MB UNIUD

THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERATURE

• Ø BEOWULF is the oldest surviving British poetry. It dates from 1000, but the Author and place are unknown. It is in old English. It tells the deeds of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero, who fights first against a monster and a dragon by whom he is mortally wounded.

• Ø By the 14^th C French and English had amalgamated, "they" used Middle English the dialect of London, Oxford and Cambridge. The narrative-descriptive poem was popular, in particular "THE CANTERBURY TALES" by Chaucer. It tells about 29 pilgrims. They told some stories (24) during a pilgrimage to Canterbury. Chaucer's characters, aren't nobility or serves, but he describes characters from the feudal, ecclesiastical and urban class.

• Ø The Ballad was an oral anonymous form. It consisted in a combination of verse, song and dance.

• v MYSTERY and MIRACLE PLAYS were used by the church to give a religious education thought the Bible.
• v MORALITY PLAYS had an educational aim. It told about values.