The Normans were
originally a strong race of sea-rovers inhabiting Scandinavia. The Normans
brought with them the culture and ideals of French civilization to England.
They also brought new Language and literature which the English gradually
absorbed. In fact, Saxon French combined together produced modern English.
About three centuries after the Norman Conquest, English was not used for
literary purpose. It seems the conquest destroyed English literature. Poetry
suffered more than prose. However, a new literature seems to have been produced
in England during the Middle English period.
Norman Conquest and its effects on English Literature:
The Norman Conquest brought as significance the massive figure
of French words which make English, vocabulary-wise almost as greatly a Romance
as a Teutonic language.
The most important of
old English prose after the conquest was the English chronicles and Winchester
Annals. However, with the accession of Henry II the English chronicles ceased
to exit. However, "The Ancrene Riwle" is the most important and
influential of the early prose text of the Middle English period. Its date is
difficult to decide but 14th century is regarded/ considered to be its date of
publication. It was written for three noble ladies who had become anchoress. It
was a manual to guide them in the life they had chosen. The guiding principles
in this rule were doubtlessly moderation in everything. The important characteristics
of the author are his humanity. The homely elements of the book attracted the
readers. The continuity of English prose has become common in literary
criticism and "Ancrene Riwle" gets connected with the prose of
Wuylfstan and it became clear in the authorized version of the Bible.
There was another
prose work "Ayenbite of Inwyt" written by "Dan Michel"
of North gate. It was written in 1340 and comes from Canterbury. It is a
translation of French work. From literary point of view it has little
importance, because it was dull. But from linguistic point of view it has some
importance because it presents the author's autograph. In this sense, it is one
of the most important texts of Middle English period.
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