Questions and Answers
What proportion of William Caxton's works were printed in English in the late 15th century?
Four-fifths
What language became the standard language of courts, parliament, and polite society after the Norman conquest of England?
Law French
What was the language of Layamon's Brut, written around the turn of the thirteenth century?
Middle English
In what year did English replace French and Latin in Parliament and courts of law?
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What was the name of the dialect that thrived between the 8th and 13th centuries and was referred to by John Trevisa?
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Which of the following best describes the impact of the printing press on Middle English literature?
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Who among the following writers is not associated with the Katherine Group?
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Which language replaced French and Latin in England's Parliament and courts of law in 1362?
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Which event marks the start of the transition from Middle English to early Modern English?
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Which of the following works is an early example of Middle English literature?
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Study Notes
Middle English Literature
- Refers to literature written in Middle English from the late 12th century to the 1470s
- Characterized by the use of Chancery Standard, a London-based English, and the regularization of the language through the printing press
Categories of Middle English Literature
- Religious works
- Courtly love works
- Arthurian works
- Geoffrey Chaucer's work stands outside these categories
Development of Middle English
- After the Norman Conquest of England, Law French became the standard language of courts, parliament, and society
- Norman dialects mixed with Anglo-Saxon to form Anglo-Norman, and Old English gradually transitioned into Middle English
- By the 13th century, Middle English was used in literature, such as Layamon's Brut
Early Examples of Middle English Literature
- Ormulum
- Havelock the Dane
- Thomas of Hales's Love Rune
English Language Regains Prestige
- In 1362, English replaced French and Latin in Parliament and courts of law
- The English language continued to develop and gain prestige throughout the 14th century
Late 15th Century
- William Caxton printed four-fifths of his works in English, helping to standardize the language and expand the vocabulary
- This marked a significant shift towards secular writing and the consolidation of English as a written language
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