TOPIC 43: Oral Medieval Literature: The Arthurian Legend. G.

Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

INTRODUCTION
1. JUSTIFICATION AND IMPLICATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
2. OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE
-Socio-political background
-Main literary works
-The use of language
3. THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND
4. MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE
-Socio-political background
-Main literary works
-The use of language
5. GEOFFREY CHAUCER: The Canterbury Tales
6. CONCLUSION
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

-Beginnings in the development of British literature (oral tradition -> first writings in Latin and Engl)
-Middle Ages: from the collapse of the Roman Empire (5cent) to the Renaissance (15century).
-Period can be divided in two:
-Old English period: tradition of King Arthur´s
-Middle English period: Chaucer´s Canterbury Tales.
-Period of enormous turmoil: historical, social and linguistic changes
-General review of the main literary features during Old English and Middle English
-Caxton´s introduction of the printing machine into Britain (end 15 century)
-Legend of King Arthur and Geoffrey Chaucer´s Canterbury Tales.

-Main features of Medieval Literature:

-Changes in grammar, vocabulary and syntax (loss of inflections, new borrowings from
Latin, French and Scandinavian->forming of the English language as such)
-Different literary genres: oral tradition, writings of monks, settlement of authors after the
printing machine.
-Romance: fictitious adventure in prose or verse with varied rhyme and verse. Story of
heroes in a fight against supernatural creatures. Consolidation of King Arthur´s.
-Caxton´s introduction of the printing -> spread of literature and more readers.

1. JUSTIFICATION AND IMPLICATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

The relevance of this topic and the didactic implications in our teaching practice can be supported
with our current legal background.
Chapter III LOMCE, Art.23:
-i) students “are able to understand and express themselves in one or more foreign
languages in a suitable way”
-j) “to know, value and respect on one´s and other´s culture and history”
Chapter IV, Bachillerato, Art.33:
-f) “express with fluency and correction in one or more foreign languages”
-d) “reinforce reading habits as means of personal development”
-h) “know and value the realities of contemporary world and its historical
background”
English Language Curriculum according to Royal Decree 1005/2014:
Linguistic competence, social and civil competencies, cultural expression and conscience.
This topic seems ideal to unify criteria with other cross curricular areas (history, geography or
Universal Literatura) and work on CLIL in bilingual section.
TOPIC 43: Oral Medieval Literature: The Arthurian Legend. G.Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales
This type of knowledge, graded and revised in our syllabus, can teach them not only to develop
productive and receptive processes but also knowing other cultures and getting involved in the
multicultural and globalised world we all are immersed nowadays.

2. OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE

Socio political background

Earliest period of English history: stories which first settlers handed on from one generation to the
next, oral transmission and then through writings.
-Celts: powerful traditions, told stories linked to their culture, supernatural power
-Roman: occupation period, first writings about oral traditions and first translations
-Anglo-Saxons: first traces of heroic poetry, they based their existence on war, loyalty to their
leaders, human virtues. Numerous fights against the Britons.

Main literary works

-Oral literature -> troubadours, in prose or verse. Two main topics:

-celebrations of war and leaders with heroic knights and supernatural creatures
-pagan religious folklore leading to incredible events
-Britons produced a body of stories revolving around a legendary ruler called Arthur who had
fought heroically against the Anglo-Saxon invaders.
-Beowulf : anonymous oldest long poem (probably composed by Germanic people)
-The Wanderer: manuscript copied in the 10century (elegiac mood and melancholy)
-The Battle of Maldon: fight between the Scandinavians and the English

-Unknown authors, poetry full of technical devices and common topics ->attractive for the
audience
-Introduction of Christianity: monks crossed from England to convert the unfaithful and they
brought writings from the ancient world of Greece and Rome (translations from Greek and Latin)
-Theological works of the Venerable Bede and Caedmon´s Hymn.
-Historical reports such as Anglo-Saxon Chronicles or The Domesday Book.

The use of the language

-Evolution in the language, when or where the English language was conformed is unknown.
-Old English = Celtic languages + influences of Anglo-Saxon + Germanic dialects
-Strong and weak verbs / inflections in adjectives and pronouns / article the (masc,fem and neut)
-Borrowings of syntax-> shows the adaptability of English speakers

THE NORMAN CONQUEST OF 1066 -> drastic change in English history, considered as a shift
from Old English to Middle English in all fields: socially, politically, literary and linguistically.

3. THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND

Group of stories concerning the figure of King Arthur -> epic character of doubtful existence who
became the main character in literature from medieval times up until the Victorian age. Real or
fictitious, has become a literary myth famous worldwide.

-Origins of the myth: 5-6th century, The Dark Ages, after ending the Roman domination of the
country the Britons were left unprotected to fight against the barbarians (Anglo-Saxons) who
started to settle. There might have been a British war-leader called Arthur but not for sure…maybe
the Britons just created the mythical figure just to provide a hero for the new forming England,
creating an enemy against its enemies.

