Middle Ages Literature Flashcards
Beowulf
Setting
Scandinavia
Beowulf
Style
Epic poem
-> long and narrative poem in which heroes perform valorous deeds
Beowulf
Summary
Scandinavian hero Beowulf gains fame as a young man by vanquishing the monster Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Later, as an ageing king, he kills a dragon but dies soon after, hanourd and lamented
Elements from angelo-saxon found in beowulf
- admiration of courage and loyalty
- respect for rank/status
- loyalty was rewarded
- heroism and courage provided some control in life
- people wanted fame to be remembered after death
Beowulf
Writer
Not know who wrote Beowulf or how old it is
- Beowulf is the protagonist of the story
Canterbury tales
Setting
Road to canterbury
Canterbury tales
Style
Collection of tales, characters in the general prologue appear in different tales
Canterbury tales
Summary
A frame story about a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury in order to visit the shrine of St Thomas Becket
Canterbury tales
Writer
Geoffry Chaucer
-> had great knowledge of languages and was influenced by the Italians
(He is know as the father of english literature)
The nun’s Priest tale
Setting
Small cottage
The nun’s Priest tale
Style
Fable
-> a short story describing the actions of animals who have been given human characteristics (always a clear moral to the story)
The nun’s Priest tale
Summary
Chauntecleer is a rooster that belongs to a poor old widow. He tells his favourite hen, Petelote about a nightmare Chauntecleer gets approached by a fox who grabs him, but Chauntecleer tricks him and escapes
