2. Middle English Literature |
A Historical Survey of English Language and Literature
Exercises
Group A
Multiple
Choice Questions.
Tick
(√) the best answer.
1)
Middle English poetry gave emphasis to.................
a)
alliteration
b)
rhythm
c)
rhyme
d)
assonance
2)
Printing of the texts began in the .................period with Caxton's
printing press.
a)
Old English
b)
Middle English
c)
Romantic
d)
Restoration
3)
The Canterbury Tales was written by.................
a)
William Langland
b)
Sir Thomas More
c)
William Shakespeare
d)
Geoffrey Chaucer
4)
The characters in the Morality plays are not human beings, rather, they are the
abstract qualities of.........
a)
virtue and vice
b)
Gods and devils
c)
sorrow and pain
d)
men and women
5.
Harold, the last Saxon king was defeated in the battle of
Hastings.........................by William, the Duke of Normandy, who became
the ruler of England after the conquest.
a) 1066 AD
b) 1055 AD
c) 1044 AD
d) 1033 AD
6.
English remained the language of the............people.
a) aristocratic
b) poor
c) common
d) rich
7.
The major focus of Old English poetry was alliteration whereas the Middle
English poetry emphasized............
a) assonance
b) rhyme
c) simile
d) metaphor
8. ........................is highly
praised for Miracle and Morality plays.
a) Middle English literature
b) Old English literature
c) Renaissance English literature
d) Restoration English literature
9.
After the invention of Caxton's printing press in............., most of the
major books and manuscripts of the earlier books were printed and distributed
in many major cities.
a) 1474
b) 1475
c) 1476
d) 1477
10.
The Canterbury Tales, The Vision of Piers the Ploughman, Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight are some examples of the popular poems of the..................
a) Renaissance English literature
b) Old English literature
c) Middle English literature
d) Restoration English literature
11.
Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1340 and died in..............
a) 1405 AD
b) 1400 AD
c) 1410 AD
d) 1420 AD
12.
The Canterbury Tales contains...............lines that weigh about half of
Chaucer's literary production.
a) 14,000
b) 15,000
c) 16,000
d) 17,000
13.
The Canterbury Tales contains................tales told by different pilgrims
in verse.
a) 21
b) 22
c) 23
d) 24
14.
"The Wife of Bath" has...........husbands The Canterbury Tales.
a) eight
b) seven
c) six
d) five
15. The Legend
of Good Women is the poem by.........................which gives accounts of
loving and faithful women- including Cleopatra and Philomela.
a) William Langland
b) Geoffrey Chaucer
c) Sir Thomas More
d) Richard Rolle
16.
William Langland wrote 'The Vision of Piers the Ploughman'.
a) William Langland
b) Geoffrey Chaucer
c) Sir Thomas More
d) Richard Rolle
17.
Utopia is known as 'Kingdom of Nowhere', was published in Latin
by..............., it quickly became famous and was translated into many
languages.
a) William Langland
b) Geoffrey Chaucer
c) Sir Thomas More
d) Richard Rolle
18.
'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' is a story about................
a) King Arthur
b) King Hrothgar
c) King Charles
d) King Henry
19.
.....................wrote 'The Form of Perfect Living' which is full of
religious teachings.
a) Sir Thomas Malory
b) John Wycliffe
c) Richard Rolle
d) Geoffrey Chaucer
20.
..................arranged the production of the Bible in simple English and
also translated some parts of it, before this, the Bible was only available in
Latin.
a) Sir Thomas Malory
b) John Wycliffe
c) Richard Rolle
d) Geoffrey Chaucer
21.
....................wrote
'MorteD'Arthur' [Death of the Arthur's] while he was in prison.
a) Sir Thomas Malory
b) John Wycliffe
c) Richard Rolle
d) Geoffrey Chaucer
22.
..............plays also known as Saint Plays, were
presented at Easter and on other holy days.
a) Drama
b) Interludes
c) Morality Plays
d) Miracle or Mystery
23.
The
characters in the Morality plays are not..............
a) insects
b) human beings
c) animals
d) birds
24.
