Medieval Literature

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY World Literature Dr. Carola Mattord Formation of Western LiteratureThe Medieval World of Europe—OverviewThe medieval period of Europe and beyond. Steve Mutter — The Knightwas a time of great flowering Surrational Imagesafter the governmental collapse Sciences—the burgeoning stag-and economic upheaval of the es of disciplines such as geolo- ulation in each major city ofRoman Empire. The medieval gy, physics, music, mathemat- Europe. The newly establishedperiod lasted from about 5th ics and geometry, seismology, hospitals had physicians whoc.e. to 15th c.e. During this vast astronomy, economics and made diagnosis and prescribedexpanse of a thousand years, banking, to name a few, began remedies and nursing provi-many institutional innovations, at different moments of this sions for the sick, widows,including art and literature, time period. orphans, lepers, and the poor inwere created that have lasted general. By the 12th c.e., theand influenced the Western Conservation—at this time hospital began to look like away we live, think, and work to there was a systematic endeav- modern one, including surger-this day. Greek, Roman, Mus- or all over Europe to preserve ies; physicians who made regu-lim, Hebraic, Byzantine, and as much Classical writing and lar rounds to the sick; patientsRoman Catholic cultures were knowledge as possible: the were given baths twice a day,the major influences that helped Greek and Roman, Hebraic and and two main meals per day.to shape the medieval world of Muslim writings of science, Hospital workers could not eatEurope. Because of the vast- theology, philosophy, mathe- until all patients were fed first;ness of the medieval era, only a matics, geometry, astronomy, nurses changed clothing andvery small snapshot of the im- physics, health, botany, biolo- bed linen on a regular basis.portant contributions made to gy, diplomacy, law and juris-the Western world can only be prudence, literature, drama,summarized and generalized and, of course, poetry. Writingshere. of everyday lives were pre- served, such as private letters,University—brought about the school textbooks and studentmethods for intellectual debate, papers, business records andfocused on human reason, pro- accounts, purchase orders,moted intellectual inquiry and wills, legal documents, and lawscholarly exchange of ideas suits, to name a few. Withoutacross Europe’s network of such efforts, much of what wecolleges and universities, along know of the Mediterraneanwith the establishment of librar- world before and during the fallies that still exist today at Cam- of the Roman Empire wouldbridge and Oxford, for exam- have been lost.ple. This educational milieubecame the foundation for the Organized medical care—Scientific Revolution of the beginning in the 4th c.e. a sys-subsequent Renaissance period tematic effort began to establish health care for the general pop-

Formation of Dr. Carola Mattord Western LiteraturePage 2 Anglo-Norman Poetry—OverviewBayeaux Tapestry—depicts the events Medieval poetry in general is Anglo-Norman life (11th c.e. their political position by estab-of the Anglo Norman Conquest of didactic—Greek didaktikos —14th c.e.) in England began lishing traditional historical ties which means teaching and im- with the invasion of Norman to insular history. At this timeEngland plies learning—This means that William the Conqueror in Eng- chronicles, insular saints’ lives, medieval poetry has two com- land in 1066. At this point, the and the romance proliferated. ponents: instructive and pleas- warrior comitatus system is Literature flourished during this urable. The central purpose of over and the feudal system time period in England, mostly medieval poetry was to impart begins. During Anglo-Norman because Henry II and Eleanor cultural and moral instruction. rule, the country became in- of Aquitaine were great patrons We are dealing with an oral creasingly multi-lingual: Latin, of the arts in all its forms. Orig- transmission of culture—poetry Early English, Celtic, French, inally the court poets were vas- plays a very important role in and Danish. Latin was used for sals of kings, but the creators of the dissemination of culture scholarly pursuits; French for courtly poetry expanded over among its people who have courtly literature; English or time to include those of lesser little to no literary skills. Poetry popular culture works, religious rank. This was the age of the as an aesthetically pleasing plays and ballads and romances professional poet—an individ- instruction to be appreciated for not strictly following formal ual who could travel from court what it is—art for art’s sake French versification system. As to court in search of work and comes much, much later— invaders, the Anglo-Norman patronage among the aristocra- ruling class sought to validate nineteenth century. cy and nobility. “The adventure of another Anglo-Norman Romance Poetry lay, The cultural shift in England 13th—then to England in the knightly ideal and in so doing,Just as it happened, I'll relay: from the Germanic to the An- 14th. created literature that acted as a It tells of a very nice glo-Norman made the Anglo- mirror reflecting both the nobleman, Norman language the dominant Romantic mode of literary strengths and weaknesses of the convention for the aristocratic writing: poetr y and pr ose in ruling class. The mode of myth- And it's called Lanval in class and its literature. During which the hero is superior to ic narratives—Classical Greek Breton.” this time, there also rose a new other men—often in rank and Drama, for example—that pro- social class: the knightly class more importantly in personal duced the justification for the that was founded on the codes qualities—and to his environ- fate of a nation gives way to the of chivalry and courtly love. It ment by virtue of his superla- search for that perfect achieve- tive, even supernatural, abili- is at this time that in litera- ties—courtly and chivalric po- ment of an ideal. ture the rise and fall of dynas- etry. ty gives way to the rise and fall of individual pursuits and Romance embodies a vast achievements. We find these range of ideals in the areas of in the Romance genre medieval the personal; social; cultural; literature. The genre of Ro- historical; religious. The mance (not to be confused themes of love, wish- with modern romance) began in fulfillment, oath breaking, and what is modern-day France, in rash promises play heavy roles the southern region of Provence in the development of medieval during the 12th century and romances. In other words the poets were in search of the migrated to Germany in the Nineteenth-century Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and its stylized conception of the medieval courtly knight.

