THE NORMAN PERIOD AND MIDDLE ENGLISH

General Points on the Norman Period

1. The introduction of Anglo-Norman culture, and the reintroduction of classical (primarily Latin) culture.

2. Political power is centralized in England. The Norman's establish a strong central government (eventually located in London), thus breaking the old Anglo-Saxon practice of regional control.

3. As mentioned, rapid language change.

Periods of ME

The following is the customary division of ME into three periods, after which I have appended comments on main developments, and a brief list of important works. All dates are approximate.

I. Early 1100 - 1250

During the period of Alfred the Great there was a gradual movement of OE dialects in the direction of West Saxon (the language of Wessex). After the invasion of the Normans, however, this trend broke off, with regional dialects reappearing, all now under the influence of Anglo-Norman.

English life in general comes under heavy Anglo-Norman influence (with special emphasis on government, education, and society life).

There is little written in English at this time, and, in fact, by c. 1250 glosses (marginal notes containing definitions) begin to appear in some OE texts: this is an indication that OE is being forgotten.

Three works, all religious poems, are notable: The Ormulum, c. 1190; The Owl and the Nightingale, c. 1200; and the "Katherine Group" (five devotional poems), c. 1190 - 1225.

II. Central 1250 - 1400

This period is important in several respects. First, we have the development of regional literatures and the Alliterative Revival, next the introduction of French rhyme and the courtly love theme, and, finally, consolidation of the language begins again.

The most important of the regional writings, as we shall see, are those from the northwest Midlands, where additionally, the Alliterative Revival was, apparently, based. From before the Norman Conquest the traditional techniques of OE poetry, most notably alliteration, had been losing ground to French methods, particularly the use of rhyme. By the period of Central ME alliteration, and all the standards of OE verse, had been all but replaced by French practices, when, with an apparent suddenness, alliteration reappears. (It should be noted that this alliteration is really a new form of alliteration, and not actually any revival of the OE style.) As of yet, no explanation for the Alliterative Revival is generally accepted.

Along with borrowings in form from French literature, we have at this time the adoption of the courtly-love theme. The greatest of the French courtly-love poets was Chretien De Troyes (fl. 1170 - 1190) (whose works are highly recommended). Some quarters of English society, most notably the Church, thought these themes immoral, but, nonetheless, they proved popular.

Lastly, I would again emphasize the quick pace of language change.

Three key works of this time must be mentioned. First, is Morte Arthure (Death of Arthur), c. 1350 (not to be confused with a later book of similar title by Thomas Malory); an Alliterative Revival piece, written in northwest Midlands dialect. It has been described as perhaps the most powerful epic narrative of ME. Next, is Piers Plowman, c. 1370, by William Langland. This allegory, though also of the Alliterative Revival, is written in the London dialect (thus making it far easier for us today to read). Last, is the "Jewel of Middle English poetry", as it is sometimes called, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (see the lecture on this topic for details).

III. Late 1400 - 1500

Fully developed, classical, ME. In short, Chaucer. All remarks on Late ME, therefore, will be reserved for the next lecture.