Middle english literature in the 14th and 15th century

MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE 14TH AND 15TH CENTURY
The 14th century can be characterized by these important events or historical changes:
The beginning of the 100 years war with France
The peasants revolt and the decline of the feudal system
The new use of English in legal courts, parliament and in schools
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The 14th Century saw the rise of the peasant classes in England and the implementation once again of the English language
During the 1340’s and the 1380’s the purchasing power of laborers increased by about 40 percent.
The other characteristic of this time, was that the people began to question the authority of the Roman Church.
John Wycliffe, an Oxford professor and a Roman Catholic, began to contend that the Bible was the “supreme authority” and not the clergy.
15TH CENTURY
The fifteenth century was marked by the famous “War of the Roses” which was the legendary thirty year war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York which broke out in 1455.
Many scholars refer to the 15th century as a “barren time” for English literature, but that is not necessarily true.
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The fifteenth century was called the “Century of the Ballad” as Chaucerians (or followers of Chaucer’s work) both in England and Scotland composed some beautiful ballads including the “Ballad of Chevy Chase” and the Robin Hood Ballads
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Robin Hood
Through retellings, additions, and variations, a body of familiar characters associated with Robin Hood has been created.
There have been numerous variations and adaptations of the story over the subsequent years, and the story continues to be widely represented in literature, film, and television
Robin Hood
Thanks for attention