Middle English Period

Explore the Middle English period (1100–1500), its key authors like Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Gower, and Thomas Malory, and works such as Canterbury Tales, Piers Plowman, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Learn about themes of chivalry, courtly love, morality, and the rise of Mystery, Miracle, and Morality plays.

Middle English literature

 The Middle English Literary Age (also called the Middle English Period) in English literature spans roughly from 1100 to 1500 CE. It came after the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) period and before the Renaissance.

1. Historical Background

• After the Norman Conquest (1066), French became the language of the ruling class, while Latin remained the language of the Church.

• Gradually, English absorbed many French and Latin words, creating Middle English.

• Society was feudal, with strong religious influence from the Catholic Church.

• It saw major events like the Black Death (1347), Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), and the Peasants’ Revolt (1381).

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2. Language

• Middle English was a fusion of Old English, French, and Latin vocabulary.

• Spelling and grammar were not standardized.

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3. Major Themes

• Religion & Morality → Miracle plays, morality plays, religious allegories.

• Courtly Love & Chivalry → Romance tales about knights & ladies.

• Social Satire → Criticism of the church & society.

• Didactic literature → Teaching moral lessons.

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4. Genres

✅ Religious Writings – sermons, saints’ lives
✅ Romances – Arthurian legends, tales of chivalry
✅ Allegories – symbolic stories with moral meanings
✅ Mystery, Miracle, and Morality Plays – early drama
✅ Chronicles – historical writing
✅ Lyrics & Ballads – folk songs

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5. Important Works & Authors

1. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400)

   • The Canterbury Tales – a frame narrative with pilgrims telling stories

   • Troilus and Criseyde

   • The Book of the Duchess

2. William Langland

   • Piers Plowman (religious & social allegory)

3. Sir Gawain Poet (Pearl Poet)

   • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

   • Pearl

4. John Gower

   • Confessio Amantis

5. Thomas Malory (towards the end of the period)

   • Le Morte d’Arthur – Arthurian romance

6. Mystery & Morality Plays

   • Everyman (morality play)

   • York, Chester, Wakefield Mystery Cycles

7. Ballads & Folk Literature

   • Robin Hood Ballads

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6. Characteristics of Middle English Literature

• Blend of pagan & Christian themes

• Focus on knights, chivalry, and courtly love

• Strong religious and moral tone

• Growth of allegory and symbolism

• Realistic social satire in later works (like Chaucer)

• Rise of English drama through Mystery & Morality plays

✅ Chronological Timeline of Major Works (1100–1500)

Year/Period	Work	Author / Notes
c. 1150	Ormulum	Orm (religious verse commentary on Gospels)
c. 1170–1180	The Owl and the Nightingale	Debate poem in early Middle English
c. 1200	Ancrene Wisse (Ancrene Riwle)	Anonymous guide for anchoresses
c. 1225	The Orison of Our Lady	Religious devotional poem
c. 1300	The Cursor Mundi	Long religious poem
c. 1340–1390	Piers Plowman	William Langland, allegory on society & religion
c. 1370–1390	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight	Pearl Poet (also wrote Pearl, Patience, Cleanness)
c. 1380	Confessio Amantis	John Gower, moral & romantic tales
c. 1387–1400	The Canterbury Tales	Geoffrey Chaucer, social satire & human portraiture
c. 1385	Troilus and Criseyde	Chaucer, tragic romance
late 1400s	Everyman (Morality Play)	Anonymous
1485	Le Morte d’Arthur	Sir Thomas Malory, Arthurian legends compiled

✅ Quick MCQ Quiz for NET/SET Revision

1. The Norman Conquest of 1066 influenced Middle English mainly by:
A) Simplifying grammar
B) Adding French vocabulary
C) Eliminating Latin influence
D) Encouraging printing press

2. Which Middle English work is an allegory criticizing society and religion?
A) The Owl and the Nightingale
B) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
C) Piers Plowman
D) Ancrene Wisse

3. The Pearl Poet is associated with how many major works?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five

4. Which is considered the finest example of Arthurian romance in Middle English?
A) Troilus and Criseyde
B) Le Morte d’Arthur
C) Cursor Mundi
D) Confessio Amantis

5. “Everyman” is an example of which genre?
A) Mystery Play
B) Morality Play
C) Miracle Play
D) Chronicle Play

6. Who is called the “Father of English Poetry”?
A) William Langland
B) Geoffrey Chaucer
C) John Gower
D) Thomas Malory

7. Which Middle English poet wrote in three languages—English, French, and Latin?
A) Geoffrey Chaucer
B) John Gower
C) William Langland
D) Orm

8. Which is the earliest known Middle English debate poem?
A) The Owl and the Nightingale
B) The Book of the Duchess
C) Pearl
D) Patience

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Answers

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1. The Norman Conquest of 1066 influenced Middle English mainly by:
✅ B) Adding French vocabulary

• After the conquest, French became the language of the ruling class, which heavily influenced English vocabulary.

