Middle Ages Lit Test ReviewThe focus of this test is the APPLICATION of concepts learned along the way as we explored medieval literature. There will be short answer, fill-in, multiple choice, and visual interpretation questions.

POINT OF INTEREST EXPLANATION QUESTIONS TO PONDER

frame story A story within a story What tales or other pieces of literature we have studied are examples of frame stories?

parable A brief story that usually teaches a lesson; HIGHLY symbolic

What piece(s) of lit are examples?WHY was this sort of lit popular during the M.A.?

exemplum A parable that focuses on a specific virtue or vice.

Which of the tales is an exemplum, and which virtue/vice did it exemplify?

Ballad (medieval) A poem set to a bouncy, sing-song rhythm; often tell stories; two-voice narration was common in these.

Why did this form of literature appeal to people during the Middle Ages?

chivalry A code of rules regard What were some of the laws of chivalry? What are some examples of them in the literature we’ve studied?

feudalism The dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.

How is this system evident throughout the medieval literature we’ve read? Think of specific examples from at least two stories.

romance A medieval tale of a chivalrous hero on a noble quest for something pure and good (often a lady, the Holy Grail, or honor)

Which pieces of literature we’ve studied qualify as romances? What other stories (books, movies, video games, etc.) qualify as romances?

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

*You should be very familiar with this story – both the portion in your textbook and the green handout summarizing everything that happened in the story before the textbook picks it up.

The 1st 42 lines of The Canterbury Tales

* TURN TO PAGE 123 IN YOUR TEXTBOOK RIGHT NOW AND REREAD THIS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR TEST.

Who? What? When? From where? To where? Why? How?

Geoffrey Chaucer Author of the Canterbury Tales

How did his life experiences contribute to his writing? What did he do for the integrity of the English language?

1066 This is quite possibly the most important turning point in all of British history. The Norman Invasion brought hundreds of years of language, arts, and culture to Britain.

So what?

Shift from Old English (OE) to Middle English (MA)

The Norman Invasion of 1066 brought Latin & French influence to English, making it sound more like it does today. These changes in lexicon, spelling, syntax, etc. allowed English to become more widely used (surprise surprise, it wasn’t always as popular as it is now and might not be forever).

What words in Modern English sound like they originated from before 1066? After?

The Crusades VERY long holy wars fought between Christians and

Evidence in literature?

Muslims. The contact it established with northern Africa and the middle east brought new ideas to Europe/Britain.

The Church “The Church” in medieval context refers to Christianity and its leaders. By this point in history most people in Britain were Christian, and its tenets permeated most areas of life.

What role did religion play in solidifying emerging national identity? In education? In art? In literature? What characters in literature we’ve studied are in religious orders?

The Plague Killed about 1/3 of Britain’s population during the middle ages.

In what ways did the plague affect the general outlook on life? How is this evident in art and literature?

Cuckolding tale Infidelity was a popular topic for tales told during the Middle Ages!

Examples? How does this relate to some of our baser forms of entertainments today?

satire The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of politics and other topical issues.

Identify instances of satire in The Canterbury Tales.

How do we use satire now?

Pilgrimage A journey taken for religious purposes, often to pay homage to a revered person or place.

Which VERY IMPORTANT piece of literature uses a pilgrimage as its outer frame? What modern day stories of pilgrimages do you know?

Women during the Middle Ages

What female roles are represented by characters in the literature we’ve studied? What seems to be Chaucer’s attitude toward women? How did the Church view women? How can you tell?

Some images to work on interpreting: