An overview about Anglo-Norman Age in English Literature

 

The Anglo-Norman age (1066 CE- 1300 CE) was also known as the age of middle English literature it contributed to old English literature and there was a new language and new literature in the Anglo-Norman period.

Normas were North men who came from Normandy. King Harold Godwinson ruled over Anglo-Saxons while William the Conquer was the king of Normans. He was a French king who attacked Anglo-Saxons in the Battle of Hastings. He won and started rule over there and then the middle English period was known as an Anglo-Norman period.

William the Conquer was civilized and brought Civilization to the society at that time, there came a new language and literature. They brought Christianity to the society where St Augustine was the dominant figure. they told about the stories of God and goddesses to people. Most of the work was in oral form and in poetry. 

 In poetry, the writer uses the elements of wind and Storm, love for womanhood, and love for nature. they talked about freedom and wisdom.

In the Anglo-Norman period, the language used was French for kings and queens, the Latin language was used in religious books and English was used by lower-class people.

 In Literature of the anglo-norman period, four meters

1. Meter of Greek
2. Meter of England 
3. Meter of France 
4. Meter of Britain  

The meter of Greece discussed the Trojan War meter of France discussed the form of poetry and meter of England discussed King Arthur and the last meter of Britain discussed Robinhood knights and beautiful girls.

  The main features of the Anglo-Saxons were the House of Commons, the Wycliffe Revolution, and the peasant rebellion. During the Anglo-Saxon period, there was a disease that destroyed the whole of Africa this was written in Literature as the Black Death because half of Europe died due to this disease. it was a plague disease that was spread by rats-infected patients. This disease was come from China 

Another feature that is prominent in the Anglo-Saxon period is the House of Common as normans were civilized they had made a House of Common that was just like today's national assembly they believed in the King's divine rules

 In the Lollard movement, Wycliffe translated religious and holy books into English which were in a Latin language so that the common person may understand it 

At that time, peasants took place because of the taxation system. Peasants were against this system so they rebelled.

Major poets of that era were William Langland, Geoffrey Chaucer, and John Gower. 

Langland's main work was The Vision of Piers Plowman in which he talked about the archaic world. the main character was Will who considered himself a prophet. he talked about the sins of a man.

Geoffrey Chaucer was the most famous poet of the 14th century. he was also known as the father of English literature. his famous works were Canterbury Tales, Roman De La Rose, Parliament of Fowl The Legend of Good Women, and Troilus and Cressida.

Canterbury Tales was the most famous work of Chaucer in which pilgrims traveled from one place to another and told their stories 

Parliament of fowl was on st valentine's day. It was basically on Richard 2. This was the collection of words that emphasized the birds sitting in the form of groups such as people sitting in parliament. A few lines of work as;

For This was on Syent Valentine's Day

Whan every foul cometh ther. to cheer his make.

In The Legend of Good Women, Chaucer introduced the concept of a Hero. A few lines from his work are;

A thousand times have I heard, men tell,

That there is joy in heaven and pain in hell.

In Troilus and Cressida, Chaucer talks about the love story of the prince of Troy and the windowed daughter of a deserted priest.

So, it is concluded that during the Anglo-Saxon period, most works were in oral form and there was enhancement in literature. In this way, the Anglo-Norman Age contributed to old English literature.