Part Ii.--Middle English Period (_1066-1350_).

Forces at Work.--Effects of the Norman Conquest. Growth of feudalism. The struggle between the king and barons, and between ecclesiastical and civil power. The spread of monastic orders; the development of Parliament and constitution. The wars with Scotland, France and Wales; the growth of towns and industries. The foundation of universities and the growth of scholarship. The beginnings of chivalry and the spirit of romance.

Literary Features.--The disappearance of Anglo-Saxon as a literary language. The predominance of Latin and French works until the 13th century. The gradual merging of Norman and Anglo-Saxon into English; the clash of dialects and the final triumph of the West Midland speech; the subsequent struggle between Latin, French, and native models in poetry and prose. Note the decrease in anonymous works (but lack of detail regarding most authors), and the absence of any great literary figure. Poetry predominates and attains new forms in the metrical romance and the lyric. The revival of alliteration at the end of the period. The growth of rhymed models.

1. ANGLO-LATIN LITERATURE.--Note influence of Paris and Oxford. (a) Chroniclers: William of Malmesbury. Henry of Huntingdon. Geoffrey of Monmouth. William of Newburgh. Jocelin of Brakelond. Giraldus Cambrensis. Walter Map. Matthew Paris, (b) Scholars and Philosophers: Anselm. John of Salisbury. Alex. Neckham. Robert Grosseteste. Roger Bacon. Richard de Bury. Duns Scotus. William of Occam.

2. ANGLO-FRENCH LITERATURE.--Gaimer and Wace, and their influence on the rhyming chroniclers. Religious and didactic works and their English counterparts. The Norman romantic spirit and its influence on popular literature.

3. MIDDLE ENGLISH PROSE.--“The Ancren Riwle.” “Ayenbit of Inwit.”

4. POETRY OF THE TRANSITION.--(a) The Rhyming Chronicles: Layamon. Robert of Gloucester. Mannynge of Brunne. Laurence Minot. (b) Religious and Didactic: (i) The “Ormulum.” “Owl and the Nightingale.” “Proverbs of Alfred.” “Poema Morale.” (ii) “Proverbs of Hendyng.” “Cursor Mundi.” “Pricke of Conscience.” “Handlynge Synne.” (c) Metrical Romances: The Carlovingian, Arthurian, Roman, and other romance “cycles.” (d) Tales in Verse: Fabliaux, moral tales, beast stories, and satirical pieces. Story collections like the “Gesta Romanorum” and the “Seven Sages of Rome.” (e) Lyric and Miscellaneous: Songs of love and religion. Political Songs. (f) The Alliterative Revival: “Pearl,” “Cleanness,” “Patience,” “Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight.”

5. ORIGINS OF THE DRAMA.--Mummery, miracle plays, and mysteries.

6. OUTLINES OF WELSH AND IRISH LITERATURE.