TRUE STORY OF ENGLISH PART-THREE:NORMAN CONQUEST TO GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Dear Readers, keeping brevity in mind, I have compressed 300 years of
English History, mentioning only the Salient Features of its Language and
Literature in Verse in this Part-Three . Hope you find this simplified version easy to read
with useful Foot Notes at the end! Should you type the Title of this poem on Google Search , you will find that this verse has been listed on their permanent web reference page ! Thanks , -Raj .
TRUE STORY OF ENGLISH PART-THREE:
NORMAN INVASION TO CHAUCER
(1066 - 1400 AD)
**By RAJ NANDY**
A SHORT INTRODUCTION
The Normans were once wild pagan Norsemen, who in
the distant past ,
Had settled in Normandy, in the north-western corner of
France . (End 8th century)
Later became normalized, and while absorbing the Frankish
culture became Christianized !
When Emma, sister of the Duke of Normandy Richard the
Second,
In 1002 married King Ethelred the King of all England;
The foundation for the future Norman Invasion of England
got laid !
For their son Edward, who later became the last Anglo-
Saxon English King ,
Had died issueless naming Harold, the Earl of Wessex and
Kent, to succeed him !
But young William of Normandy- the grandson of Richard
the Second ,
Claimed the English throne as its rightful heir in the blood
line of descent !
With the Battle of Hastings which followed we are mostly
familiar ;
The death of King Harold and the accession of William the
Conqueror ! (1066AD)
Now King William the first Norman-English King ,
Brought Norman administrators and clergies with him !
Those Normans represented a higher refined culture,
And possessed their native language and literature ;
So the development of Vernacular English Literature
remained suppressed for almost 1500 years !
Norman-French was spoken, while Latin became the
written language of the court and its courtiers!
These Normans ushered in the feudal system building
many stone castles,
Subjugated the local population with stern measures, -
as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle !
This Anglo-Saxon Chronicle initiated by King Alfred,
Continued for a century after the Battle of Hastings ;
When the West Saxon Dialect was laid to rest with no
further postings !
Mutual hatred between Saxons and Normans softened
only after the loss of Normandy; (1204)
But the English Language took three hundred years to
establish itself, as we shall presently see !
Norman Conquest and English Literature :
Background
Those who have read Part One of this Story may recall,
The ancient Celts had settled in Normandy before it
became Julius Cesar’s Roman Gaul ! (96AD)
The Franks became its major ethnic group after the fall
of Rome ; (Normandy 5th century AD)
And the Vikings later got absorbed and baptized there ,
Shedding their ancient pagan syndrome !
So when the Norman conquerors came to England they
brought three important things ;- (1066)
A lively Celtic disposition, a vigorous and progressive
Lain civilization, and a Romance language,- amongst
many other things ;
And against this backdrop dear readers my present Story
begins !
The Old Norse strength and grandeur, their stirring
sagas and epics of heroic adventure were now absent!
And in its place the Normans brought a bright, varied,
talkative literature of endless verses ;
Making a romance out of everything it touches !
These romantic tales of love and adventure were in
contrast to the strength and somberness of Anglo-Saxon
poetry;
For now the clergy spoke Latin, and French was spoken
by the upper class gentry !
Both Historians and Linguists agree, that the next three
hundred years till the coming of Chaucer, -
Was more important for the History of English Language ,
rather than its Literature !
Poetry and Literature :
English literature in the reign of King John saw a gradual
revival ,
With Laymon’s ‘Chronical of Brutus’; ‘Ancren Riwale’;
‘Ormulum’; and the ‘Robert of Gloucester’s Chronicle’!
Laymon, an English parish priest of Worcestershire,
Was the first to compose for his people a History entire!
Inspired by Norman-French chronicle ‘Roman de Brut’,
Which was a long rhymed French chronicle of mythical
British History;
Laymon narrates the destruction of Troy and flight of
Aeneas, from whom descended Brutus the mythical
founder of British Monarchy !
He uses doggerel alliterative verses common to Medieval
English poetry !
‘Ancren Riwle’ or ‘Anchorites Rule’, a code of monastic
regulations or precepts;
Forms this period’s most important prose text!
It uses more French words than Laymon, and arouses our
linguist’s and grammarian’s interest all the more !
‘Ormulum’, a series of homilies in meter without alliteration,
Exhibits a more advanced composition than Laymon ;
And appears to be more English than Anglo-Saxon in its
content and form !
Finally, the ‘Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester,’- from the
siege of Troy to the death of King Henry III, a narrative of
British and English History ;
Where the author clothed in rhyme the fables of Geoffrey
of Monmouth’s Latin History !
Robert’s chronicle is the oldest historical verse in the
English language from the 13th Century;
Where philologists study the bilingual elements in the
English Language story !
An extract from this chronicle is given below with a
translation ,
For readers to form some idea and impression!
“Thus came lo ! Engelonde into Normannes honed,
And the Normans ne couthe speke tho bote her owe speche,
And speke French as dude at om, and here chyldren dude also
tech.”
(“Thus lo! England came into the land of the Normans, and
the Normans could not speak then but their own speech,
and spoke French, as they did at home, and their children
did all so teach.’’)
The Romances :
Having covered some salient secular English literature,
I now briefly cover the Romances before getting on to
Geoffrey Chaucer.
These Romances as the chief form of secular literature
began in mid-12th century;
Especially the metrical (verse) romances with its literary
expression of chivalry !
Composed by professional minstrels, some of whom
during Anglo-Saxon times,
Were supported and rewarded by kings and nobles
many a time !
