1 / 8

Journey Through the Middle Ages: From Beowulf to Chaucer

Explore the historical context from the Anglo-Saxon invasions to the end of the Middle Ages in England. Discover the literary masterpieces like Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales. Learn about medieval society, ballads, and medieval literature.

gauri
Télécharger la présentation

Journey Through the Middle Ages: From Beowulf to Chaucer

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. THE MIDDLE AGES From Beowulf to Chaucer Lugnan Viviana & Testolin Francesca

  2. Historical context • 5th Century: Anglo-Saxoninvasions • 1066: first and last conquest of England from Normans • Birth of feudal- system • 1215: Magna Charta: the process of negotiation between barons and the King. It limited the royal power • 1381: Peasants Revolt • 1453-1485: The war of the Roses • 1485: the Middle Ages came to an end

  3. Anglo-Saxon literature: BEOWULF • The first epic pagan poem • It had been orally transmitted before being recorded on paper (10° Century) • It was written in Old English (mix of germanic dialects) • It represents Anglo-Saxons’ values • Beowulf is the hero of the poem

  4. Medieval Society • Pyramidal, hierarchicalorganization • Privileged code isthe religiousone regular code • People wereinterested in salvation • William I the Conquerorinstituted the feudal system landsdistribuitedamongknights and barons

  5. Women condition • Wives or nuns • Underrated inside the society • Often considered as witches (people believed in supernatural) • Private and domestic sphere considered a woman’s world • Restricted education

  6. The ballad • Narrative poem • Orally transmitted • Revived during the romantic period • For common people • Characters simply sketched • Themes: tragical events, supernatural, demon love, battles on the boarder between Scotland and England • Use of music

  7. Medieval literature • Mystery plays: stories taken from the Old Testament, the Creation and Fall to the last Judgement. Performed inside the church and later brought outside • Morality plays: allegorical tales in which human qualities were personified (vices and virtues)

  8. The Canterbury tales (Geoffrey Chaucer) • Written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer • First masterpiece of English literature • Inspired by Boccaccio’s Decameron • Series of linked stories • Pilgrimage to Canterbury • Characters belonged to different social classes • Characters both individuals and stereotype

More Related