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Goeffrey Chaucer is born in 1343. He was the first major poet who wrote in English, he chose the East Middlands. He is considered the father the English language. One of his characteristics was to describing the characters with irony and humour. He died in 1400.

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To give him a middle class education is family obtained a position as a page in the royal house: he had a courtly education which allowed him to have a career. In fact he worked in the service of the king and for diplomatic negotiations, which is why he visited Italy and he came into contact with Italian literature.

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His literary career is divided in three periods:

the French period, under the influence of French poetic;

The Italian period, visiting Italy on his missions;

The English period, his wrote most celebrated work “ The Canterbury Tales”.

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He began writing this poem in 1387 and left it unfinished in 1400 because he died. It is written as a narrative poem and it is a collection of story preceded by a Prolugue. It was meant to be a collection of one hundred and twenty, told by a group of thirty pilgrims who travel from London to Canterbury to visit the tomb of Thomas Becket, these stories remedied the boredom of the journey and each pilgrim tells two stories on the way out and two on the way back but when Chaucer died only twenty four stories had been written.

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The journey is an important theme because it attests to the act of pilgrimage (medieval event religious and spiritual). The other main themes are: marriage love war, greed, the relationship between man and women and role of women.

The main pieces are about narration, courtly love and legends. The characters belong to different social classes. The poem features rhyming couplets.

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The ballad is a very ancient poetic genre accompanied by a musical instrument and the stories are often dramatic.

Most of the old ballads were probably composed between the 13th and the 16th centuries and another of them came from Scotland and England.

The are several subjects:

• ballads of love, jealousy, revenge and death

• ballads of magic

• ballads related to the fighting

• ballads of Robin Hood

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"Beowulf" is an epic poem that tells the tale of a heroic warrior named Beowulf. He comes to the aid of King Hrothgar, whose kingdom is plagued by a monstrous creature named Grendel. Beowulf defeats Grendel, as well as Grendel's mother.

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The Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic people who migrated to England in the 5th century following the fall of the Roman Empire. This period is known as the Dark Age, during which England was divided into several independent kingdoms, often in conflict with each other.The Anglo-Saxons had a tribe-based society, with a social structure that included kings, nobles, warriors, peasants, and slaves. 

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The Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic people who migrated to England in the 5th century following the fall of the Roman Empire. This period is known as the Dark Age, during which England was divided into several independent kingdoms, often in conflict with each other.The Anglo-Saxons had a tribe-based society, with a social structure that included kings, nobles, warriors, peasants, and slaves. 

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The epic is written in Old English and is one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, providing valuable insights into the culture and values of the time.

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One of the central themes of the poem is heroism. Beowulf is the epic protagonist who stands out for his courage, strength, and desire to protect others. .

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"Beowulf" addresses the struggle between good and evil through the characters of Beowulf, King Hrothgar, and the monsters Grendel, Grendel's Mother, and the dragon.

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Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is a Germanic language that was spoken in England between the 5th and 11th centuries. It is the ancient form of English and differs greatly from the modern language we know today. Old English has influences from Norse, Latin, and other Germanic languages.

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Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is a Germanic language that was spoken in England between the 5th and 11th centuries. It is the ancient form of English and differs greatly from the modern language we know today. Old English has influences from Norse, Latin, and other Germanic languages.

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The Celts invaded England from 600 to 50. The Celts lived in tribes and their organization was compoused from the clan. Women were equal to mens. They lived in huts with thatched roofs. They built hill forts sorrounded by ditches and banks. Their economy was based on iron worked. They practised agricolture and introduced the plough.

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"Loyalty: Loyalty is an important theme in the poem. Characters pledge loyalty to their kings and tribes, and this bond of loyalty is a fundamental aspect of Anglo-Saxon culture.

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Fate: In the world of 'Beowulf,' fate is considered an inexorable force that influences human events. Characters often seek to accept their destiny and act accordingly."

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The Romans attacked England with Julius Caesar in the 55 BCE. The involved the conquered tribes in the administration of the province. They encouraged the growth of towns. Each towns had baths. Roads joined the towns together. They built Hadrian’s wall in the north. They created the settlement of Londinium.

