SANGEETHA P
LCL051521
ASSIGNMENT ON DARK AGES AND MIDDLE AGES
Literature has always been found synonymous with so many aspects of culture.
Cultures have nurtured so many languages and there by created versatile style
of living. In this process of shaping language and literature there occured so
many revolutions, sufferings and longings. In the history of Europe the 15th
century of the Christian era was identified as a period of transition. There
came so many revolutionary changes in the life of Europeans. In England this
new era was born during the Tudor reign. This helps us to note that the history
of modern England began with the advent of Tudors.
MEDIEVAL AGES- A GLANCE THROUGH THE CENTURIES
The Medieval age trace back its origin from the fourth century to the
English renaissance of the late fifteenth century. The early period of
England was dominated by Anglo-Saxons whose language finds incomprehensible to
the modern speakers of English. That particular period was identified as old
English period. With the Norman invasion of 1066, there came an end to the old
English period. The language spoken by Normans were later came to be known as
Anglo-Norman. Along with Anglo-Norman, a development was marked in the case of
old English in to Middle English. Middle English was an age that witnessed a
notable change in the field of English Literature. Following the invasion of
France, Anglo-Saxons were marginalized in the society. French became the
language of education and Literature. Chaucer who wrote during this period was
actually not supposed to write his Canterbury Tales in English. Thus consequently,
middle ages in England is culturally characterized by their intimacy towards
French and Italian arts and literature.
The works of Aristotle and other renowned Greek writers appeared during the
period of 12th century. Mare de France, an English woman was an established
writer of this century. Yet there was no social prestige or eminence in
being an author and to publish books.
When the13th century was born, Latin literature was flourished in England. A
profound cultural separation occurred in between France and England.
"Preaching of monks" came to existence during this period. Scholar
A.G. Rigg says, "They formed a new kind of intellectual elite....Their
evangelical fervor and commitment to academic training contributed to the rise
of the English universities." 13th century was thus in a way served for
the growth of literacy
and a considerable increase in the quantity of books.
During the 14th century, Literature established a consequent mark in the
society. John
Gower, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Langland were the main writers of the
period. There occurred so many revolutions during this period. Black Death that
hit the middle of the century, the peasants' revolt of 1381 and the hundred
years' war etc. were the notable revolutionary movements of the period.
Anti-French attitude helped to replace French from the then society.
In 15th century, with the death of Henry IV there came a transition of medieval
themes to humanistic one in literature. Mystery plays were introduced during
this period. The printing revolution made books cheaper and easily accessible.
DARK
AGES ALIAS EARLY MIDDLE AGES
The Dark ages is the historical periodization actually used to denote the
middle ages which laid stress on the worse cultural and economic
situation in Western Europe that occurred due to the decline of Roman empire.
The term 'dark age' derived from the Latin word 'saeculum obscurum'. It was
originally applied by Caesar Baronius in 1602 to an uproarious atmosphere
prevalent in 10th and 11th centuries. Originally, the term was used to depict
the time period from the fall of Rome up to the Renaissance.
The concept of dark age was introduced by Petrarch , the Italian scholar. He
said: "Amidst the errors there shone forth men of genius; no less keen
were their eyes, although they were surrounded by darkness and dense
gloom".
He considered the post-roman centuries as dark. Later, other historians used
the term to denote the transitional period between Roman period and high middle
ages. Dark ages originally depicts the age from the fall of Rome and Renaissance.
Now the term is not used to depict the entire medieval ages but to point the
early middle ages. Christian writers of that period had used the metaphor of
"light versus dark" to denote "good versus evil". Classical
antiquity, since it lacked the ray of Christianity was initially considered as
dark age and later Petrarch saw it as the age of "light" since there
had so many cultural achievements during that period.
A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE WRITERS OF
MIDDLE AGES
Roger Bacon is one of the prominent literary figures of the 13th century
scholastic philosophy. He experimented natural science and through his major
work Opus majus he brought out almost all branches of
knowledge including moral philosophy and mathematics other than grammar and
logic.
William caxton is another notable figure of this particular era who first set
up the printing press in England in 1476. he did many translations in Latin and
French. His work depicted the literary attitudes of the 15th century England.
The next person who had a clear print over the middle age was
Geoffrey Chaucer, the mostly celebrated writer after
Shakespeare. His literary carrier can be divided in to three periods; the early
one based on French models which contains the allegorical Book of Duchess, the second one
based on Italian models and the important work of him during this phase is The House of Fame and the last period, during the
time which he earned more maturity and his master piece, Canterbury tales an unfinished work comprises of 17000
lines was appeared at this point of time. Chaucer is treated as a very
significant personality since he established the dialect of London.
Beyond these writers there are also some who remained anonymous. Literature has
found an appreciable expression in the hands of these writers. Thus while going
through the features of the ages, a versatile imagery of the literary world up
to 13th century can be observed with very much clarity and authenticity.
WORKS CITED
· Albert Edward. History of English Literature.
New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1979. Print.
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