Formation of Dr. Carola MattordWestern Literature Page 3Marie de France YouTube Videos:Marie de France—12th centu- time period the theme of love experience of the worldy thatry—her poetry was composed becomes the means for analyz- these stories center on the ques- Knighthoodin Anglo-Norman. She spent ing the individual’s relation to tion about the civic duties andmuch of her life in England, his or her society. Her poetry obligations of the ruling class The Damselprobably in the court of Henry explores both male and female as opposed to their personalII during the time when he was desire. Where love and pleasure The “real” King Arthurmarried to Eleanor of Aqui- were concerned, the knightly needs and natural inclinations.taine. She wrote in the 1170s class of Anglo-Norman society Lyric Poetry—Carminatwelve courtly love narratives. appears to have been frankly Burana—Secular MusicHer lays came to be known as realistic, and Marie’s Lais are“Breton lay”—in that her sub- no exception in that they are Gregorian chant—Sacredject matter was Celtic in origin filled with love, sex, and vio- Musicand came mostly from Brittany lence, and in most instances,(coastal region in France). In the lovers meet with terrible Popularity of medieval lyr-Marie’s poetry as well as in ends. The Lais are extremely ics and Gregorian chantmost Romance poetry of this political in that it is through the have produced a series of modern interpretations Enigma (Mea Culpa) Gregorian (Fields of Gold) Medieval Baebes—Averil Loreena McKennitt—The Lady of Shalott—Sir Alfred Tennyson’s Poem from 19th centuryThe Lay of LanvalArthur, the generous, hero king, ally reduces him to her love knightly Lanval lacks mas-overlooks Lanval when he re- slave, taking his knightly culinity.wards his retainers; thus, Marie strength; and Arthur is a merecalls his generosity into ques- tool for Guinevere's revenge Eroticism and wondroustion. And modern readers might against Lanval for rejecting her. miracles shift the focus ofnote that he gives away brides the story away from Ar-just as he gives away other  The legal process is per- thur's battle triumphs andproperty. onto the worlds of worldly verted by personal feelings. pleasure and Celtic magic Women have increased  The close male bonding ofpower over men: the lovelyfairy who seduces Lanval virtu- the court is called into question by Guinevere's charge that theFairy Lore—OverviewFairies, also known as longae- speare and Milton. These crea- High Faeries—vivid materialvi or longlivers aren ot immor- tures are insectal—Tinkerbell is splendor—they blaze in wealthtal: an example—small child-like and luxury—their castles shine size—mirth and dance—there like crystal—their materialSmart Faery—classified is no horror or aversion—these wealth and splendor represent creatures flee from men. authority, sanctity, valor, andamong horrors; the Anglo- noble lineage—they are associ- Faery Damsels—an encounter ated with graciousness andSaxon poem Beowulf ranks with these faeries is not acci- courtesy—they are elusive as dental—they come to find us— Faery elves—they are made ofelves as among the enemies of their intentions are usually am- flesh and blood—they are vital, orous—they are of full human energetic, passionate, and will-God to frighten children. Fair- stature—Lanval’s Lady Love; ful—they are stronger, more Chaucer’s Wife of Bath’s reckless—Bertilak in Siries in Anglo-Saxon society are Tale—fairy queen appears to Gawain and the Green Knight; the knight. Legolas in the Lord of thea degeneration of gods into Rings.faeries—Beowulf’s Grendel isan example.Faery elves—known to usfrom literary works of Shake-