The Medieval Era1066-1485 AD

Changes from Anglo-Saxon times:• 1066 Norman Invasion – French and Latin languages are

introduced• Rise of Middle English – less Germanic than Old English• Development of feudalism• Church becomes the central institution

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Important Changes

• 1066: Edward the Confessor dies; Battle of Hastings; William of Normandy ascends

• 1154: Norman rule ends when Henry II ascends throne • Thomas Becket appointed archbishop of Canterbury

• Henry and Becket disagree• 1170: Some of Henry’s knights murder Becket in cathedral

in Canterbury; Henry condemns knights; takes pilgrimage to Canterbury

• 1190: Third crusade• 1209: Cambridge University founded• 1215: Magna Carta• 1337: Beginning of Hundreds Years’ War with France

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Important Dates

• 1348/49: Black Death• 1/3 – 1/4 of population of Europe dead

• 1381: Peasants’ Revolt• 1399: Lancaster house on throne (Henry IV, V, VI)• 1455-85: Wars of the Roses (Lancaster vs. York)• Henry Tudor, of the house of York, defeats Richard III• Henry becomes Henry VII – starts a line of Tudor kings

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Important Dates, cont.

Medieval Society

• For many years, Medieval society was comprised of the nobility, church, and “everyone else.”• Chivalry is

• A code for knights• Requires knights to be brave warriors• Requires knights to be virtuous Christians• Requires knights to fight selflessly for justice

• Social system starts to change in the 1300s. Feudalism wanes, the middle class grows• Rise of the middle class – traders, merchants, etc.• Greater church power leads to corruption within the Church.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight• No author• The story is written in Middle English and requires translation.• This story is an example of a medieval romance. Medieval romance is

• An adventure story• Involving characters like kings, knights, and damsels in distress

• This story is based on the legend of King Arthur. A legend is• An anonymous traditional story• Involving heroic figures and memorable deeds• Involving quests, contests, and/or tests• Involving patterned events (e.g. three tests)

• In the excerpt we read and discussed, we see Sir Gawain’s chivalry tested through three tests:• Accepting the Green Knight’s challenge for King Arthur• His encounter with the lord and lady of the castle (green girdle and kissing)• Keeping his promise to go to the Green Chapel/letting the Green Knight bring the ax down on his

neck

The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer• This story is not a medieval romance but rather is a collection of stories

of/from different genres.• 24 of the 120 tales were completed.

• This collection of stories is written at the end of the 14th century in Middle English and requires translation.• The story is about a group of people (29 pilgrims) going on a pilgrimage

to Canterbury Cathedral. A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy site.• As they travel, each pilgrim agrees to tell the others two stories there.• Each pilgrim will also tell two stories on the way back. • The winner, meaning the pilgrim who tells the best stories, wins a feast.*Thomas a Becket was archbishop of Canterbury! He was declared a saint after his death in 1173, and his remains were kept at Canterbury Cathedral.

Format Traits of The Canterbury Tales• Due to the telling of stories within the story, The Canterbury Tales is

meta-fictional as well as a framed narrative.• Meta-fiction occurs when fiction recognizes or comments upon itself. (Also

called self-reflexivity)• Framed narrative: When a story exists within a story.

The characters and their stories qualify as social commentary.Social Commentary is writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its

customs; social commentary focuses on society’s flaws.Because there are so many characters in this text, it’s helpful to

examine characterization.Characterization is how a character is presented. Characterization may be

direct or indirect.