction, characters are vices/virtues
Wakefield Master
-Wrote “The Second Shepherd’s Play,” secular mischief and comedy
“The Canterbury Tales”
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- Sacred and secular, pilgrims reflect wide span of society, details function symbolically
Sir Thomas Malory
- Embodiment of Middle English sensibility
- Combines universality with populist qualities
- Imprisoned, sided with York, and wrote “Le Morte Darthur”
Stratford (big cities)
-Fairs, entertainment, touring companies
William Caxton
-England’s first printer
William I
- (1) The Conqueror
- Died 1087, took over Normandy in 1066
William II
- (2) 1087-1100
- Ruthless, unpopular, killed by arrow while hunting
Henry I (1100-1135)
- (3) Fourth son of William I
- Took throne, strengthened bonds between Normandy and English
- 20 illegitimate children, rule to daughter (Matilda)
1154
-Plantagenets
Henry II (1154-1189) Plantagenet
- (4) Matilda’s son, marries Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Fights French king
- Has Thomas of Beckett murdered (Henry wanted reform)
- Probs with King Philip (French)
- Divides kingdom for sons (Richard and John)
John (1199-1216)
Plantagenet
- (5) Richard’s legitimate son
- Wrote Magna Carta under duress of Barons
Henry III (1216-1272) Plantagenet
- (6) John’s son
- Participated in Crusades, fought barons against Magna Carta
Edward I (1272-1307) Plantagenet
- (7) Crusader, known for legal reforms
- Raised taxes, conquered Wales, implemented government
- Tried to conquer Scotland
- Married Eleanor, no illegitimate kiddos
- Established temporary peace with France (married French princess in 1299)
Edward II (1307-1327) Plantagenet
- (8) Known for sexual liaisons
- Married Isabella (French), Isabella overthrew Edward with Roger and acted as regent
Edward III (1327-1377) Plantagenet
- (9) Led coo against mother, declared to French throne
- Start of “Hundred Years War”
- Developed Parliament, House of Lords/Commons, added title of Duke and Duchess
- Bilingual, French and Anglo
Richard II (1377-1399) Plantagenet
- (10) Edward II’s grandson, king at age 10
- Kingdom led by John of Gaunt (uncle, acting as regent)
- Suppresses peasant revolt started by poll tax
- Uprising against lords, disinherits John’s son (Henry)
1399-1461
Lancasters
Henry IV (1399-1461) Lancaster
-(11) Defended self from Plantagenets
Henry V (1413-1422) Lancaster
- (12) Battle of Agencourt (1415) is victory
- Introduced longbow, establishes treaty with France by marrying French princess
- Sea-commanding skills
Henry VI (1422-1461) Lancaster
- (13) King as child, uncle regent until 1423
- Only king to rule England twice (1422-1461, 1470-1471)
- Pious, wanted peace with France
- War of Roses began (breakdown, Margaret/Henry exiled by Yorks)
1461-1485
Yorks
Edward IV
Yorks
- (14) Rules in peace (not France)
- Main supporter of Caxton, invented printing press
- Revolution in literacy, facilitates cheaper material, requires spelling systemization
Edward V (1483) Yorks
-(15) Takes throne at 12 in 1483, imprisoned by Richard III
Richard III (1483-1485) Yorks
- (16) Civil War
- Led by Edward’s supporters, Henry Tudor
- Richard killed in war (last king to be killed like that)
1485-1509
Tudors
Henry VII
- (17) Distant relative of Yorks, exiled and returned to take throne
- Marries sister of Edward II
- Amasses large fortune
- Rules England until end of Middle Ages
Crusades (1096-1270)
-Christian knights died for religious beliefs and captured Jerusalem
7 Deadly Sins
- Lechery (lust)
- Pride
- Gluttony
- Sloth
- Envy
- Wrath
- Greed
