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Questions and Answers
What is the primary linguistic influence evident in 'The Owl and the Nightingale'?
What literary form does 'The Owl and the Nightingale' represent?
Which two figures are represented by the nightingale and owl according to one theory?
Why is Nicholas of Guildford significant in 'The Owl and the Nightingale'?
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Why is the exact date of composition for 'The Owl and the Nightingale' uncertain?
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Who is frequently credited as the author of The Owl and the Nightingale, despite lack of firm evidence?
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To which event does the nightingale in The Owl and the Nightingale likely refer when praying for the soul of 'king Henri'?
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What complicates the process of reconstructing the original dialect of The Owl and the Nightingale?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding the manuscripts of The Owl and the Nightingale?
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Where is linguistic evidence thought to place the origins of The Owl and the Nightingale?
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Study Notes
Authorship and Date
- There is no firm evidence to support Nicholas of Guildford as the author of The Owl and the Nightingale.
- The poem's date of composition is uncertain, but it is likely from the 12th or 13th century.
- Some scholars argue that the poem was written after the death of Henry III in 1272.
The Owl and the Nightingale Poem
- It is a Middle English poem that details a debate between an owl and a nightingale.
- It is the earliest example of a literary form known as debate poetry or verse contest in Middle English.
- The poem shows the influence of French linguistic, literary, and rhetorical techniques.
- The poem includes a prayer for the soul of "king Henri", which could refer to either Henry II or Henry III of England.
Manuscripts
- There are two known manuscripts of The Owl and the Nightingale: Jesus College, Oxford, MS. 29 and British Library, Cotton MS. Caligula A.ix.
- Both manuscripts are estimated to be from the latter half of the 13th century and were copied from one lost exemplar.
Jesus College, Oxford, MS. 29
- This manuscript contains 33 texts in English, Anglo-Norman, and Latin.
- All of the script is in one hand and written in a plain, amateurish style.
- The Owl and the Nightingale is written in two columns.
Linguistic Evidence
- Linguistic evidence suggests the poem's origins lie in Kent or a neighboring region, but this theory is not widely supported.
- Some scholars argue that the poem's provenance could be anywhere in Wessex, the Home Counties, or the south-west Midlands.
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Description
A Middle English poem detailing a debate between an owl and a nightingale, showcasing the literary form of debate poetry. It highlights the influence of French linguistic, literary, and rhetorical traditions.