-Main characters: King Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot, Holy Grail
TOPIC 43: Oral Medieval Literature: The Arthurian Legend. G.Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

-Periods in the Arthurian Tradition (appeared in different lit.works at different time periods)
1. Origins of the myth: 6-7cent, name Arthur does not appear but some references are
made to the hero i.e. in Historia Brittonum. Arthur is first mentioned in Historia Regum
Britanniae by Geoffrey de Monmouth: became king at 15 and conquered Scotland, Ireland or
Iceland with his sword Caliburn.
2. Additions to the myth by French authors: this period took place in France in the
12century, during the Norman ruling over Britain, great influence of Anglo-Norman and French
authors. Translations into French of the previous works by Wace. Introduction of more characters
and details to the myth. Layamon wrote the first version in English.
3. Final evolution and consolidation: 13-17cent, works were compiled in the Vulgate
Cycle, an anonymous collection of Romantic prose which included the Arthurian history.
Malory also wrote in the 15cent Le Mort d´Arthur, making the myth survive up to nowadays
because the work was printed and written in English by Caxton.

-More references to the myth can be found later on in works of authors such as Tennyson and
Elliot, but also in movies, TV series, books for children…

4. MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

Socio political background

24 April 1066-> a comet appeared in the night sky (probably Halley´s comet) men at that time
presaged dramatic events on Earth: the last Anglo-Saxon king perished on the field of battle and
William, Duke of Normandy, became king.


New period of French influence took place, the consequences of this conquest were:
-Introduction of new nobility-> important positions held by the Normans
-Normans took control over the Church
-Settlement of Norman troops, merchants and craftsmen
-Close connection between England and Normandy
-Introduction of French language and many variations in language use

Main literary works

-Works use different voices addressed to different audiences

-Great influence of the Anglo-Norman ruling class
-Diversity of language, styles and tones…showing details of everyday life
-Rhyme as the dominant form
-Monmouth´s The History of the Kings of Britain, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
(unknown author, best Middle English Romance), the dream allegory Piers Plowman by
William Langland and La Morte d´Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory.

Use of the language

-Enormous changes in the English language: inflectional system of Old English broke down,
replaced by the same system English has today.
-Vocabulary changed with borrowings: French, Latin and Scandinavian.
-Trilingualism: English, French and Latin, as we can see nowadays through the etymologies of
any English dictionary.
-Women start to play a major role in literature -> courtly love
-Major developments in the field of reading and writing, specially the settlement of culture in
society thanks to the introduction by William Caxton of the printing in Britain.
-New printings for the public: romance, school textbooks, books for travellers… and the most
famous one Chaucer´s Canterbury Tales.
TOPIC 43: Oral Medieval Literature: The Arthurian Legend. G.Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales
5. GEOFFREY CHAUCER AND THE CANTERBURY TALES

Life and main works

-Born in London, new middle class family (father rich wine merchant).
-Educated at London grammar school, studied Latin, French and Italian.
-Soldier and diplomat, travelled to France, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands: wide range of
experience, knowledge and culture which was reflected in his works.
-Married a knight´s daughter -> association with the ruling nobility of the kingdom.

-One of the first writers who wrote in English, showing the atmosphere of a time of political,
economical and social changes.
-New verse forms, new subject matters and new modes of representation.
-Influenced by French and Italian poetry and courtly love, he also established the English
versification into poetry
-Use of Rhyme Royal and deep psychological study of the characters.

Most significant works: The Book of the Duches, The House of Fame, The Legend of Good
Women, Troilus and Cryseide (most important poem, adaptation of Boccaccio, one of the
greatest love poems in any language, telling the love story between the two characters in Greece),
The Knight´s Tales (later included in the Canterbury Tales).

THE CANTERBURY TALES

-Most significant work of the author, end of 14century, we find 22 stories told by pilgrims on their
way to Canterbury. It was a common entertainment for those on their way to Canterbury to tell
stories, so maybe it was his inspiration.
-Similar works in European literature -> Boccaccio´s Decameron.
-Each narrator is a pilgrim and they represent a wide spectrum of ranks and occupations.
-Stories are juxtaposed to bring out contrast in genre, style, tone and values.
-Starts with The General Prologue, introducing each pilgrim.
-As a whole, it is a picture of society those ages: we find images of daily life, religious tales,
romances, confessional prologues and comic tales treating funny situations.

Style:
-innovation is the word to describe Chaucer´s work.
-Introduced new verse into English lit: the Rhyme Royal, made to be read aloud-> musicality.
-Very colloquial vocabulary and syntax, plain style.
-Portrait of human life.
-Satire and humour, all the tales are full of satire. He avoids moral judgement, the reader is led to
moral indictment from the evidences presented.
-Use of imagery simple, direct and concrete.
-Clear vision of society: clothes, food, things they say, work they do, moral and spiritual
condition.

6. CONCLUSION

-Origins of English literature, development of English language due to invasions

-Medieval period divided into: Old English and Middle English and main writings of those ages,
King Arthur and medieval society through Chaucer´s eyes in Canterbury Tales.

-All topics of literature can be treated under the light of learning and teaching, mainly because
reading is a pleasure for the senses. It also helps us understand the culture and society of the
country whose language we are learning.
-Students can read adapted versions, also filming versions or documentaries.
TOPIC 43: Oral Medieval Literature: The Arthurian Legend. G.Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

-Abram, M. (Gen.Ed.) The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Norton: NY. 1993
-Baugh, A. & Cable, T. A History of the English Language. Prentice-Hall Editions, 1993
-Bauer, L. English Word Formation. Cambridge University Press, 1983
-Ford, B. (Ed.) The Pelican Guide to English Literature. OUP, 1989
-Morgan, K.O. (Ed) The Oxford History of Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001