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Questions and Answers
The Wanderer is a poem written in iambic pentameter.
The Wanderer is a poem written in iambic pentameter.
False
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is written entirely in rhyming couplets.
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is written entirely in rhyming couplets.
False
The invention of the printing press in 1476 made books very expensive and rare.
The invention of the printing press in 1476 made books very expensive and rare.
False
Elegies are a type of poem that celebrates the heroism of warlords.
Elegies are a type of poem that celebrates the heroism of warlords.
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The Canterbury Tales contains only romance stories.
The Canterbury Tales contains only romance stories.
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The Great Vowel Shift occurred in the 10th century.
The Great Vowel Shift occurred in the 10th century.
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Women were generally encouraged to learn to read and write in Latin during the Middle Ages.
Women were generally encouraged to learn to read and write in Latin during the Middle Ages.
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Margery Kempe wrote her own book without the help of a scribe.
Margery Kempe wrote her own book without the help of a scribe.
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Julian of Norwich claimed to be the sole author of her work.
Julian of Norwich claimed to be the sole author of her work.
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The Book of Margery Kempe is a type of elegy.
The Book of Margery Kempe is a type of elegy.
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Study Notes
Middle Ages (449-1500)
- Divided into three periods: Old English (449-1066), Anglo-Norman (1066-1250), and Late Medieval (1250-1500)
- Characterized as a time of cultural diversity and cultural contact, despite being referred to as a period of 'darkness' or 'misty time'
Old English Period (449-1066)
- Saw the arrival of Anglo-Saxons, who pushed Celtic tribes to the North-West of England
- Notable figures: Venerable Bede (Caedmon's Hymn, 670), Caedmon, and Cynewulf
- Important works: Beowulf, "The Seafarer," "The Wanderer," and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Norman Period (1066-1250)
- Norman Conquest led to significant changes in the English language, with French loan-words and a heterogeneous vocabulary
- Notable figures: Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower, and William Langland
- Important works: Canterbury Tales, Confessio Amantis, and Piers Plowman
Late Medieval Period (1250-1500)
- English becomes a literary language, with the rise of Middle English dialects and the standardization of the East Midlands variety
- Notable figures: Thomas Hoccleve, Margery Kempe, and Julian of Norwich
- Important works: Canterbury Tales, The Book of Margery Kempe, and Revelations of Divine Love
Literary Features
- Alliterative verse, kenning, and caesura were common poetic devices
- Old English poetry often featured metaphors, while Middle English poetry saw the rise of rhyming couplets
- Epic poetry, such as Beowulf, narrated the deeds of heroes, while elegies, like "The Wanderer," lamented loss and transience
Women in Literature
- Women, especially nuns and those educated in nunneries, could read and write in Latin
- Women heard or listened to texts at home, in church, or through performances, even if they couldn't read themselves
- Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich were notable women authors, with Margery Kempe's book being recorded by scribes and Julian of Norwich writing her own story
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Middle Ages in English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon arrival to the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower. This quiz covers the Old English and Middle English periods, including notable figures and works. Get ready to explore the literary landscape of medieval England!
