What is the effect of the Norman Conquest on English Literature?

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.