Middle English Literature: Part 1

Summary

The script explores the evolution of the English language and literature post-Norman Invasion, highlighting the transition from Old English to Middle English. It discusses key literary works like 'Ormulum' and 'Brut' by Layamon, emphasizing their significance in language development. The script also covers the rise of the romance genre influenced by French literature, exemplified by 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' and the alliterative revival. It touches on spiritual writings and 'Piers Plowman,' which critiqued religious corruption, influencing the Reformation.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Norman Invasion of 1066 led to the displacement of English and the rise of French as the primary language in the British Isles.
• 📜 The Old English language evolved into Middle English after the Norman Conquest, with significant changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
• 📚 The period of Middle English is categorized from the 12th to the 15th century, marking a transitional phase in the English language.
• 📖 'Ormulum' or 'Orum' is an important work from the early Middle English period, showcasing the development of the language post-Norman Conquest.
• 🎭 'The Owl and the Nightingale' is a well-known Middle English poem featuring a debate between two creatures, noted for its allegorical and satirical nature.
• 📝 'Brut' by Layamon is a historiography that played a role in reviving English literature and popularizing the tales of King Arthur.
• 🏰 The influence of French literature, particularly the works of Chrétien de Troyes, significantly impacted the spread of the romance genre in English literature.
• 🔊 The 14th century saw the emergence of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' a poem notable for its use of alliteration.
• 📜 'Piers Plowman' by William Langland is an allegorical poem that critiques religious beliefs and corruption, influencing the spiritual discourse of the time.
• 📈 There was an increase in spiritual writings during the 14th century, reflecting a growing interest in religious and moral themes.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in 1066 that impacted the English language?

In 1066, the Norman Invasion led by William of Normandy, also known as William the Conqueror, took place. This event resulted in the displacement of English as the primary language, as the people were obliged to speak French.

How did the Norman Conquest affect the development of the English language?

The Norman Conquest caused changes in grammatical systems, vocabularies, and pronunciations, transforming the English language into Middle English, which was more comprehensible than Old English.

Who is Geoffrey Chaucer, and why is he mentioned in the script?

Geoffrey Chaucer is a significant Middle English author known for 'The Canterbury Tales.' He is mentioned in the script as an example of the literary works from the period of Middle English.

What is the time frame for the period of Middle English mentioned in the script?

The period of Middle English can be categorized from the 12th century until the 15th century.

What is 'Ormulum' and why is it significant in the development of the English language?

Ormulum, also known as 'Orm and the Nightingale,' is a Biblical exegesis written by a monk named Orm or Obin. It is significant because it helps trace the development of the English language since the Norman Conquest and utilizes a poetic meter, making it one of the first Middle English poems to have such a format.

What is 'Brut' and how does it relate to the history of Britain?

'Brut' is a historiography about Britain in the form of a poem written by an English priest named Laȝamon. It is based on the work 'Roman de Brut' in French by Wace and is one of the earliest tales of King Lear and his daughters.

Who is King Offa, and how is he connected to the English literature of the 13th century?

King Offa was a historical figure known for possessing the sword Excalibur. His name and the tales related to him were popularized by Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose work 'Historia Regum Britanniae' was a significant influence on English literature during the 13th century.

What is the romance genre as it was understood during the Middle Ages, and how did it influence English literature?

During the Middle Ages, the romance genre referred to tales of knights, their heroic adventures, battles, and chivalry, rather than modern notions of love stories. It influenced English literature by introducing themes of heroism and chivalry, as seen in works like 'King Horn' and 'Havelok the Dane.'

What is 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' and why is it notable?

'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' is a classic tale from the 14th century that uses alliteration with repeated consonant sounds in a series of words. It is notable for its poetic structure and is often attributed to the same anonymous author of 'Purity,' 'Cleerness,' and 'Patience,' which were part of the alliterative Revival in Middle English poetry.

What is 'Piers Plowman' and what is its significance in the context of the script?

'Piers Plowman' is an alliterative allegorical poem by William Langland. It is significant as it satirizes religious beliefs and corruption during the time and had a profound influence on the spiritual level of society, even being read as a reformist Protestant text in the 16th century.

Why was there an increase in spiritual writings during the 14th century?

