English Literature. William J. Long
briefly the story of the Norman Conquest. How did the Conquest affect the life and literature of England?
2. What types of literature were produced after the Conquest? How do they compare with Anglo-Saxon literature? What works of this period are considered worthy of a permanent place in our literature?
3. What is meant by the Riming Chronicles? What part did they play in developing the idea of nationality? What led historians of this period to write in verse? Describe Geoffrey's History. What was its most valuable element from the view point of literature?
4. What is Layamon's Brut? Why did Layamon choose this name for his Chronicle? What special literary interest attaches to the poem?
5. What were the Metrical Romances? What reasons led to the great interest in three classes of romances, i.e. Matters of France, Rome, and Britain? What new and important element enters our literature in this type? Read one of the Metrical Romances in English and comment freely upon it, as to interest, structure, ideas, and literary quality.
6. Tell the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. What French and what Saxon elements are found in the poem? Compare it with Beowulf to show the points of inferiority and superiority. Compare Beowulf's fight with Grendel or the Fire Drake and Sir Gawain's encounter with the Green Knight, having in mind (1) the virtues of the hero, (2) the qualities of the enemy, (3) the methods of warfare, (4) the purpose of the struggle. Read selections from The Pearl and compare with Dear's Lament. What are the personal and the universal interests in each poem?
7. Tell some typical story from the Mabinogion. Where did the Arthurian legends originate, and how did they become known to English readers? What modern writers have used these legends? What fine elements do you find in them that are not found in Anglo-Saxon poetry?
8. What part did Arthur play in the early history of Britain? How long did the struggle between Britons and Saxons last? What Celtic names and elements entered into English language and literature?
9. What is a ballad, and what distinguishes it from other forms of poetry? Describe the ballad which you like best. Why did the ballad, more than any other form of literature, appeal to the common people? What modern poems suggest the old popular ballad? How do these compare in form and subject matter with the Robin Hood ballads?
| CHRONOLOGY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| HISTORY | LITERATURE | ||
| 912. | Northmen settle in Normandy | ||
| 1066. | Battle of Hastings. William, | ||
| king of England | |||
| 1086. | Domesday Book completed | ||
| 1087. | William Rufus | ||
| 1093. | Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury | ||
| 1094(cir.). | Anselem's Cur Deus Homo | ||
| 1096. | First Crusade | ||
| 1100. | Henry I | ||
| 1110. | First recorded Miracle play in | ||
| England (see chapter on the | |||
| Drama) | |||
| 1135. | Stephen | ||
| 1137(cir.). | Geoffrey's History | ||
| 1147. | Second Crusade | ||
| 1154. | Henry II | ||
| 1189. | Richard I. Third Crusade | ||
| 1199. | John | ||
| 1200 (cir.). | Layamon's Brut | ||
| 1215. | Magna Charta | ||
| 1216. | Henry III | ||
| 1225 (cir.). | Ancren Riwle | ||
| 1230 (cir.). | University of Cambridge | ||
| chartered | |||
| 1265. | Beginning of House of Commons. | ||
| Simon de Montfort | |||
| 1267. | Roger Bacon's Opus Majus | ||
| 1272. | Edward I | ||
| 1295. | First complete Parliament | ||
| 1300–1400. | York and Wakefield. | ||
| Miracle plays | |||
| 1307. | Edward II | ||
| 1320 (cir.). | Cursor Mundi | ||
| 1327. | Edward III | ||
| 1338. | Beginning of Hundred Years' War | ||
| with France | |||
| 1340 (?). | Birth of Chaucer | ||
| 1350 (cir.). | Sir Gawain. The Pearl |
CHAPTER IV