MEDIEVAL PERIOD

(1066-1485)

REPORTER: NORIELYN ESPEJO

MARY ANN MARTINEZ
PRINCESS IVEE AGUSTIN
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Medieval Period is marked by the defeat of

Harold, Saxon King of England in the Battle of
Hastings. His force was defeated by the host of
William of Normandy, later known as William I
the Conqueror, William the Conqueror claimed
that the kingship in England should be his for a
reason that it served as a gift to him.
The Feudal System was introduced to England
following the invasion and conquest of the
country. The system had been used in France by
the Normans from the time they settled there in
900 AD. It was a simple, but effective system,
where all land was owned by the King. One
quarter was kept by the king as his personal
property. Some was given to the church and the
rest was leased out under strict controls.
The King was in complete control under the
feudal system. He owned all the land in the
country and decided to whom he would lease
land to. He, therefore, only allowed those men
he could trust to lease land from him. However,
before they were given any land they had to
swear an oath to remain faithful to the king at all
times.
 The men who leased land from the king were known as
Barons, they were wealthy, powerful and had complete
control of the land they leased from the king. Barons
leased land from the king which was known as Manor.
They were known as the Lord of the Manor. They
established their own system of justice, minted their own
money, and set their own taxes. In return for the land
they had been given by the king, the barons had to
serve on the royal council, pay rent and provide the king
with knights for military service when he demanded it.
They also provide lodging and food for the king and his
court when they travelled around the country. The
barons kept as much of their land as they wished for
their own use, then divided the rest among their knights.
 Knights were given land by a baron in return for military
service demanded by the king. They also had to protect
the baron and his family, as well as the manor, from
attack. The knights kept as much land as they wished for
their personal use and distributed the rest to villeins.
Although not as rich as the barons, knights were quite
wealthy.
 Villeins, sometimes known as Serfs, were given land by
knights. They had to provide the knight with free labor,
food and service whenever it was demanded. Villeins
had no rights. They were not allowed to leave the manor
and had to ask their lord’s permission before they could
marry. Needles to say, villeins are poor.
 MEDIEVAL LITERATURE

 The literature of this era was composed of religious writings as well as

secular works. Since Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic
Church, which dominated Western and Central Europe, and since the
Church was virtually the source of education, Latin was a common
language for medieval writings. Latin was also considered the lingua
franca of Europe at that time. The government officials, on the other
hand, used French since William the Conqueror was a French and the
common people continued to use English.
 3 Principle Factors :
 RELIGION
 WAR
 LOVE OF LADIES
 The whole duty of gentleman was included in the idea
of Chivalry, which regulated his life from his early
childhood. The principle of service to God, his lords and
his lady underlay everything. The knight’s rule of service
entails integrity, piety, humility, and honesty.
 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was continued in English in
the year 1154. Latin was the preeminent language
among scholars of the day, Geoffrey of Monmouth used
it to write his History of the Kings of Britain(1135) which
helped to popularize King Arthur and the Arthurian
Legend. The priest Layamon wrote the poem The
Brut (1205) which is the first truly English version of the
story of Arthur.
 The Norman hegemony ensured the deepening of the
religious impulse in English writing while adding to Anglo-
Saxon heroic thought the conventions of continental
romance.
 CONTRIBUTION OF THE KNIGHT TO
LITERATURE
 The fighting nobleman during the Middle Ages was an
object of great respect and even of veneration. The
knight was accorded the highest rank of society, he was
often a member of the court. The knight was not only a
warrior after the epic pattern but also a lover. The system
of knighthood elevated the position of women into one
of great importance. The compelling reason for this
change was the religious revival of the Middle Ages and
the growing devotion to the Virgin Mary. The knight
worshipped women because Mary was a woman. The
knight was bound to womanhood by oaths of homage
and fealty; he must not be faithless; he must act
according to a set formula; he must win his ladylove by
his faithfulness, patience, manliness and warlike-skill.
 The perfection of knighthood as well as the mystic
element was fully represented in the Arthurian
romances. King Arthur had a mysterious and magic birth.
He surrounded himself with knights who came from
different lands. Among the knights were Sir Gawain,
(famous for his adventure with the Green Knight); Sir
Percivale , (the pure of heart); Tristam,(the mighty hunter
and gifted musician who had fatal love for the beautiful
Isode); and towering above them all, the French
Launcelot, the model knight and perfect lover, who
betrayed the trust of King Arthur because of his sinful
love for Guinevere, the queen. (Due to Christian
influence, the number of the knights of the Round Table
was reduced to twelve:
 Launcelot, Gawain, Geraint, Gareth, Gaheris, Bedivere,
Galahad, Kay, Bors de Ganis, Lamorak and Percivale
 CANTERBURY TALES
by Geoffrey Chaucer
o Geoffrey Chaucer
is the greatest writer of the Medieval Period and his
magnum opus is The Canterbury Tales a collection of brief
narratives written in poetry.
Canterbury Tales portrays a wide range of poetry
and presents a vivid and detailed picture of England.
o his masterpiece a narrative poem Troilus and Criseyde
o Most notable and prolific English writer of the Middle
Ages.
o Considered as the first great English humourist and
realist,
 THE PILGRIMS
 The HOST (HARRY BAILEY) – The owner or the Tabard Inn, who volunteers to
travel with the pilgrims. He promises to keep everyone happy, be their guide
and arbiter in disputes and judge the tales.
 THE KNIGHT – socially the most prominent person on the pilgrimage,
epitomizing chivalry, truth, and honour. He stands apart from the other
pilgrims because of his dignity and status.
 THE MILLER – a drunken, brash, and vulgar man who rudely interrupts the Host,
demands that his tale be next, and warns everyone that his tale about a
carpenter will be vulgar because it is true.
 THE REEVE – a very old and irritable man who once ones a carpenter. He
resents the Miller’s tale about a stupid old carpenter.
 THE MAN OR LAW (OR SERGEANT OF LAW) – a lawyer and one of the high
justices of the court. He is cautious, suspicious, and wise, and one of the more
cultivated men among the pilgrims.
 THE PILGRIMS
 ROGER, THE COOK – known for his cooking and characterized by a chancre
sore that runs with pus. His story is incomplete.
 THE WIFE OF BATH (ALISOUN) – characterized as gat-toothed, somewhat deaf,
and wearing bright scarlet red stockings. She has had five husbands (the last
half her age), enjoys her freedom, and is openly sensual.
 HUBERT, THE FRIAR – a sensual, licentious man who seduces young girls and then
arranges their marriages. He loves money and knows the tavern better than the
poor houses.
 THE SUMMONER – an officer of the church who calls people for a church trial. He
is as ugly as his profession; he frightens children with his red complexion, pimples
and boils, and skin infected with scales.
 THE CLERK – a sincere, devout student of Oxford University who loves learning
and is respected by all the pilgrims. He is very poor because he spends his
money on books.
 THE PILGRIMS