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2. Which Middle English work is an allegory criticizing society and religion?
✅ C) Piers Plowman

• William Langland’s Piers Plowman is a religious and social allegory about corruption in Church & society.

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3. The Pearl Poet is associated with how many major works?
✅ C) Four

• Pearl, Patience, Cleanness, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

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4. Which is considered the finest example of Arthurian romance in Middle English?
✅ B) Le Morte d’Arthur

• Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur compiles the Arthurian legends.

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5. “Everyman” is an example of which genre?
✅ B) Morality Play

• Everyman is a morality play teaching moral lessons about life and death.

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6. Who is called the “Father of English Poetry”?
✅ B) Geoffrey Chaucer

• Because of The Canterbury Tales and his role in shaping Middle English literature.

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7. Which Middle English poet wrote in three languages—English, French, and Latin?
✅ B) John Gower

• Gower wrote in all three: Confessio Amantis (English), Vox Clamantis (Latin), Speculum Meditantis (French).

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8. Which is the earliest known Middle English debate poem?
✅ A) The Owl and the Nightingale

                        Quick remembering points 

✅ Time Period: 1100–1500 CE (after Norman Conquest, before Renaissance)

✅ Language:

• Fusion of Old English + French + Latin

• No fixed spelling/grammar

✅ Historical Influence:

• Norman Conquest (1066) → French influence

• Feudal system, Catholic Church dominance

• Black Death, Peasants’ Revolt, Hundred Years’ War

✅ Main Themes:

• Religion & Morality

• Chivalry & Courtly Love

• Social Satire

• Allegory & Symbolism

✅ Genres:

• Religious writings (Ancrene Wisse, Cursor Mundi)

• Romances (Arthurian legends)

• Allegories (Piers Plowman)

• Drama → Mystery, Miracle, Morality Plays

• Lyrics & Ballads (Robin Hood)

✅ Key Authors & Works:

• Chaucer → Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde

• William Langland → Piers Plowman

• Pearl Poet → Pearl, Patience, Cleanness, Sir Gawain & Green Knight

• John Gower → Confessio Amantis

• Thomas Malory → Le Morte d’Arthur

• Morality Play → Everyman

✅ Important Early Works:

• Ormulum, The Owl and the Nightingale, Ancrene Wisse

✅ Drama:

• Mystery Plays → Bible stories

• Miracle Plays → Saints’ lives

• Morality Plays → Allegory (Everyman)

✅ Special Features:

• Courtly love & knightly adventures

• Didactic tone → teaching morals

• Rise of English prose towards end (Malory)

• A lively debate between two birds about moral and social values.

• Middle English period: 1100–1500 CE, after Norman Conquest.

• Language mixed Old English + French + Latin, no fixed spelling.

• Influenced by feudalism, Church, Black Death, wars, revolts.

• Themes: religion, morality, chivalry, courtly love, satire, allegory.

• Early works: Ormulum, Owl and Nightingale, Ancrene Wisse.

• Chaucer wrote Canterbury Tales, Troilus and Criseyde.

• Langland wrote Piers Plowman (religious allegory).

• Pearl Poet wrote Pearl, Patience, Cleanness, Sir Gawain & Green Knight.

• Gower wrote Confessio Amantis (moral tales).

• Malory wrote Le Morte d’Arthur (Arthurian romance).

• Drama: Mystery, Miracle, and Morality plays like Everyman.

• Focus on courtly love, knightly adventures, moral lessons.

Conclusion:

    The Middle English period (1100–1500) marks a transformative phase in the evolution of the English language and literature. Influenced by the Norman Conquest, it blended Old English with French and Latin vocabulary, shaping a new literary identity. This era reflects themes of courtly love, chivalry, morality, and religious allegory, seen in works like Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, William Langland’s Piers Plowman, and the Pearl Poet’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. John Gower’s Confessio Amantis and Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur highlight the fascination with Arthurian legends and moral tales. Drama flourished through Mystery, Miracle, and Morality plays, with Everyman as a prime example. From medieval ballads and romances to allegorical poetry, the features of Middle English literature reveal a vibrant connection between feudal society, religion, and storytelling, paving the way for the Renaissance.

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• Middle English Literature Timeline

• Geoffrey Chaucer and Canterbury Tales

• William Langland Piers Plowman

• Pearl Poet Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• Medieval Mystery Miracle Morality Plays

• Arthurian Legends Medieval Age

• Middle Ages English Literature Themes