IMPORTANT AUTHORS OF

MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
Department of English & Applied Linguistics, UST Bannu.

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 TOPIC OUTLINE

• Introduction
• What is What is medieval literature?
• Important authors of this age
• Critical analysis OR Commentary
• Conclusion

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 INTRODUCTION

Medieval literature refers to the written works produced during the

Middle Ages, a period that lasted from the 5th to the 15th centuries.
Characteristics of Medieval literature include a strong emphasis on
religious themes and the use of allegory, as well as a focus on chivalry and
courtly love. Additionally, many works from this period were written in
Latin or Old English, and were often composed in verse form. The genres
of Medieval literature include epic poetry, romances, and lyric poetry.
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 IMPORTANT AUTHORS OF THIS AGE

• Dante Alighieri: Dante is considered one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages and the early
Renaissance. His most famous work is "The Divine Comedy" which is an epic poem that tells the
story of the author's journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, guided by the Roman poet
Virgil.
• Jean de Meun: He was the author of the "Romance of the Rose" a 13th-century French poem that
describes the art of courtly love and the ideal of chivalry.
• Marie de France: She was an important figure in the history of French literature, known for her
Lais, a collection of 12 short narrative poems that deal with chivalry, love, and courtly life.

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 CONTINUED…

• Beowulf : This anonymous Anglo-Saxon epic poem, is considered one of the most important
works of Anglo-Saxon literature, and is the oldest surviving epic poem written in Old English.
• The Venerable Bede: He was an Anglo-Saxon monk, historian and theologian, who wrote a
number of influential works, including "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" which is a
history of the Christian Church in England.
• Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe: For over half a millennium, this book was lost;
the manuscript was only rediscovered in 1934. It’s a fascinating account of a woman’s life in
medieval England.

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 CONTINUED…

• Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain: Among other things, this chronicle,
written in Latin in the twelfth century by a Welsh monk, popularised the story of King Arthur. 
• Omar Khayyám, The Rubáiyát: Meaning ‘quatrains’, the Rubáiyát is an extraordinary work by
an extraordinary figure: Khayyám (1048-1131) was a Persian poet, philosopher, astronomer, and
mathematician – a ‘Renaissance man’        four centuries before the Renaissance even came into
being.
Recommended edition: the Rubáiyát is a great long poem of Arabian love and mysticism,
translated into English by Victorian poet Edward FitzGerald

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 CRITICAL ANALYSIS

• There were many anonymous authors in this age.

• This was due to the strict laws of censorship.
• Religion and chivalry dominated this age’s work.
• Chaucer revolutionized this age by his work The Canterbury Tales.

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 CONCLUSION

• Therefore, it can be said that mediaeval literature was a rich and varied area, with a variety of
writers and works that have had an enduring influence on literature and culture. The writers
mentioned before and their works have helped shape European literature and had a long-lasting
impact on the literary canon. Their writings are still read and studied by academics, students, and
general readers alike because they are now regarded as classics.

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