Period 1
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Nickname-”The Father of English Poetry”
Father- Prosperous middle class wine
merchant.
Chaucer became a page in a Royal House
when he was a teen.
Work as a page expose him to a world of
high/born people.
Fought in a hundred years war in 1359 taken
prisoner and held for ransom.
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In his 20’s- Court Official- travel abroad
learn different cultures and literatures.
Influenced-by French medieval traditions
1st writer to use Middle English in a major
literary work which was the Canterburry Tales
Canterburry Tales gives a “Lifelike and
engaging picture of a various strata of
english society of the 13oo’s.
Born 1342—Died 1400
Christianizing England
*596 Pope Gregory I sent missionaries to
convert Anglo-Saxon to Christianity
*By 650 most of England was Christian
* Celtic monks brought Christianity to other
parts of England
*Religion came with education and culture
Monasteries
*Women and men dedicated their lives to
work and prayer
*English monks established libraries and
schools
*Alfred’s greatest achievement in this
regard was the Anglo-Saxon chornicle
Pilgrimages
*An important shrine in Spain was Santiago
de Compostela
*Thomas a Becket was slain in 1170
One way to express religions devotion was
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When king Edward died in 1066, William of
Normandy claimed the throne.
Harold II was chosen by the English group of
elders, William the conqueror attacked, battle
of hasting, which he won
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Following Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxons
became subjects of the Norman aristocracy
William the conquer introduced feudalism to
England
King John needing money for the military,
imposed financial burdens on his barons