............................were short plays that provided comic relief in
between the acts of long Morality plays or in the middle of meals.
a) Drama
b) Interludes
c) Morality Plays
d) Miracle or Mystery
25.
From
the.......................onwards, London dialect of English became dominant in
literature.
a) 14th century
b) 13th century
c) 12th century
d) 11th century
26. The Middle English Period begins in 1066 and
extends to around............
a) 1300
b) 1400
c) 1500
d) 1600
Group
B
Answer
the following questions.
1.
Discuss the contribution of different writers in the development of literature
in the Middle English period.
This period
became a fertile ground for literature, basically in the field of poetry,
prose, and drama. Most of the literary works in this period were religious in
theme- mainly influenced by the Bible. But other works had adventures, rustic
life, familial matters, and moral lessons as their subject matters. These works
taught moral lessons and religious ways of life.
Geoffrey Chaucer
is the first original genius in the haqur history of English literature. He is
often regarded as eins the father of English poetry. He was the son of a wine
merchant but later became duke, diplomat, and then the personal attendant of
the King. He had a wide knowledge of Latin, French, and Italian poetry. He was
born in 1340 and died in 1400 AD. He used rhyme in his poetry. His English
language used in poetry was far easier than Old English used in Beowulf. The
Canterbury Tales, Romaunt of the Rose, and Troilus and Criseyde are Chaucer's
famous poetic works.
Historians
know very little about William Langland, however, they claim that he wrote 'The
Vision of Piers the Ploughman'. This poem is a famous example of old
alliterative verse.
More
used to write both in Latin and English languages. Though his only creation,
Utopia is known as 'Kingdom of Nowhere', was published in Latin, it quickly
became famous and was translated into many languages. In Utopia, all problems
of justice, religion, society, government and labour are settled easily through
simple judgments. Utopia is an allegorical work bound and it is More's vision
to have his country better in all the regards.
Richard Rolle
wrote 'The Form of Perfect Living' which is full of religious teachings. It
gives detailed moral lessons on how to work, dress, live, talk and behave in
society.
Wycliffe was a
priest who criticized many religious ideas and the Church of his time. He
believed in a direct relationship between humanity and God, without priestly
mediation. He believed that by close reading to the Bible, Christians would
govern themselves without the help of the Popes and other religious teachers.
He arranged the production of the Bible in simple English and also translated
some parts of it. Before this, the Bible was only available in Latin. After he
was dead and buried, his opponents dug up his bones and threw them in the River
Avon.
Sir Thomas
Malory was a violent man, who had been to prison several times. He wrote
'MorteD'Arthur' [Death of the Arthur's] while he was in prison. This book is a
collection of various tales about King Arthur and his knight's adventurers, who
followed the Christian way of life, bravery, love and justice to the right
people by defeating the wrong ones. Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur falls in
love with Lancelot. Their love affair is the major cause of Arthur's ruin and
death. It also contains King Arthur's search for the cup, known as The Holy
Grail, used by the Christ at the Last Supper.
2.
What are the features of the Middle English period in English Literature?
The features of
the Middle English period in English literature are use of rhyme in poetry,
religious influence, the emergence of anti-religious tone in writing, beginning
of the dramas, and printed texts.
i) Use of Rhyme
in Poetry: The
major focus of Old English poetry was alliteration whereas the Middle English
poetry emphasized rhyme. The rhyme was less or not in practice in Old English
poems. However, alliteration was not or totally replaced by rhyme and it
remained in use side by side but less common than rhyme. Some Middle English
poets practised rhyming patterns along with alliteration in the poems. The
perfect use of the rhyming pattern is found in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.
ii) Religious
Influence: During
this period, most of the prose works and dramas had religious influence. The
characters were also related to religious background. They taught rules of
life, morality, and religious sermons. "The Form of Perfect Living"
an essay by Richard Rolle and the Miracle plays are some examples of religious
influence.
iii) The
Emergence of Anti-religious Tone in Writing: Though many texts had religious
tone or subject matter, some of the writers like John Wycliffe raised voice
against religion and religious ideas in their writings. Wycliffe translated the
Bible in simple English language thinking that all the people could read it
though reading the Bible by the common people was not allowed during the
period.
iv) Beginning of
the Dramas: Middle
English literature is highly praised for Miracle and Morality plays. In this
period, the tradition of both writing drama and acting of them in public began
taking institutional shape. Miracle plays were serious and had religious
intentions. They had the characters from the Bible. Morality plays taught moral
lessons and had abstract characters like virtue, greed, vice, etc. Noah's Flood
is a good example of Miracle play and Everyman is of the Morality play.