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The Celts 600 BC - 50 AD

The Romans 43 AD

The Angles and The Saxons during the 5 century

The Vikings during the 9 century

The Normans in 1066

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The Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes came from Germany and Scandinavia. In 597 they brought Britannia Christianity, then polytheistic. They destroyed the Roman British towns and they gave the larger part of Britain its name: England. That is the land of the Angles. The Anglo-Saxons society was compoused from farmers and fishermen. They were organised in family groups or clans. Lovalty to family and lord was the most important value. They exalted physical courage and had a great sense of beauty. They liked feasting and drinking.

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The Vikings were navigators and raiders from Norway and Denmark. We remember Athelstan as the first King of England. In 793 they attacked the monasteries in Northern Britain. In 15 years they gained control of England. They were violent and cruel. The Wessex kings created the Danegeld protection money for being left alone.

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William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England and defeated King Harold at Hastings in 1066. William Was crowned king in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. William sent his men all over England to carry out a survey of the land: the Domesday book

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Another type of epic poems was the (pagan) elegy a lyrical poem generally in form of dramatic monologue, where the speaker expresses his loss of friendship and favour and past glory. The reasons of this dramatic situation are implied (not described);the personal experience and philosophic reflection are reconciled to provide a moving view of human condition. For example the Exeter Book, is the largest collection of Old English poetry. One of the most important is the Seaferer

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Another type of epic poems was the (pagan) elegy, lyrical poem, generally in form of dramatic monologue, where the speaker expresses his loss of friendship and favour, and past glory.

the reasons of this dramatic situation are implied (not described);the personal experience and philosophic reflection are reconciled to provide a moving view of human condition. For example the Seafarer

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There is a simple language and it's composed in verses. It is divided in stanzas, generally rhyming ABCB, and the language is often musical. The story is told in flashes with regular rhythm, alliteration and repetition.

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The first were written in France in the 12th century and the most of than were written in French. This stories talk about:

‣ knightly adventures

‣ magic

‣ tournaments

Very important elements are courtly love and, in many romances, the moral

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The Anglo-Saxon lived in small farming communities and the society was organised into families and clans. There was a strong concept of loyalty to tribesmen and to the King.
Though Anglo-Saxon culture was a “male” culture, based on war and courage, the woman had some rights.

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There are three main categories:

~ the matter of France

~ the matter of romethe great

~ the matter of Britain

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It's focus on the French arthurian legends.

Layamon's brut=a long poem in the heroic style which narrated the history of Britain

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They were every successful for several reasons:

• people wanted to escape from reality

• these stories of knights of gallery are very easy

Important elements

• loyalty

• equality

• freedom

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Le morte darthur written by Thomas malory in prose in 15th centuries.

Talk about the stories of King Arther chronologically from birth to date and focuses on the spirit of chivalry.

The text was completed in 1470. Soon after this William caxton established the first English press and he printed the first copies of malory's work,joining the eight separate tales into one long story

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Describe the religious changed

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During this period the church was against the public performances and in the Middle Age acting was more considered with individual players as jesters clown and minstrels. These people played into the castles or weddings or in the market places speaking or singing their stories.

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'Miracle plays' = stories being narrated dealt with the live of saints
'Mistery plays' = religious plays dealt with events narrated in the Bible
4 main cycles:
- Chester
- York
- Wakefield
- Coventry

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Between the 14th and 15th centuries religious dramas evolved and biblical stories were replaced by allegorical stories narrated through, that were called 'morality plays'.

In many stories there were the representations of devil and vice

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The battle of Hastings determined the end of the Anglo Saxon period. The winner of battle was William, Duke of Normandy. The organisation of the English government was the feudal syste, centred around the holding of land. The king distributed the lend among his Norman lords. The lords had to swear loyalty to the king, in this way each man had to promise loyalty and service to his superior. The lord had to give his vassals protection.

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The magical and supernatural world contrasted with historical reality

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The magical and supernatural world contrasted with historical reality