Anglo Norman Period

prof.Abdelhamid Fouda 

                This period begins with the invasion of Normans in 1060 and ended in 1400. They came from scandinavian countries. they were French speaking.when they invaded Ireland of England, they imposed French as an official language but the common people continued  speaking English. Before it English was called old eng, it was just a dialect as we know that chaucers dialect was midland. These two languages went side by side. Upper class was speaking French whereas common people were speaking English they realized there power so English started competing with French and finally overpowered French language. English became the official language in the middle of 14th century and became the language of the rulers, before it has no status. People took pride by being their language official, it developed and became  sophisticated. It absorbed French language and became a language, before it English has no contents, no meter and no feet. It had only alliterative verses. These meters came from French as we know two syllables, one stressed the other un stressed become 1foot and five such feets in a line are called pentameter. Chaucers poetry was also written in pentameter, even later Shakespeare used this meter in his writings.                                                  Many types of literature was produced in this age. First, short tales in verse, series of poems by chaucer were composed, for example prologue to the Canterbury tales.                            Second type of poetry  was romances, long stories based on adventures of elite class. Romances were confined to upper class because common people have no means to adopt fashion which is necerrasy for romance. King aurther and nights of his court is an example of romance poetry. Third type of writing was history which were called rhymed chronicals. These are now sunk. Robert of gluster wrote rhymed chronical. Robert manning of brunne wrote story of England, handyling synne (handling sin), the contents of this book were religious as title is showing. Fourth type of poetry was religious, as orm wrote ormulum in 2200 AD which was a divine book. The owl and the nightingale (anonymous) a didectic poem is based on animals stories, actually these stories are instructions for kings to rule well. We find Prose writings also. Ancrene reivel, of this period became the early version king James Bible who was a writer of 17th century because this king came after queen Elizabeth. An American writer of 20th century Hemingway say 'I learnt my style from king James Bible.                                                      Variety of literature was produced in this period as short tales, romances, adventure stories and divine poems. Poems like pearl, sergoin and green knight were in alliterative verses. King Horm, lay of havelock, the dame and Mordeaurther are examples of romances. Mordeaurther is even read today. This poem is about the exploits and adventures of King Aurther. Short lyrics like cucko song were also written. these were not like a sonnets. These lyrics were influenced by both French and English. Religious poetry was also addressed to Virgin Marry who was the mother of the Christ as we know the christ was born without marriage according to Christian religion.                The age of chaucer will be discussed in detail in my next post.