Interludes were performed in the middle of long Morality plays. They were funny
in nature and had a humorous tone. They were acted in the middle to amuse the
audience because the audience would be tired of watching long and monotonous
Morality plays.
v) Printed
Texts: After
the invention of Caxton's printing press in 1476, most of the major books and
manuscripts of the earlier books were printed and distributed in many major
cities. Many schools and colleges were established in place of the monasteries
and books were made available for the readers. It brought a great change in
thoughts and possibilities of learning.
3.
What is the contribution of Geoffrey Chaucer in Middle English Literature?
Discuss.
Geoffrey Chaucer
is the first original genius in the history of English literature. He is often
regarded as the father of English poetry. He was the son of a wine merchant but
later became duke, diplomat, and then the personal attendant of the King. He
had a wide knowledge of Latin, French, and Italian poetry. He was born in 1340
and died in 1400 AD. He used rhyme in his poetry. His English language used in
poetry was far easier than Old English used in Beowulf. The Canterbury Tales,
Romaunt of the Rose, and Troilus and Criseyde are Chaucer's famous poetic
works.
It is a
realistic piece of literature that gives a clear picture of the 14th century
England. The characters in this poem are from all sectors of life - rich and
poor, good and bad, man and woman etc. It contains 17,000 lines that weigh
about half of Chaucer's literary production. It is a series of different kinds
of stories told by a group of pilgrims who are on their way to Canterbury, a
religious place, the shrine of St. Thomas Becket. It contains 22 tales told by
different pilgrims in verse. Among the pilgrims are the monk, the nun, the
priest, the friar (the begging monk), the merchant, the lawyer, the doctor, the
cook, the sailor, the carpenter, the knight and the Wife of Bath, who is the
most enjoyable character in the epic.
"The Wife
of Bath" has five husbands. She had travelled to Jerusalem and Rome. She
is a woman who desires to tightly control her husbands. She is like a modern
woman with her firm sexuality and independence. The Monk and The Friar do not
live a religious life. The Monk has a passion for hunting and loves roasted
swan while the Friar is corrupt and married many times. He asks people to give
him money so that people would go to heaven. The Farmer and the Knight are
good, helpful and honest characters in the poem. Most of the characters in the
poem are like real people with both good and bad attributes.
His next poem
Troylus and Criseyde (written in the 1380s) is a story of love and betrayal
which is full of moral overtones. It is about a faithless woman Criseyde. The
background of the poem is the Trojan War. Troylusfalls in love with widowed
Criseyde and wins her love. But later, she falls in love with Greek Diomede and
betrays Troylus. Troylus becomes bold and cruel in battles and is eventually
killed by Achilles.
The Legend of
Good Women is the next poem by Chaucer which gives accounts of loving and
faithful women- including Cleopatra and Philomela.
4.
Who are the famous prose writers in the Middle English Period? Briefly explain.
Middle English
prose was basically dominated by religious subjects and themes. From the
tradition of the Old English Chronicles, it shifted to the tradition of writing
original prose. Many writers like Richard Rolle, John Wycliffe, Thomas Malory
contributed to the development of prose during the period.
i. Richard Rolle
Richard Rolle
wrote 'The Form of Perfect Living' which is full of religious teachings. It
gives detailed moral lessons on how to work, dress, live, talk and behave in
society.
ii. John
Wycliffe
Wycliffe was a
priest who criticized many religious ideas and the Church of his time. He
believed in a direct relationship between humanity and God, without priestly
mediation. He believed that by close reading to the Bible, Christians would
govern themselves without the help of the Popes and other religious teachers.
