2 3 Flashcards
(34 cards)
What time period does Medieval English literature cover?
From the fall of Rome (~late 400s CE) to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.
What languages were used in Medieval English literature?
Latin and various English vernaculars (Old and Middle English).
Name three types of texts included in Medieval English literature.
What major historical event marks the end of the Anglo-Saxon period?
The Norman Conquest of 1066.
Who was the first named English poet?
Cædmon, a cowherd and monk from Whitby Abbey.
What is the oldest surviving epic poem in Old English?
Beowulf
What is a “kenning”?
A figurative phrase used to describe something indirectly (e.g., “whale-road” for sea).
How was most medieval literature originally shared?
Orally, through bards, minstrels, and scops.
Who was King Alfred and why was he important to literature?
A 9th-century king who promoted education, translated works into English, and began the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
What impact did William the Conqueror have on England?
Introduced feudalism, built castles, and influenced the English language.
What document limited the power of English kings and inspired democracy?
The Magna Carta.
What legend became a central myth of British identity during the medieval period?
The Arthurian Legend.
What historical work first popularized King Arthur across Europe?
Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Who introduced the Round Table into Arthurian legend?
Wace, in his Roman de Brut.
What is Le Morte d’Arthur and who wrote it?
A compilation of Arthurian legends by Sir Thomas Malory, published in 1485.
What are major themes in the Arthurian legends?
Chivalry, loyalty, betrayal, supernatural elements, and the quest for the Holy Grail.
Who were the key knights of the Round Table known for their individual stories?
Lancelot, Galahad, and Gawain.
What did the printing press do for English literature?
. Made books more accessible and helped standardize English.
Who introduced the first printing press in England?
William Caxton.
What was the significance of the Wars of the Roses?
A civil war for the English throne that ended with Henry VII and started the Tudor dynasty.
Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?
An English poet (c. 1340s–1400), known as the “father of English literature” and author of The Canterbury Tales.
Why is Chaucer considered important in English literature?
He helped legitimize Middle English as a literary language and influenced the development of modern English.
What official roles did Chaucer hold during his lifetime?
Esquire of the royal court, customs comptroller of London, diplomat, and other official duties.
Q: What was Chaucer’s first major poem and who was it written for?
The Book of the Duchess, an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster, wife of John of Gaunt.
