Bede , Chaucer and other works of the Anglo Saxon, Norman,and the Renaissance periods.

° Bede
St. Bede the Venerable, born sometime around 673 CE in Jarrow, England, was a poet,
theologian, and historian. Bede is primarily known for Historia ecclesiastica gentis
Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 731), which documents the
conversion of Anglo-Saxon tribes to Christianity and popularized the method of dating
events from the time of Christ’s birth. Most of Bede’s roughly 38 works have survived for
more than a thousand years through duplication. “Bede’s Death Song,” also known as
“Bede’s Lament,” is the most-copied Old English poem in historical manuscripts, surviving
in over 35 extant iterations

° Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for The
Canterbury Tales. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the
"father of English poetry.
The Legend of Good Women is a poem in the form of a dream vision by Geoffrey Chaucer
during the fourteenth century.
The poem is the third longest of Chaucer's works, after The Canterbury Tales and Troilus
and Criseyde, and is possibly the first significant work in English to use the iambic
pentameter or decasyllabic couplets which he later used throughout The Canterbury Tales.
This form of the heroic couplet would become a significant part of English literature
possibly inspired by Chaucer

∆ Works of the Anglo Saxon, Norman and the Renaissance periods

Anglo-Saxon Period

1. Beowulf:An epic poem, possibly the oldest surviving long poem in Old English, which
depicts the heroic deeds of the titular character Beowulf.

Beowulf ,Old English: Bēowulf [ˈbeːowuɫf]) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of
Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important
and most often translated works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a
matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which
was produced between 975 and 1025 AD.[2] Scholars call the anonymous author the
"Beowulf poet"
.
Caedmon: An Anglo-Saxon poet, traditionally considered the earliest English poet whose
name is known. He composed hymns and religious poems
King Alfred: King Alfred the Great promoted literacy and education in England. His works
include translations of Latin texts into Old English, such as the "Pastoral Care" of Pope
Gregory the Great.

John Mandeville: authored "The Travels of Sir John Mandeville," a 14th-century travelogue
blending genuine experiences with imaginative tales of journeys through Asia, Africa, and
the Middle East. Despite uncertainty about the author's identity and factual accuracy, the
work captivated medieval and Renaissance audiences, shaping European perceptions of
distant lands and influencing exploration during the Age of Discovery.

Norman Conquest :Refers to the invasion and conquest of England by William the
Conqueror in 1066, leading to significant cultural and linguistic changes.
Norman Conquest, the military conquest of England by William, duke of Normandy,
primarily effected by his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings (October 14, 1066) and
resulting ultimately in profound political, administrative, and social changes in the British
Isles.

Renaissance Period: ( early 17th century) 1450-1650

Chaucer: Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the Father of English Literature, wrote works such as
"The Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories told by pilgrims journeying to Canterbury
Cathedral. And Legend of Cleopatra (from the legend of good women)

Sir Thomas Wyatt and Surrey: Poets who introduced the sonnet form to English literature
and contributed to the development of English poetry.( Farewell love)

Thomas More: Known for works like "Utopia," a philosophical and political treatise
exploring an ideal society.
Thomas More's novel Utopia was written in 1516, during the Renaissance period, and was
intended to envision an ideal European society, a utopia. More made suggestions and put
forth ideas as how to reform European society in his political satire.

William Langland: Wrote "Piers Plowman," an allegorical poem that critiques the society
and religious practices of his time.

John Gower: A contemporary of Chaucer, known for works like "Confessio Amantis," a
collection of moral tales.

John Wycliffe: An English theologian and reformer who translated the Bible into English,
laying the groundwork for later translations.