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Middle English

Middle English. The word “knight” did not refer to anything like the picture here until after the Norman Invasion of England. William the Conqueror. Important Info Had Viking ancestry, giving him a dubious claim to the English throne . Gained control of Normandy (now France) in 1060.

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Middle English

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  1. Middle English The word “knight” did not refer to anything like the picture here until after the Norman Invasion of England.

  2. William the Conqueror • Important Info • Had Viking ancestry, giving him a dubious claim to the English throne. • Gained control of Normandy (now France) in 1060. • Invaded England in 1066 • Defeated Harold, the King of England (from the House of Wessex) • The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that supported him did not lose their land rights, others lost everything. • Put down many rebellions and attacks from English and Vikings. • Left Normandy to his son Robert, and England to his son William.

  3. Old English was still the language of the people • Day to day business was in English • English literacy remained very low • There was pressure to learn French to communicate with the government • Norman residents spoke French, some knew Latin • Latin was used for all royal and religious documents • English was used for dealings with locals • Young people thought Anglo-Saxons were cool • Nobles often married Anglo-Saxons to reduce conflict Two Worlds Collide The fusion of languages eventually created a new one. Old English acquired many words from Norman French and Latin Norman French was gradually rejected due to the Hundred Years’ War The London Dialect of Middle English spread and became the official one for writing purposes.

  4. Geoffrey Chaucer: 1343-1400 • Came from an upper class family with French heritage • His entire life was spent working in or for the government • He performed a wide variety of jobs, from basic assistant to secret agent • He was paid for his works by nobility, though they were never published until after his death. • Chaucer travelled a lot • including Italy • France and Spain

  5. The Canterbury Tales The tales were written near the end of Chaucer’s life, they were probably written over a period of time and may even be incomplete. Style Chaucer uses 10 syllable couplets in most of the tales. There is a naïve narrator. Several tales are “Fabliaux” which are raunchy stories. Others are classic romances. Some have a moral, some are just for fun. The tales often reflect the lives of the people telling them, as seen through Chaucer’s eyes. Most importantly, Chaucer had a superb sense of humor and uses satire and parody • Context • There were many events • Influencing the tales: • The “Black Death” in Chaucer’s youth • The Hundred Years’ War with France • Chaucer’s own experiences abroad

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