Medieval Period

Medieval Period

In England, the Medieval Period also called the Middle Ages, began in a year that has become famous-1066. In that year the Normans, who had settled in what is now western France, defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings and earned for their leader the title  William the Conqueror.                      

Norman kings ruled England for less than a hundred years, but during that time the Normans brought England closer to the mainstream of European society. William introduced in England the European social, economic and political system called feudalism, an economic system based on the exchange of power and land for loyalty. Kings owned all the land, but gave out large estates to those noble warriors who pledged their loyalty and their armies to the king. The nobles in turn offered protection to the common people who worked the land and served as soldiers.

This system resulted in the formation of three distinct classes. On top was the aristocracy who had land and power; the clergy, or church-men who were well schooled and continued the scholarly preservation of literature, often writing in Latin, and the third and largest class consisted of serfs, poor people with little power who farmed and fought for the nobles.

During the Medieval Period, different classes enjoyed different literary developments. For the aristocracy, romances became a popular literary form. Romances are tales of adventure about the brave deeds of noble knights who followed a code of chivalry, a set of rules for gentlemanly behaviour. The tradition of courtly love, in which womanhood was highly honoured, was another element common in medieval romances.

Literature developed by the clergy focused on drama- a form that was used effectively to entertain the non-reading public while presenting religious teachings. Mystery plays were based on Bible stories; miracle plays told about the lives of saints; and morality plays taught moral and ethical values.

The common people who could not read or write took please in listening to ballads. Ballads were narrative songs about the adventures of ordinary people as well as legendary heroes. Popular ballad themes include love, envy, bravery, loyalty, and revenge. The tales of Robin Hood were first told in ballad form.

The most famous writer of the period was Geoffrey Chaucer. His “Canterbury Tales,” written in Middle English, is a collection of stories in verse about all social classes. His tales illustrated the growing complexity and new ways of life of late Medieval Period.