The increase in spiritual writings during the 14th century could be attributed to the societal and religious upheavals of the time, including the effects of the Black Death and the growing desire for religious reform, which led to a greater focus on introspection and spiritual matters.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Norman Conquest and the Birth of Middle English

This paragraph discusses the impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language and literature. The invasion by William of Normandy in 1066 led to the displacement of English as the primary language, with French becoming the language of the ruling class. This period resulted in the transformation of Old English into Middle English, with changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The paragraph introduces Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' as an example of Middle English literature and outlines the time frame of the 12th to 15th centuries for Middle English. It also mentions 'Ormulum' or 'Orum', a Biblical exegesis written in early Middle English verse, which is significant for tracing the development of the English language post-Norman Conquest. Additionally, it introduces 'The Owl and the Nightingale', a debate poem with allegorical and satirical elements about human life.

Keywords

💡Norman Conquest

The Norman Conquest refers to the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. This event had a profound impact on the English language, as it led to the displacement of Old English and the rise of Middle English. In the video, the Norman Conquest is highlighted as a turning point in the history of the English language, leading to significant changes in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

💡Middle English

Middle English is the stage of the English language that spanned from the 12th to the 15th century. It evolved from Old English and was heavily influenced by the Norman Conquest, which introduced French vocabulary and grammatical structures. The video discusses Middle English as the period when the language became more comprehensible and distinct from its Old English roots.

💡Ormulum

Ormulum is a work of Biblical exegesis written in early Middle English verse by a monk named Orm or Obin. It is significant for tracing the development of the English language post-Norman Conquest. The video mentions Ormulum as an example of early Middle English poetry that utilized poetic meter, making it one of the first works in this format.

💡Allegory

An allegory is a narrative or description that conveys a deeper symbolic meaning beneath the surface. In the context of the video, 'The Owl and the Nightingale' is mentioned as an allegorical work, using the debate between two creatures to satirize aspects of human life, making it a well-known literary debate despite the author's anonymity.

💡Historiography

Historiography refers to the study of the methods of historians in researching, analyzing, and writing history. In the video, 'Brut' by Layamon is cited as an example of historiography, a poem that narrates the history of Britain and is based on the work 'Roman de Brut' in French, showing the influence of French literature on English historiography.

💡Romance Genre

The term 'romance' in the video does not refer to love stories but to tales of knights, heroic adventures, battles, and chivalry. It discusses how the French poet Chrétien de Troyes' 'Arthurian Tales' influenced the spread of the romance genre in English literature during the Middle English period.

💡Alliteration

Alliteration is a literary device where the initial consonant sounds or any parts of words are repeated in a series of words. 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' is mentioned as an example of a poem using alliteration, which was part of the alliterative Revival in Middle English poetry, where poets began to use alliteration more prominently.

💡Piers Plowman

Piers Plowman is an alliterative allegorical poem by William Langland. It is a narrative about a man named Will and his dream visions, which serves as a satire on religious beliefs and corruption during the Middle English period. The video highlights how this work influenced the spiritual level of society and was later read as a reformist Protestant text.

💡Excalibur

Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, mentioned in the video in relation to King Offa of Mercia, whose historical existence is more certain than that of Arthur. The mention of Excalibur ties into the broader discussion of the romanticized tales of chivalry and kingship that were popular during the Middle English period.

💡Anonymity

Anonymity in the video refers to the unknown authorship of several Middle English works, including 'The Owl and the Nightingale' and 'Piers Plowman'. The anonymity of these works adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, as their popularity and influence often outshine the lack of known authorship, as is the case with many works from this period.

💡Spiritual Writings

Spiritual writings are literary works that focus on religious or philosophical themes. The video notes an increase in spiritual writings during the 14th century, reflecting a broader cultural and societal interest in religious and moral issues, which is evident in works like 'Piers Plowman'.

Highlights

The Norman Invasion of 1066 significantly impacted the English language, replacing Old English with French influences, transforming it into Middle English.

The Middle English period is classified from the 12th to the 15th century, with notable changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Orrmulum by Orm (or Obin) is an early Middle English Biblical exegesis that uses poetic meter, making it important for tracing the development of the English language.

The poem 'The Owl and the Nightingale' is a notable 12th-century work that remains popular due to its allegorical and satirical representation of human life.

The 13th-century work 'Brut' by Layamon, an English priest, is a poetic historiography about Britain, inspired by earlier French and Latin works.

Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae' was one of the first tales to introduce King Arthur and popularize the legend, although its historical accuracy is debated.

The French romance genre, featuring knights and heroic adventures, heavily influenced English literature in the 12th and 13th centuries.

'King Horn' and 'Havelok the Dane,' anonymous romance works, became popular examples of English literature influenced by the French tradition.

The 14th-century poem 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' is a famous alliterative romance, showcasing chivalry and knightly adventures.