He arranged the production of the Bible in simple English and also translated
some parts of it. Before this, the Bible was only available in Latin. After he
was dead and buried, his opponents dug up his bones and threw them in the River
Avon.
iii. Sir Thomas
Malory
Sir Thomas
Malory was a violent man, who had been to prison several times. He wrote
'MorteD'Arthur' [Death of the Arthur's] while he was in prison. This book is a
collection of various tales about King Arthur and his knight's adventurers, who
followed the Christian way of life, bravery, love and justice to the right
people by defeating the wrong ones. Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur falls in
love with Lancelot. Their love affair is the major cause of Arthur's ruin and
death. It also contains King Arthur's search for the cup, known as The Holy
Grail, used by the Christ at the Last Supper.
5.
How did the drama develop in the Middle English Period?
Middle English
period introduced Miracle and Morality plays in English literature. The plays
have religious subjects, themes and characters. Both the plays intend to teach
goodness to the people. In comparison to Miracle plays, Morality plays are long
and have interludes for entertainment in the middle.
i. Miracle or
Mystery Play
The subject
matters of Miracle or Mystery plays were the miracles performed by the saints.
The stories were mainly from the Bible. Miracle plays, also known as Saint
Plays, were presented at Easter (festival commemorating the resurrection of
Jesus Christ) and on other holy days. During those days, very few people could
read the Bible which was then written in Latin. So, the clergymen managed these
types of plays to teach and explain the doctrinal truths of religion to the
ignorant peasants. These plays were performed in a movable stage that could be
moved from one place to another on wheels. These plays were in four main
groups, according to the city where they were acted: Chester, Coventry, York
and Wakefield. Often several Miracle plays were performed at the same time in
different places. One of the best examples of Miracle plays is Noah's Flood.
Though Miracle plays were religious, people used to entertain different
situations and performances by the natural characters in them.
ii. Morality
Plays
Morality plays
are different from Miracle plays regarding the characters. The subject matters
are almost similar in both the types, but the characters in the Morality plays
are not human beings. Rather, they are the abstract qualities of virtue and
vice-like revenge, greed, beauty, flesh, lechery, strength, pride, envy, hope,
charity, sin, etc. These plays became popular in the 15th and the early 16th
centuries. These plays were designed to instruct moral truth to people in the
Christian way of life and the Christian attitude towards death. Their general
theme is the conflict between good and evil in the human soul. However, the
play always ends with the saving of the soul and the triumph of good over evil.
The best known
of the Morality plays is Everyman, which probably was derived from a Dutch
source. In the play, the protagonist, Everyman, learns that every material he
has gained in life deserts him as he starts his journey into the Valley of
Death. When death calls him away from the world, all the characters like
Beauty, Knowledge, Strength, and Pride leave him except the Good Deeds which
follow him until last. Saying:
Everyman, I will
go with thee and be thy guide,
In thy most need
to be by thy side.
iii. Interludes
Interludes were
short plays that provided comic relief in between the acts of long Morality
plays or in the middle of meals. They were intended to cause laughter among the
audiences. They were short plays only with two or three actors that would
excite the audience and remove the boredom. They were not acted in Churches but
colleges, gardens, and parties. The Four P's' and 'The Play of the Weather'
were the popular interludes written by John Heywood during the Middle English
Period.
6.
How did language development take place in the Middle English period? Explain.
During the
beginning of the Middle English period, there was the influence of Old English
structure and pronunciation in day to day communication. But the Norman
Conquest increased the influence of French language as the language of the
upper class people, courts, schools, and literature. French literature and
language became popular among the people.
The English
language was highly influenced by French literature, vocabulary, forms, and
themes. Side by side, Latin maintained its role as the language of learned
people in high-level literary works. English remained as the language of the
common people. Gradually, many writers started writing in English. They used
Old English alliteration in their poems. Later, Chaucer and his followers used
rhyme instead of alliteration. They started using modified and simple English
so that the general people could read well.
The emergence of
English national spirit during the wars with France fueled their consciousness
too. During this period, many of the Old English grammatical features were
simplified. Some of them disappeared and were replaced by the new ones. Most of
the nouns, adjectives and verbs were simplified. Similarly, the vocabulary of
the day to day communication was dominated by Germanic sources. There were also
the apparent influences of the Old Norse language in English during the period.
