Flashcards in Medieval Literature Deck (53):
1
October 14, 1066
-Norman Conquest of England, led by Duke of Normandy (later became English norman king, William I called the Conqueror)
-Met forces of last Saxon king, Harold
-Battle of Hastings
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Last Saxon King
King Harold
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Norman
-Means "northman," people were another branch of Scandinavian peoples (dated back to 787)
-Collectively, (Danes, Vikings, Swedes, Normans) controlled northern regions
4
Norman Regions
-Southern Italy and Sicily
-Contended for control of Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem during Crusades
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911
Normans acquire Normandy and begin to intermingle with French
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Nobility and Language
-10% of English affected by new owners, William evicted English nobility
-Norman French became official court tongue,
Latin remained spoken/written of church, English remained for people
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French Words
-King John lost continental lands (including Normandy) in battle with French king in 1204
-English began to be spoken by all
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Normans "Anglified"
-William improved government
-Domesday Book
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Domesday Book of 1086
-First census throughout medieval Europe
-Purpose was to tax
10
"Little Twelfth-Century Renaissance"
-Increasing prosperity in England during eleventh century
-Bologna founded (Europe's first university)
11
Geoffrey of Monmouth
-Welsh clergyman educated at Oxford
-Wrote legend of King Arthur, tragic hero
12
Celts vs. English
-English continued to fight Celtic until eleventh century
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Tragic Heroism
-Triumphs over insurmountable odds (differs with Old English acceptance of death)
14
Le Morte Darthur
-Written by Sir Thomas Malory, developed entire English drama
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Chivalry
-From "cheval," horse (knights)
-"Courtly love," attached to Arthurian romance
-Introduced by Eleanor of Aquitaine
-Concedes that marriage is political matter, grants that women have right to love and be loved (contained strict guiding rules)
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Eleanor of Aquitaine
-Married by French King and then English King
-With daughter, wrote book called "The Art of Courtly Love" (Andreas Capellanus helped)
-Challenged English husband (Henry II) to seize crown
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Troubadours
-Traveling singers that took up chivalry theme
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Great Plague of 1348
-1/3 dead, Renaissance stopped in its tracks
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Hundred Years War
-England tried and failed to reclaim French possessions
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War of the Roses
-Quarrel about royal succession, resulted in English civil war
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Peasants
-During medieval period, began to gain self-awareness
-Sang ballads and lyrics
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Magna Carta of 1215
-Forced King to grant barons more privileges, first parliament formation in 1265
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Lollard Movement
-Radical religious doctrine founded by John Wyclif
-Surfaced in Puritan revolution of 17th century
24
Peasant Revolutions:
-1381
-1450
-1381: Led by Wat Tyler, revolutions
-1450: Jack Cade
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Cycle of Plays/Morality Plays
-Performed annually on Corpus Christi day, focused on common life, familiar religious stories
-Made up of a short play with few characters (based on different elements of Christian story
-Secular instruction, characters are vices/virtues
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Wakefield Master
-Wrote "The Second Shepherd's Play," secular mischief and comedy
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"The Canterbury Tales"
-Geoffrey Chaucer
-Sacred and secular, pilgrims reflect wide span of society, details function symbolically
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Sir Thomas Malory
-Embodiment of Middle English sensibility
-Combines universality with populist qualities
-Imprisoned, sided with York, and wrote "Le Morte Darthur"
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Stratford (big cities)
-Fairs, entertainment, touring companies
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William Caxton
-England's first printer
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William I
-(1) The Conqueror
-Died 1087, took over Normandy in 1066
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William II
-(2) 1087-1100
-Ruthless, unpopular, killed by arrow while hunting
33
Henry I (1100-1135)
- (3) Fourth son of William I
-Took throne, strengthened bonds between Normandy and English
-20 illegitimate children, rule to daughter (Matilda)
34
1154
-Plantagenets
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Henry II (1154-1189)
Plantagenet
-(4) Matilda's son, marries Eleanor of Aquitaine
-Fights French king
-Has Thomas of Beckett murdered (Henry wanted reform)
-Probs with King Philip (French)
-Divides kingdom for sons (Richard and John)
36
John (1199-1216)
Plantagenet
-(5) Richard's legitimate son
-Wrote Magna Carta under duress of Barons
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Henry III (1216-1272)
Plantagenet
-(6) John's son
-Participated in Crusades, fought barons against Magna Carta
38
Edward I (1272-1307)
Plantagenet
-(7) Crusader, known for legal reforms
-Raised taxes, conquered Wales, implemented government
-Tried to conquer Scotland
-Married Eleanor, no illegitimate kiddos
-Established temporary peace with France (married French princess in 1299)
39
Edward II (1307-1327)
Plantagenet
-(8) Known for sexual liaisons
-Married Isabella (French), Isabella overthrew Edward with Roger and acted as regent
40
Edward III (1327-1377)
Plantagenet
-(9) Led coo against mother, declared to French throne
-Start of "Hundred Years War"
-Developed Parliament, House of Lords/Commons, added title of Duke and Duchess
-Bilingual, French and Anglo
41
Richard II (1377-1399)
Plantagenet
-(10) Edward II's grandson, king at age 10
-Kingdom led by John of Gaunt (uncle, acting as regent)
-Suppresses peasant revolt started by poll tax
-Uprising against lords, disinherits John's son (Henry)
42
1399-1461
Lancasters
43
Henry IV (1399-1461)
Lancaster
-(11) Defended self from Plantagenets
44
Henry V (1413-1422)
Lancaster
-(12) Battle of Agencourt (1415) is victory
-Introduced longbow, establishes treaty with France by marrying French princess
-Sea-commanding skills
45
Henry VI (1422-1461)
Lancaster
-(13) King as child, uncle regent until 1423
-Only king to rule England twice (1422-1461, 1470-1471)
-Pious, wanted peace with France
-War of Roses began (breakdown, Margaret/Henry exiled by Yorks)
46
1461-1485
Yorks
47
Edward IV
Yorks
-(14) Rules in peace (not France)
-Main supporter of Caxton, invented printing press
-Revolution in literacy, facilitates cheaper material, requires spelling systemization
48
Edward V (1483)
Yorks
-(15) Takes throne at 12 in 1483, imprisoned by Richard III
49
Richard III (1483-1485)
Yorks
-(16) Civil War
-Led by Edward's supporters, Henry Tudor
-Richard killed in war (last king to be killed like that)
50
1485-1509
Tudors
51
Henry VII
-(17) Distant relative of Yorks, exiled and returned to take throne
-Marries sister of Edward II
-Amasses large fortune
-Rules England until end of Middle Ages
52
Crusades (1096-1270)
-Christian knights died for religious beliefs and captured Jerusalem
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