Discuss the effect of Norman period
on the development of English literature.
It is rightly called
that the Norman Conquest brought England
more than a change of a ruler. It brought about a significant change in
the atmosphere of English literature. The influence of the Norman on life and
literature has become prominent, Norman brought with them higher order of
civilization and literature and thereby transform the life and culture of
native dwellers of England, For the sake of convenience Middle English poetry
can be classified into three groups. According to the nature of subject—I) Chronicle 2) Religious and Didactic
poetry 3) Romances.
Chronicles
During this period
there is a number of Chronicles. They are distinguished by their incredible
stories. Poets use incredible adventure and consider their works as a history.
Layamon Brut was written by Layamon who
was a monk. He tells long narrative lines about the history of Britain from the
landing of Bruats to the death of Cadwallader. Robert of Gloucester is known
from his rhyming Chronicle, there is more than one author to this work. But
certainly one was Robert a monk of Gloucester.
Robert Maning Brunne came from Bourne in Lincolnshire. His rhymed story
of England was completed between three and four o'clock on the afternoon
Friday, May 25, 1318. It begins with Noah and Deluge and ends with the death of
Edward the first.
Religious and didactic poetry
The Ormulum was written
by Orm (12 century) .The dialect is not east
midlands. It consists of a large number of homilies addressed a fellow
cannon regular Walter. This book is called Ormulum because Orm wrote it.
The
Owl and the Nightingale, the authorship of which is still
unknown. Probably it was written in the early part of 13th century. It consists
of a long argument between the Nightingale, representing the joys of life and
the Owl stands for wisdom and sobriety. It is one of the liveliest poems of its
kind.
Orison to our Lady,
Genisis and Exodus, The Bestiary, The Moral ode, The proverbs of Alfred are
some of the religious and didactic poems during
I st half of 13th century. 'The Cursor Mundy' was composed in the first
quarter of 14th century. It was a religious work dealing with Old and New
Testament stories. Richard Rolle was one of the familiar literary figures. He
is born in Yorkshire and was educated at Oxford and later became a hermit. His
'Prick of Conscience' is a significant work. He wrote various prose pieces. His
important work was the long poem 'Richard Rolle of Hampole'.
Apart from these
various kinds of poetry. There were some alliterative poems. There were four
remarkable poems written in west midland dialect—Pearl, Purity, Passon and Sir
Gawain and Green knight. The first three poems are religious in theme. Pearl
tells of a vision in which the poet seeks Pearl which he let slip into the
grass. In his vision he sees his Pearl appears to be the vision of a dead
median and he obtains a gleams of New Jerusalem. This poem contains a long
discussion between the poet and the Pearl.
Purity and passions are
more didactic in theme. They are spirited and realistic. However, Sir Gawain
and the Green knight is the finest of all Middle English romances for its
master of plot handling, its realism, characterization, describing power etc.
Romances
There were a great
number of romances in this period and they can be classified according to their
subject. But all of them are alliterative and rhyming in meter. The romances
dealing with English history and heroes are numerous. Of these, King Horn and
Havelock the Dane, Guy of War Week and Bevies Hampton are some of the most
popular romances. These group is known as matter of England. There were some
romances connected with Sir Arthur. Arthur and Merlin, Sir Gawain and the Green
knight etc. are the finest example of Middle English romances.
Among the romances the
matter of Rome is great and large in number with classical theme. Such as the
exploits of Alexander the great is also like the destruction of troy. There
were some romances dealing with clergymen. For example Raufcoilzer is a popular
romance. Another is Sir Ferumhras. this group is sometimes called the matter of
French. There is also a class of miscellaneous romances on various theme and
quality. For example, Amis and Amiloun is a touching love story. William of
Palerne is another familiar story about
missing heir theme. Floris and Blauchefletlr tells the love of a king's son for
a maid. It would take volume to comment upon the romances there were variety in theme and style in
romances. But in general we may say that
the prevailing subject is of a marital and amatory nature. Use of supernatural
was the additional interest of Romances, it freely entered into the story.
Middle English literature was completely French. It was the work Of aristocratic
Anglo-Norman. The forms and themes of old Anglo-Saxon literature have passed
away and instead French ideals enter into English. Mainly romance and allegory
became prominent. The theme of love and war entered in Middle English poetry.
Apart from the poetic works there were some prose works.
One of the most
important prose works of this period is The Ancrene Riwle. It is written on
three noble ladies who had become anchoresses. It is a manual to guide them the
life they chosen. The guiding principle in this rule is undoubtedly 'moderation
in everything'. The important feature of the author in this book is his
humanity. The prose style of this book has become a literary criticism. Its
proverbial style allusion, familiar illustration from everyday life etc
inspired the author of later generation. Some of the proverbial wisdom may be
mentioned. 'The dog enters gladly where he finds an open door; the cook is
brave on his own dunghill'.
The Azenbite oflnwyt is written by Dan Michal
of North gate in 1348, it comes from Canterbury. It is a translation of a
French work, from literary point of view it was of little importance and was
dull but from linguistic point of view it has considerable importance. Since
the authors autograph preserved, it was written mostly in Kentish dialect.
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