The Owl and the Nightingale Poem
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Questions and Answers

What is the current state of evidence regarding the identity of Nicholas of Guildford as the author of The Owl and the Nightingale?

  • The majority of scholars agree that Nicholas of Guildford is the author, but a few dissenting voices remain
  • The text itself explicitly states that Nicholas of Guildford is the author
  • There is conclusive evidence to support Nicholas of Guildford as the author
  • There is no firm evidence to support such an identification and no certain trace of the existence of any Nicholas of Guildford (correct)

    • What is the likely target audience for The Owl and the Nightingale, according to some academic discussions?

  • A religious group of nuns and other religious women (correct)
  • A group of noble patrons
  • A community of traveling minstrels
  • A university of scholars and students

    • What is the significance of the reference to 'king Henri' in lines 1091-2 of The Owl and the Nightingale?

  • It provides a clear indication of the poem's date of composition
  • It is a metaphorical reference to the struggle between good and evil
  • It proves that the poem was written during the reign of Henry III of England
  • It is a reference to either the death of Henry II of England in 1189 or of Henry III of England in 1272 (correct)

    • What is the current understanding of the original dialect of The Owl and the Nightingale?

    <p>It is impossible to accurately reconstruct the original dialect due to the lack of evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between the two surviving manuscripts of The Owl and the Nightingale?

    <p>They are both copied from one exemplar, which is now lost</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main theme of 'The Owl and the Nightingale'?

    <p>A debate between two birds as overheard by a narrator.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which language was predominantly used for poetic verse contests during the twelfth or thirteenth century, according to the context?

    <p>Latin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What makes 'The Owl and the Nightingale' distinct in Middle English literature?

    <p>Its status as the earliest example of debate poetry in Middle English.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who might the nightingale in the poem represent, according to one theory?

    <p>Henry II of England</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about Nicholas of Guildford is true?

    <p>He is an uncertain author frequently mentioned in the poem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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 from the 12th or 13th century, featuring a debate between an owl and a nightingale, and showcasing the influence of French literature and rhetoric.

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