MEDIEVAL LITERATURE

MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
Encompasses essentially the written works available in Europe beyond Middle Ages Literature of this time was composed of religious writings, as well as secular works A complex and rich field of study

LANGUAGE
Latin was the common language for Medieval writings in Central and Western Europe Slavonic was commonly used in Eastern Europe

ANONIMITY
Due to lack of documents during the Medieval period, a notable amount of medieval literature is anonymous.

TYPES OF WRITING
1. RELIGIOUS Theological works were the dominant for of literature typically found in libraries during the Middle Ages. 2. SECULAR Secular literature during the middle ages was not produced as much as the religious literature.

a. POLITICAL POETRY Was widely written towards the end of the period. b. TRAVEL LITERATURE Highly popular in the Middle Ages Frequently embellished or entirely false

LITERARY DEVICES
Though many literary devices were used during the Medieval Period, allegory has been so prominent in this period. Many literatures relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing, representations of abstract qualities, events and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.