 THE MERCHANT – a shrewd and intelligent man who knows how to strike a good
bargain and is a member the a rich rising middle class.
 THE SQUIRE – a vain, lusty young man and a candidate for knighthood. He can
sing, write poetry, and ride a horse very well, and considers himself a lady’s
man.
 THE FRANKLIN – a large and wealthy landowner who enjoys fine living and
good companionship.
 THE SHIPMAN – a huge, uncouth man who can steer a ship but flounders on his
horse.
 THE PRIORESS (MADAME EGLANTINE) – a very gentile lady who is coy and
delicate. She has precise manners, eats as an aristocrat would, and wears a
gold brooch with “Love conquers all” inscribed in Latin.
 THE PHYSICIAN – a doctor who can speak knowingly of medicines, drugs, and
humors, and who knows astrology as well. He is fond of gold and makes a lot of
money during the plague season.
 THE PILGRIMS
 THE PARDONERN – the most complex of all the pilgrims. He is an intellect and uses advanced
psychological means to gain his objective. Although he is not a good person, he can preach
a good sermon.
 THE MONK – a man who tends the property of the monastery. He is fat and happy, loves
good food and wine, and finds the taverns more to his liking than the cold, severe
monastery.
 THE NUN’S PRIEST – the priest of the church who accompanies the nuns so that they may offer
up their confessions.
 THE SECOND NUN – a very devout nun who, because she believes that idleness leads to sin,
begins her story immediately.
 THE CANON AND THE CANON’S YEOMAN – although not one of the pilgrims, the Canon
appears with his servant (the Yeoman)but leaves when his Yeoman begins a tale.
 THE MANCIPLE – the steward for a law school. Although not as intelligent as law students, he is
clever and shrewd enough to be able to put away some money for himself.
 THE PARSON – a very poor but religious man who tells a highly moral tale. He gives his scant
money to his poor parishioners and tries to live the perfect life and set an ideal for others.
 SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
 GAWAIN – the main character of the story, the bravest of King Arthur’s knights, famed for
his “courtesy”. He takes the Green Knight’s challenge on behalf of Arthur and Camelot.
 THE GREEN KNIGHT – fantastic creature who appears at King Arthur’s Christmas feast. He is
also Bertilak of Hautdesert.
 BERTILAK (OR BERCILAK) OF HAUTDESERT – Gawain’s host of the castle. The extraordinarily
beautiful and charming lady spends three days trying to tempt Gawain.
 KING ARTHUR – legendary king of the Britons, founder of the Round Table. Gawain’s uncle
and Morgan’s half-brother.
 THE GUIDE – one of Bertilak’s servants, sent to Gawain from Hautdesert to the Green
Chapel.
 MORGAN LE FAY – enchantress and resident of Bertilak’s court at Hautdesert. Gawain’s
aunt and Arthur’s half-sister.
 GUENEVERE – Arthur’s queen and a legendary beauty.