THE MIDDLE AGES
A.D. 450-1300
What happened during the
Middle Ages?
Take this true and false quiz.
1. Chess was introduced in England.
2. The Vikings developed the art of
shipbuilding.
3. Hats came into fashion.
4. Feudalism developed.
5. Crossbows were used in France.
6. Marco Polo visited China.
7. The Saxons were defeated at Hastings.
8. The Crusades began.
9. Eyeglasses were invented.
10. The plague in Europe ended.
ALL TRUE!
Although the medieval period has
been perceived as a static, or
unchanging, interval in history, it
was in fact a dynamic time in
which new political, economic,
and cultural institutions
emerged.
The literature of the Middle Ages
reflects the changes of the time –
from the bloody wars waged by
feudal kings through the
gruesome and exotic campaigns
of the Crusades to the
emergence of courtly love and
the rise of the middle class and
the risk-taking mercantile
society that it nurtured.
Some terms you need to know…
A knight was a
person of noble
birth trained to
arms and
chivalry.
Chivalry
was basically a
military code of
behavior.
Chivalry
A knight was
supposed to be fair
to his opponents,
loyal to his lord, and
honorable in all
things. He was also
supposed to show
Christian humility,
and generosity to
all.
Courtly love was a
code of conduct for
lovers. The knight’s
glorious deeds were
not performed in the
service of king or
country, but on
behalf of a beautiful,
fair, and noble lady,
who was often above
him in status and
usually married –
and therefore
unattainable.
The quest was
the pursuit,
through a
series of
adventures,
or trials, of
something or
someone of
special
importance.
One of the most
famous quests
is the search
for the Holy
Grail.
The Holy Grail
is described as
the cup from
which Christ
drank at the last
supper, the same
cup that is later
used to collect
drops of Christ’s
blood at the
Crucifixion.
In France, the
Breton lais were
influenced by the
idea of courtly
love. The lais
were short stories
with supernatural
or fairy-tale
elements, written
in verse and sung
to the
accompaniment of
the lyre or the
lute.
Chansons de
geste were
songs of heroic
deeds. They
were composed
by French poets
called
trouveres.
The romances were the literary
expression of chivalric ideals.
These were long poems about
knightly adventures that were
recited by traveling poets.
The Arthurian romances were among
the most popular of the medieval
romances. The stories of Arthur, a
legendary king, and his knights of the
Round Table spread throughout
Europe teaching moral lessons.
Themes within the selection center
on the topics of betrayal and
revenge. Selections will include…
from the
Song of
Roland (or,
Chanson de
Roland)
anonymous
Nibelungenlied
The Lay of the Werewolf
Marie de France
The Grail from Perceval
Chretien de Troyes
Song of Roland
Cultural Background:
Feudalism = economic and social system of medieval Europe
Vassalage (vassal) = one lord swears allegiance to another in exchange for
privileges or “feuds” (usually land) and owes military service and funding in return
Genre: Chanson de geste (“song of deeds”) French epic
Epic - long narrative poem about the deeds of gods and / or great men
Author – anonymous, epic was performed by Jongleurs, or bards, who sang or
chanted the poem in a public square many adding to the story
Laisses/Cantos – stanzas
Historical Background:
Real - French Charlemagne, Charles the Great, intervened in a dispute between
two rival Moorish (Muslim) rulers in Spain. While returning to France through the
Pyrenees, Charlemagne’s rear guard was attacked by Basques, not Moors, – all
perished.
Fictional Elements – recorded 300 years later. 200+ year old Charlemagne tries to
conquer Saracen (Muslim) king Marsilion and force Christian conversion. Ganelon
offers false treaty. Moors, rather than Basques, slaughter rear guard in retreat due
to personal revenge and betrayal by Ganelon against his stepson, Roland
Themes: betrayal, revenge, feudal loyalty, personal valor