Anglo-Norman/Middle English Period Literature

The Anglo-Norman or Middle English Period (1066-1500 AD)

• The Norman conquest marked the beginning of a new era in English literature, introducing French culture and language.
• The literature of this period is categorized as Norman-French Literature or Anglo-French Literature and is also referred to as the Middle English period.
• The Norman Conquest brought significant changes to English culture, law, language, and character, with English becoming the language of the poor and powerless, while Norman-French became the language of the rich and a symbol of social status.

Writing during the Anglo-Norman Period

• The Anglo-Normans wrote primarily to cater to the taste of Norman rulers, with only monarchs and courtiers having the right to encourage literary writings.
• The most popular forms of writing during this period were chronicles, religious and didactic writing, poetry, romances, and drama.

The Romances of Anglo-Norman Period

• The Normans introduced romantic tales of love and adventure in literature, making the Anglo-Norman period chivalric rather than heroic.
• Romance became the most popular form of literature during this period, with stories derived from Latin and French sources, featuring tales of King Arthur, The War of Troy, and Alexander the Great.

Chronicles in the Anglo-Norman Period

• Chronicles became a well-established form of writing during this period, recording the history of kings.
• These chronicles, written in the Anglo-Norman language, were the primary source of historical knowledge for medieval people and contained historical events and legendary material without interpretation.

The Mystery and Miracle Plays

• The Mystery and Miracle plays were a significant achievement of the Middle English Period, featuring religious or didactic writings.
• The Mystery plays were based on subjects taken from the Bible, while the Miracle plays depicted the lives of saints, written in Latin and performed by clergymen.

The Morality Plays

• Morality plays became popular during the Middle English Period, featuring allegory as their main characteristic.
• These plays presented the conflict in the human soul, with characters personified as abstractions, aiming to instruct people through the Bible, lives of saints, and the conflict between good and evil.