American English Literature
ASPECTS OF MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE (1066-1500) Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Anglo-Latin
After the Conquest: dramatic changes in language and cultural temperament
Old English literature: Middle English literature realistic,matter-of-fact,unromantic, growing audience, a panorama of most serious, often melancholic, diverse folk of many social classes (castle, monochrome gray, loyalty to the lord, barnyard, town); the appearance of leasure desperate courage in defeat, class and an audience of women rigorous adherence to the tribal code; new type of secular entertainment: major theme: agony of the lordless man, code continued but became chivalric social alienation, noble and heroic deeds; agony of alienation, physical hardships for audience: almost exclusively male;lords and the sovereign lady thanes - no mention of lower classes, strong courtly flavour,
…So they duly arrived The sumptuous bed on which she lay in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall, Was beautiful. The drapes and tassel, and, weary from the sea, stacked wide shields Sheets and pillows worth a castle. of the toughest hardwood against the wall, The single gown she wore was sheer
… And made her shapely form appear.
… And the troops themselves She’d thrown, in order to keep warm, were as good as their weapons. Then a proud warrior An ermine stole over her arm, questioned the men concerning their origins: White fur with the lining dyed
„Where do you come from, carrying these Alexandrian purple. But her side,
Decorated shields and shirts of mail, Her face, her neck, her bosom
These cheek-hinged helmets and javelins? Showed whiter than the hawthorn blossom.
I am Hrithgar’s herald and an officer. The knight moved towards the bed’s head.
I have never seen so impressive or large She asked him to sit down and said, an assembly of strangers. Stoutness of heart, ”Lanval, fair friend, for you I’ve come,
After the Conquest: dramatic changes in language and cultural temperament
Old English literature: Middle English literature realistic,matter-of-fact,unromantic, growing audience, a panorama of most serious, often melancholic, diverse folk of many social classes (castle, monochrome gray, loyalty to the lord, barnyard, town); the appearance of leasure desperate courage in defeat, class and an audience of women rigorous adherence to the tribal code; new type of secular entertainment: major theme: agony of the lordless man, code continued but became chivalric social alienation, noble and heroic deeds; agony of alienation, physical hardships for audience: almost exclusively male;lords and the sovereign lady thanes - no mention of lower classes, strong courtly flavour,
…So they duly arrived The sumptuous bed on which she lay in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall, Was beautiful. The drapes and tassel, and, weary from the sea, stacked wide shields Sheets and pillows worth a castle. of the toughest hardwood against the wall, The single gown she wore was sheer
… And made her shapely form appear.
… And the troops themselves She’d thrown, in order to keep warm, were as good as their weapons. Then a proud warrior An ermine stole over her arm, questioned the men concerning their origins: White fur with the lining dyed
„Where do you come from, carrying these Alexandrian purple. But her side,
Decorated shields and shirts of mail, Her face, her neck, her bosom
These cheek-hinged helmets and javelins? Showed whiter than the hawthorn blossom.
I am Hrithgar’s herald and an officer. The knight moved towards the bed’s head.
I have never seen so impressive or large She asked him to sit down and said, an assembly of strangers. Stoutness of heart, ”Lanval, fair friend, for you I’ve come,