Middle English literature

Theme: English Literature in the 14th Century
Plan:

1. 
   Pre-renaissance in England
   
2. 
   English Literature in the 14th Century
   

3. Middle English literature

4. 
   Early period
   

PRE-RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND
The Norman kings made London their residence. The London dialect was the central dialect, and it was understood throughout the country. It was the London dialect from which the national language developed. In the 14th century the English bourgeoisie traded with Flanders (now Belgium). The English sold wool to Flanders and the latter produced the finest cloth. England wanted to become the centre of the world market. Flemish weavers were invited to England to teach the English their trade. But feudalism was a serious obstacle to the development of the country. In the first half of the 14th century France threatened the free towns of Flanders, wishing to seize them. England was afraid of losing its wool market. A collision between France and England was inevitable. King Edward III made war with France in 1337. This war is now called the Hundred Years' War because it lasted over a hundred years. At first England was successful in the war. The English fleet defeated the French fleet in the Channel. Then the English also won battles on land. B\it the ruin of France and the famine brought about a terrible disease called the "pestilence" It was brought over to England from Francee The English soldiers called it the "Black Death" By the year 1348 one-third of England's population had perishedd The peasants who had survived were forced to till the land of their lordss As years went on, the French united against their enemy. As the king needed money for the war, Parliament voted for extra taxes. The increasing feudal oppression, cruel laws and the growth of taxes aroused people's indignation and revolts broke out all over the country. In 1381 there was a great uprising with Wat Tyler at the head. The rebels set fire to the houses, burnt valuable things, killed the king's judges and officials. They demanded the abolition of serfdom and taxes, higher wages and guarantees against feudal oppression. But the rebellion was suppressed, and Wat Tyler was murdered. Nothing made the people so angry as the rich foreign bishops of the Catholic Church who did not think about the sufferings of the people. The protest against the Catholic Church and the growth of national feeling during the first years of the Great War found an echo in literature. There appeared poor priests who wandered from one village to another and talked to the people. They protested against the rich bishops and also against all churchmen who were ignorant men and did not want to teach the people anything. Such poor priests were the poet William Langland and John4 Wycliffe. They urged to fight for their rights. But the greatest writer of the 14th century was Geoffrey Chaucer, who was the writer of the new class, the bourgeoisie. He was the first to clear the way for realism.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) The most vivid description of the 14th century England was given by Geoffrey Chaucer [ ''d3efn''tfo:ss]. He was the first truly great writer in Eng-lish literature and is called the "father of English poetry"