Lernkarten
What is a major problem regarding authors in literary periods? Describe.
The problem of the Towering Author
There is one author in a period who is well known and all the other authors are subordinated. Eg Shakespeare
Why are there literary periods?
Giving a chronological order to the mass of texts, satisfying a profound need of human beings: eliminating chaos
What is the canon?
Books officialy approved by the church
Texts that are approved by cultural and academic establishements
Or the list of works of one author (Shakespeare canon)
-> Subject to change
What are gatekeepers?
Gatekeepers are those that influence the canon: literary critics, editors, teachers, booker price committee and so on
When were the Middle Ages?
ca. 500-1500
Arriving of Anglo-Saxons 499
What was before and after the Middel Ages?
Before: Ancient Greek and Rome
After: Renaissance, revival of ancient Greek and Rome = Early Modern
Features of the pre-English days
Celtic Tribes, Roman Colony, Norman Conquest 1066
Into which three peroids can the English Middle Ages be split? What are the main features of these periods
Old English Period: 499-1066, Beowulf in OE, Bede Histora ecclesiestica gentis anglorum
Anglo-Norman Period: 1066-1250 Romances and legal texts in French, Scientific and theological works in Latin, religious Prose in English Layamons Brut
Late medieval period: 1250-1500 English established as a literary language, Chaucer, Gower
