![]() This mass-produced material was way cheaper than the old, hand-written manuscripts. Bummer.īut with the arrival of the printing press, copies of popular works were being churned out faster than the speed of ten thousand monks' pens. Before then, if you weren't part of the educated elite-which basically meant the clergy and the nobility-you probably couldn't read or write. Say thanks to the nice monks.Īnd did we mention that most people were illiterate during the Middle Ages? The printing press doesn't show up in England until William Caxton brings it over in 1473. To make a long story short, lots of hunch-backed monks ruined their eyes and got epic cases of carpal tunnel syndrome so that we can get our Chaucer on. Since the manuscripts of the Middle Ages were all written and illustrated by hand-the word "manuscript" literally means written by hand-it was one long process. Literature became, in a way, much more democratic than before. So stories got (re)produced and disseminated far faster than ever before. Printing allowed for more people to actually go out and read the stuff coming off the presses for themselves. Once printing started, the oral literary tradition quickly became obsolete. Which is why we cut off the Medieval Period at about the time the printing press gets up and running. Many scops came and went before this bit o' bardic entertainment made it onto the page. The story of Beowulf existed for hundreds of years as a tale told by scops, who were like minstrels, only much beardier. Back then, human stories were passed from mouth to mouth-hopefully without spreading the Black Death, womp womp-before being written down in manuscript. There is some method to the madness of these literary epochs, though.Ĭonsider, for a moment, how a lot of early medieval literature circulated orally. It's not as if people woke up every morning in the 14th century, rolled out of bed, and said, "Alas, I'm still in the medieval period. Of course, scholars came up with these period divisions long after the Renaissance. So, we're talking from the end of the Classical period, when people flitted around in togas, to the Renaissance, when women flitted around in cumbersome Elizabethan attire and manly men wore tights.įor those of you who are keeping score-and we hope you are-that's about one thousand years of literature. The phrase "Medieval English literature" refers to works that were produced in England from about the fall of Rome (the late 400s CE) to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century. Probably because it spanned a really, really long time. ![]() In actuality, the Medieval Period's got something for everyone. These kings, jesters, knights, and maidens fair (and ugly) are all lifted straight from medieval literature.Īnd you thought you might be in for a real snooze fest with this one. If you guessed "Things I Saw On My Last Trip to Las Vegas," you lose. A woman who sees visions of Jesus and warns people to repent their sins.Truly righteous jousting tournaments with armored knights.A rude red-haired guy telling a highly-embellished fart joke.A king wielding a magical sword named Excalibur.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |