The Middle Ages

I just realized I forgot to give kinda a literary/historical overview of each the Middle Ages, so here it is...I promise I will put one in for each literary period we go through from now on before we begin covering it!

These notes are drawn from the Norton anthology website and Wikipedia and whatever Internet page I pull up:

The Middle Ages

• Time span - from collapse of Roman empire to the Renaissance (roughly 5th century to 15th century)
• In literary terms, can be divided into 

1. Anglo-Saxon period (c. 450-1066) 
2. Anglo-Norman period (1066- c.1200)
3. Middle English (13th and 14th centuries)

• French words entered English vocabulary through Norman conquest in 1066
• English replaced French as language of government in late 14th century
• Chaucer's emulation of French and Italian poetry in English enhanced prestige of English language
• Roman Catholic Church played large role in society

Common Features of Literature from the Middle Ages 

1. Litotes
2. Caesuras