British Literature Tuesday September 6, 2016 Day 26

British Literature Tuesday September 6, 2016 Day 26
ACTIVATOR: Read & Respond to article on Lennon’s “Imagine” ACTIVITIES: Voc. 3 Charades Review (QUIZ Friday!) - collect story activity Middle Ages – Intro. & Discuss Ballads - pgs. 205 – 207 (What makes “GUABTD” a ballad?) Last 10 Silent Reading (BRING BOOK!) SUMMARIZER: - Use voc. words correctly in context…

The Middle Ages –

The Medieval Period The period historically begins with the Norman conquest of 1066. The Normans were superb soldiers, excellent administrators and lawyers, great borrowers and adopters, but lacked creativity and inventiveness.

The Medieval Period In systems of government and in artistic design, the Anglo-Saxons were more advanced than the Normans. William Normandy introduced the feudal system, based on landholding by a great noble or king who “rented” the land out in return for allegiance and military service. This resulted in many property disputes.

The Medieval Period To alleviate the problem, in 1086 an inventory of all property was drawn up by the order of William and collected in the Domesday Book, which listed all landowners and their claims. This was used to settle disputes and to tax subjects.

The Medieval Period During William’s reign, English common law evolved, and the medieval church spread its influence. From papal proclamation came the Crusades, which engendered that ideal of knightly behavior which we call chivalry.

The Medieval Period The Medieval Era has been characterized as a period when “knights were bold and steeds were prancing.” The feudal system established a basis for class structure and class consciousness.

The Medieval Period Miracle plays based on stories of the saints and sacred history were also popular. The Morality Plays of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries developed from Miracle Plays.

The Medieval Period Ballads were a popular form as well
“a song that tells a story” (often shared in taverns)

Characteristics of Ballads -
Short simple plots Anonymously composed Often include a refrain / repetition Usually in 4 line stanzas Shared orally

Subjects of Ballads - Domestic issues False Love True Love
Husband / wife relationships

The Medieval Period Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, the major English medieval romance, uses stylized metrical structure. Malory’s Morte D’Arthur (the first major prose work in English) uses the subject matter of the romances, as well as historical accounts, folk legends, and previous writings.

Characteristics of Medieval Romance
A Tale of High Adventure. A religious crusade, a conquest for the knight’s lord/King, and/or the rescue of a captive lady (or any combination).

8 Characteristics (In brief):
Idealizes Chivalry (Code of Chivalry – hero- knights abided by this code) Idealizes the noble hero-knight and his daring deeds Women are idealized and held in high regard by hero-knight Imaginative, vast, fairytale like setting Mystery and supernatural elements abound Tale involves a quest for love and/or adventure by hero-knight Simple, predictable, inevitable plot

1. Medieval romance usually idealizes chivalry.
What is this? Honor, Respect, Loyalty, Courtesy, Gentlemanly Behavior, courage, Self-less acts. 1. Medieval romance usually idealizes chivalry.

2. Medieval romance idealizes the hero-knight and his noble deeds.
Is well respected And looked up to. There are usually High expectations Of him and he May have already Performed some Chivalrous and Brave, daring tasks. 2. Medieval romance idealizes the hero-knight and his noble deeds.

3. An important element of the medieval romance is the knight’s love for his lady, or high regard and respect for women in general.

“Once upon a Time in a faraway Land….” 4. The settings of medieval romance tend to be imaginative and often vast and fairytale like.

5. Medieval romance derives mystery and suspense from supernatural elements or characters. Witches, wizards and dragons were popular.

Medieval romance incorporates concealed or disguised identities of some characters. (Adds to the mystery and suspense.)

6. Our hero-knight must complete a quest for love or adventure and while doing so will perform daring deeds.

7. Medieval romances have a simple, predictable plot with some inevitable events. “Once upon a time… and they lived happily ever after.” Inevitable means unavoidable, can’t be stopped.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
One of MANY Romances… For more examples, you can visit:

British Literature Wednesday September 7, 2016 Day 27
ACTIVATOR: Write a sentence that includes 1 word from our current vocabulary unit (used correctly) and a participial phrase… ACTIVITIES: Voc. 3 Stories… (QUIZ Friday!) Intro Notes / handout Review / Finish Ballads - pgs. 207 (answer all study guide questions) Last 10 Silent Reading (BRING BOOK!) SUMMARIZER: - What are the traits of a Medieval Ballad?

British Literature Thursday September 8, 2016 Day 28
ACTIVATOR: Complete FRONTSIDE of sentence combining activity from table… ACTIVITIES: Voc. 3 Review Game (QUIZ tomorrow!) - complete 8 + charts to use on quiz… Introduce Romance Genre & Traits – Begin “Sir Gawain” Romance (pg. 176-) - discuss study questions Last 10 Silent Reading (BRING BOOK!) SUMMARIZER: - What are the traits of a Medieval Ballad?

Characteristics of the Medieval Romance
A Tale of High Adventure. A religious crusade, a conquest for the knight’s lord/King, and/or the rescue of a captive lady (or any combination).

7 Characteristics (In brief):
Idealizes Chivalry (Code of Chivalry – hero-knights abided by this code) Idealizes the noble hero-knight and his daring deeds Women are idealized and held in high regard by hero-knight Imaginative, vast, fairytale like setting Mystery and supernatural elements abound Tale involves a quest for love and/or adventure by hero-knight Simple, predictable, inevitable plot