Pronunciation
changed over time and long vowels and diphthongs were used in English. Early
Modern dialect of English became popular and Caxton's press and books began to
be circulated in large number. Personal pronouns were borrowed from the Old
English language and adjectives took -er and -est in comparatives and
superlatives respectively. In most of the cases, there were not silent letters
like in and know in Middle English.
From
the 14th century onwards, London dialect of English became dominant in
literature. Midland dialect was also in practice. Most of the authors wrote in
London dialect and this became a popular language in most of the areas.
East-Midland dialect became more standard and popular in the latter half of the
14th century.
7.
Write short notes on:
a)
The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
is the first original genius in the history of English literature. He is often
regarded as the father of English poetry. He was the son of a wine merchant but
later became duke, diplomat, and then the personal attendant of the King. He had
a wide knowledge of Latin, French, and Italian poetry. He was born in 1340 and
died in 1400 AD. He used rhyme in his poetry. His English language used in
poetry was far easier than Old English used in Beowulf. The Canterbury Tales,
Romaunt of the Rose, and Troilus and Criseyde are Chaucer's famous poetic
works.
The Canterbury
Tales is a realistic piece of literature that gives a clear picture of the 14th
century England. The characters in this poem are from all sectors of life -
rich and poor, good and bad, man and woman etc. It contains 17,000 lines that
weigh about half of Chaucer's literary production.
It is a series
of different kinds of stories told by a group of pilgrims who are on their way
to Canterbury, a religious place, the shrine of St. Thomas Becket. It contains
22 tales told by different pilgrims in verse. Among the pilgrims are the monk,
the nun, the priest, the friar, the merchant, the lawyer, the doctor, the cook,
the sailor, the carpenter, the knight and the Wife of Bath, who is the most
enjoyable character in the epic.
b)
Miracle or Mystery Plays.
Middle English
period introduced Miracle and Morality plays in English literature. The plays
have religious subjects, themes and characters. Both the plays intend to teach
goodness to the people. In comparison to Miracle plays, Morality plays are long
and have interludes for entertainment in the middle.
The subject
matters of Miracle or Mystery plays were the miracles performed by the saints.
The stories were mainly from the Bible. Miracle plays, also known as Saint
Plays, were presented at Easter (festival commemorating the resurrection of
Jesus Christ) and on other holy days. During those days, very few people could
read the Bible which was then written in Latin. So, the clergymen managed these
types of plays to teach and explain the doctrinal truths of religion to the
ignorant peasants.
These plays were
performed in a movable stage that could be moved from one place to another on
wheels. These plays were in four main groups, according to the city where they
were acted: Chester, Coventry, York and Wakefield. Often several Miracle plays
were performed at the same time in different places. One of the best examples
of Miracle plays is Noah's Flood. Though Miracle plays were religious, people used
to entertain different situations and performances by the natural characters in
them.
c)
Morality Plays
Middle English
period introduced Miracle and Morality plays in English literature. The plays
have religious subjects, themes and characters. Both the plays intend to teach
goodness to the people. In comparison to Miracle plays, Morality plays are long
and have interludes for entertainment in the middle.
Morality plays
are different from Miracle plays regarding the characters. The subject matters
are almost similar in both the types, but the characters in the Morality plays
are not human beings. Rather, they are the abstract qualities of virtue and
vice-like revenge, greed, beauty, flesh, lechery, strength, pride, envy, hope,
charity, sin, etc. These plays became popular in the 15th and the early 16th
centuries. These plays were designed to instruct moral truth to people in the
Christian way of life and the Christian attitude towards death. Their general
theme is the conflict between good and evil in the human soul. However, the
play always ends with the saving of the soul and the triumph of good over evil.
The
best known of the Morality plays is Everyman, which probably was derived from a
Dutch source. In the play, the protagonist, Everyman, learns that every
material he has gained in life deserts him as he starts his journey into the
Valley of Death. When death calls him away from the world, all the characters
like Beauty, Knowledge, Strength, and Pride leave him except the Good Deeds
which follow him until last.
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