MEDIEVAL PERIOD IN THE

DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH
LITERATURE
1066-1485
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
 Norman Conquest ended the Anglo
Saxon Period.
 In 1066 The Battle of Hastings, William,
Duke of Normandy defeated Harold,
king of England.
 William became the first Norman king
of England on Christmas Day, 1066.
William King of England

 William the Conqueror was the most powerful

duke in France who was a descendant of the
Vikings.
 He ruled England with strength and efficiency.
 He introduced into England the system of
reciprocal loyalties called feudalism. Under
feudalism the land is the property of the king,
not of the tribe. He kept huge areas for
himself but granted lands for his nobles.
King William the
Conqueror
Roman Catholic Church

 It is the unifying force as well as

powerful institution.
 Religious writings were very popular.
 Clergy and scholars at the abbeys
performed the traditional services of
educating clergy and nobles of
writing, translating, copying,
gathering and storing manuscripts.
 The 3 Estates in the Middle Ages
Clergy
- Latin was chiefly spoken. The purpose was to pray so to save everyone’s soul.
Nobles
• French was chiefly spoken. They were the warriors or those
who fight. Their purpose was to protect and provide justice.
Commoners
• English was chiefly spoken. They were those
who work. Their purpose was to feed and
clothe all above them.
Characteristics of Medieval
Literature

Romance
Chivalry
Courtly Love
The Miracle and the Morality play
Romance
It is a literary genre popular in the Middle Ages dealing
in verse or in prose with legendary supernatural, or
amorous subject and characters. Later it was applied to
tales specifically concerned with knights, chivalry and
courtly love.
Chivalry
It referred to the lifestyle and moral code of medieval
knights who was bound to the chivalric code to be loyal to
God, to his lord and his lady. Chivalric ideals include act of
kindness, brotherly love and politeness.
Courtly Love
It was modeled on the feudal relationship
between a knight and his liege lord. The Knight
served his courtly lady with the same obedience
and loyalty which he owed to his liege Lord. The
lady was in complete control. The knight owed
her obedience and submission. In the middle
ages, marriage among the nobles were typically
based on practical and dynastic concern rather
than on love.
Mystery play
These were stories taken from the Bible. Each play had four or
five different scenes or acts. Priests or monks were the actors.
The play usually ended outside the church so that people would
go to church and hear sermons after watching a play.
Miracle Play
It was about the life and action of a saint usually about
the actions that made that person a saint.
Morality Plays
They were designed to teach people a lesson on how to live their life
according to the rules of the church. It was a break for the daily normal
life of the commoners.
Ballads
It was one of the most popular form of literature during the
Medieval Age. It was a narrative song told of common folks and of
characters in which the events were from legends and folklores.
Famous Writers

William Langland
John Gower