The 'Alliterative Revival' of the 14th century saw a resurgence in poetry utilizing alliteration, with notable works like 'Cleanness,' 'Patience,' and 'Pearl.'

William Langland’s 'Piers Plowman' is an alliterative allegory that critiques religious corruption and had a lasting influence, being interpreted as a reformist text in the 16th century.

Geoffrey Chaucer’s 'Canterbury Tales' exemplifies the transformation of English literature and language during the Middle English period.

The French poet Chrétien de Troyes was instrumental in spreading the romance genre, which influenced English works like 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.'

The 14th century saw an increase in spiritual writings, reflecting the growing religious and philosophical discussions of the time.

Middle English literature was shaped by the convergence of French, Latin, and English traditions, leading to a unique linguistic and literary development.

Transcripts

[Music]

the British Isles the continent with A

Series of Unfortunate Events after being

invaded by the Romans largely impacting

the landscape of the language within the

continent the British Isles were once

again attacked in 1066 by William of

Normandy or William the career the

Norman Invasion resulted in the

displacement of English as the primary

language there as the people were

obliged to speak French now the conquest

of the Normans affected the previous Old

English language causing changes in

grammatical systems vocabularies and

pronunciations making the English

language transformed into the more

comprehensible Middle English with the

example like this excert from jeofrey

Cha's canbury Tales who is jeofrey Chara

you ask don't worry we will address that

question soon but before that to make

things easier know that the period of

Middle English can be categorized into

the periods of the 12th century until

the 15th century okay so let's take a

look at the state of English literature

during the 12th century what do we have

during this time we have omum Orum a

Biblical exegesis which is the

interpretation of the Bible the work was

written by a mon named om or Obin as

stated in the work itself in the form of

early middle English verse this

particular work helps in tracing the

development of the English language

since the period of the Norman Conquest

so it is quite an important work other

than that the work also utilized a

poetic meter which basically means

stress patterns of a beat in poems

making it one of the first Middle

English poems to have such a format

there also a poem known as the old and

the night tingle as the name suggests it

is a story about an o and a night tingle

the two creatures have arguments about

various things in a courtly style and

this work remains one of the most

well-known literary debates despite of

the office anonymity due to its

allegorical and even satirical nature of

human life moving on to the 13th century

one of his surviving works of this time

is brute written by lamman an English

priest brute is a historiography about

Britain in the form of a poem based on

the work by wasis Roman de Brut in

French was based his work on Historia

reg britan by Joffrey of Monmouth

Joffrey were in Laten and claimed to

have translated the work from a British

language although the claim is adopted

by the majority and his history of

Britain is highly inaccurate when

compared with theal thing nevertheless

his work is one of the earliest Tales of

King Leah and his three daughters

Joffrey also popularized the famous King

auor for those who don't know King Offa

have you ever heard of a sword Excalibur

it was one of King offa's possessions so

in this era for lon's brute the English

literature was seemingly revived his

work was King office's first appearance

in the form of the English language

still the introduction and the massive

influence of the tale were due to the

French influence or French literature to

be more specific cren D tra a 12th

century French poet wrote aruan Tales

which largely impacted the spread of a

romance genre during this time and by

romance we do not mean a love story

between a sparkling vampire and a

fragile girl or a cheesy love story

between a manly man and a cute lady

romance here is the tale of knights

their Heroic Adventures battles in the

name of courtly love and Cavalry other

English Roman works of this period

include King Horn and havock vain in

which the authors of both works are

unknown or

Anonymous now moving on to the 14th

century following the romance genre

Trend this was the period for the

emergence of a classic tale SGA wine and

the green night but we will not be

analyzing about the iconic work here in

order not to stray too far from the

topic at hand Saga and ven night is one

of the examples of a poem using

alliteration with repeated sounds of

consonants in a series of words although

the author of Sir gawan andina has never

been truly known it is often inferred

that the author was the same author of a

poem titled the perel cleanness and

patience poems whose auor is also

Anonymous these poems were part of the

time during Middle English called the

alliterative Revival in which there was

a Resurgence of poetries utilizing

alliterations another famous work during

this time was pierce po man an

alliterative allegorical poem written by

William langland it is a poem about a

man and a narrator with the name Will

and his dream Visions it is considered

as a satire to the religious beliefs and

religion Corruptions during the time

largely influencing the spiritual level

of the society to the extent that it was

read as a reformist Protestant text in

the 16th century now speaking of

spiritual stuffs there is an increase of

spiritual writings in the 14th century

but let's take a break created using