Medieval England & Literature

Medieval England & LiteratureEnglish IIICasey1Medieval Cartoons

2Hastings, England

3Battle of Hastings 1066Harold promised William the throneWhen Harold I died, Harold became kingWilliam of Normandy was not happy.September 1066 Harold fights off VikingsOctober 1066 William arrives in EnglandSaxons vs NormansNormans win October 14, 1066

4

5The Norman EffectWilliam replaces the existing ruling class with French speaking monarchyFeudalismLaw and OrderDomesday BookCastlesChivalry6FeudalismAll land owned by KingGives land to Barons who,Give land to Knights who,Give land to the serfs IN EXCHANGE

The serfs provide food and serviceKnights provide protectionBarons provide knights and money

7Law and OrderLots of Saxons, few NormansLaws were created to protect Normans

If a Frenchman accuses an Englishman of murder, theft or perjury, that Englishman shall be allowed to defend himself either by ordeal through combat or by ordeal by hot iron.No one shall be executed for crimes they have committed; but if they are guilty of a crime, they will be blinded and castrated. This law is not to be challenged.8Domesday BookWilliam ordered a complete survey of all of England.Inventory and tax Thereevefrom a manor and six peasants were questioned for every manor visited.

How many ploughs are there in the manor ?How many mills and fishponds ?How many freemen, villagers and slaves are there in the manor ?9CastlesCastles were a sign of Norman power and mightThe castles also gave the Norman soldiers a safe place to live.Motte and Bailey castles: made of wood and on a hill.Stone keep castles: very high and strongTower of London.

10Medieval CastlesMotte and baileyStone keep

11Chivalry and KnighthoodKnights- sons of noblesStart training at age 7: manners, dancing, playing chess, singingSquire at age 14: personal servant to a knight (Wart to Sir Kay)Chivalry- cheval (French for horse)- horse warriors12Chivalry A product of feudalism, chivalry was an idealized system of manners and moralsRestricted to nobilityThe Medieval knight was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal toGodhis lordhis ladyChivalric ideals include...benevolencebrotherly lovepolitenessSir Gawain is an example

13Courtly LoveRomance- romanz (Romans)- referring to Latin based languages Courtly love is modeled after the feudal relationship between knight and lord.Serve lady with obedience, loyalty, and submission.Major theme in Medieval Literature14The ChurchProvided guidance through well known precepts..Seven Deadly SinsPrideGreedWrathEnvyGluttonySlothLust

15CrusadesFight the heathens!!! Christians vs Muslims for JerusalemStarted in 1096; lasted 200 yearsCreated trade routes and major cities along the way to JerusalemCorrupted the church:Pope powerSelling indulgencesCrusades for money

16With the Crusades comes The Black Deathspreads along trade routeskills much of the populationthe plague outbreaks occur through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance

Paradoxically, the Plague provides for continued growth in citiesAfterwards, hundreds of new jobs availableMany debts died off with creditorsalso contributed to societys culture

17Literature During the Medieval Period18LanguagesChurch LatinNobility FrenchCommon people English (Middle)

English was thought of as a trashy languagenobody wrote literature in it (except for Chaucer in the 14th century)19

Characteristics of Medieval Literature1. RomanceAdventure! Not kissy-kissy romanceA narrative in prose or verse that tells of the adventures and heroic exploits of chivalric heroesexploits of knightsoften a supernatural element involved2. Christian messageconcern with salvation and the world to comeno interest in social change

20Characteristics of Medieval Literature3. Heroismfrom both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingledBeowulfSir Gawain and the Green Knight

4. Presentations of idealized behaviorliterature as moral lessonloyalty to kingChivalryCourtly Love

21