Here the readers may recall, Scott’s ‘The Lay of the
Last Minstrel’with bards reciting from memory in
those great mead halls !
There were mainly four classes of Romances in vogue;
Those derived from French epics about Charlemagne
against the Saracens and his military exploits;
Romances narrating stories of antiquity about Alexander
the Great and the downfall of Troy !
Also the Arthurian Romances; and the Miscellaneous ones
like ‘Havelok’ and ‘King Horn’;
But the Arthurian Romances became most popular and
well known later on !
These legends about the mythical King Arthur had its
roots in ancient Welsh Literature;
Based on traditional British history and culture !
Geoffrey of Monmouth an ecclesiastic of Welsh descent,
Enlarged the legend of Arthur by adding figures like
Merlin, Lady Guinevere and Gawain !
With time Geoffrey’s story received universal credence
amongst the westerners ,
Finding a place in European literature with the works
of later romancers !
The Age of Chaucer: English Language and
Literature:
English Language :
The Normans had brought the supremacy of West Saxon
dialect to an end ,
And many local dialects mushroomed once again all over
England !
Finally three main dialects developed in this language story;
Southern, East and West Midland, and Northern dialects,
- all with different form and vocabulary ;
And literary activity got distributed equally among these
three !
The Norman kings replaced Winchester with London as
their new capital city ,
Which became the seat of their Court and Parliament, -
thereby creating history !
During the 12th and 13th centuries Oxford and Cambridge
blossomed as Universities respectively;
And East Midland was the dialect spoken there, including
the London city !
In 1632 the Statute of Pleading made English the official
language of England as a permanent feature ;
But it is Geoffrey Chaucer who is credited for making the
East Midland dialect as the language of English Literature !
The Fourteenth Century :
It was a turbulent period of war, plague and social revolt;
A time of much political, religious and industrial discontent;
Which gets reflected in the literary movement of the age !
Langland’s ‘The Vision of Piers the Ploughman’ reflects the
many hardships of the peasants of the time ;
Using Old English alliterative lines without rhyme ,
Langland presents an allegory of Life, and a satire on
the ecclesiastical abuses of his time !
William Langland while voicing social discontent, also
preached equality of men and dignity of labour ;
While John Wycliffe the religious reformer, gave the first
Gospel in the English tongue for his people to savour !
We have John Gower the scholar and literary man, criticizing
his time through allegorical narratives best as he can ;
Sir John Mandeville the ‘Father of English Prose’ and
story-teller, who’s works became the best seller !
And finally Geoffrey Chaucer, the literary genius and the
pioneer of poetic forms ;
The ‘Father of English Poetry’ with his inventive literary
reforms !
Three Literary Periods of Chaucer :
Keeping brevity in mind while narrating my English Story,
I am not getting into the details of Chaucer’s life history !
Chaucer had served three English Kings successfully;
A courtier and a diplomat during his chequered career ;
His experience helping him to become a creative poet
and a writer !
His work is generally divided into French, Italian and
the English period ;
Where French lyrics, and the writings of Italian Boccacio
and Petrarch, manifest their influence !
The French Period: ( Till 1372)
Chaucer’s earliest poems are closely modeled upon the
French originals;
Of such ‘The Romaunt of the Rose’ being the longest;
An allegorical poem composed in octosyllabic couplets!
‘The Book of Duchesse’ written in 1369 after the death
of Blanche, -
Wife of John of Gaunt, who was Chaucer’s patron and
benefactor,
Both in his career and in his literary endeavor!
The Italian Period : (1372-1384)
This period covers his mission abroad to Italy, Pisa,
Genoa, Florence and Lombardy ;
Where he came in contact with works of Dante, Petrarch,
and Boccaccio;
And their influence on Chaucer’s later works did show!
This period shows a marked advance in the handling of
the meters,
Where his technical ability is even far greater !
With greater stretch of originality and keenness of
perception;
‘Troilus and Criseyde’ being considered his best lyrical
narration !
Written in his innovative Rhyme Royal, or the seven line
Chaucerian Stanza, rhymed ab ab bcc;
Which in the opening stanza of ‘Troilus and Criseyde’,
we can clearly see :-
“The double solwe of Troilus to tellen,……… a
That was the king Priamus sone of Troye,…b
In lovinge, how his adventures fellen,……….a
Fro wo to wele, and after out of loye,……… b
My purpose is, er that I parte fro ye,……… b
Thesphone, than help me for tendyte,……….c
Thise woful vers, that wepen as I wryt”…….c
("To tell the double sorrow in his love that Troilus, son of King Priam
of Troy had, how his lot passed from woe to joy and afterwards to
woe again, this my purpose before I part from you. Thisphone, help
me to compose these dolorous verses, that drop like tears from my pen!")
‘The Legend of Good Women’ by Chaucer is the first known
attempt in English to use the Heroic Couplet;
Where he plans to narrate nineteen tales of virtuous women
of antiquity;
But narrating only eight, he leaves the legend incomplete
for posterity !
The English Period : (1385-1400)
Here we find the greatest of Chaucer’s individual
accomplishments;
His most famous and well known composition being
‘The Canterbury Tales’!
It is a fictional account in a historical setting of the times,
Where Chaucer uses variations in his poetic rhymes !
The story begins in the month of April at the Tabard Inn ,
with 29 pilgrims, - a motley gathering!
These pilgrims represent a cross section of English society;
On their way to visit the shrine of St Thomas a Becket
at Canterbury !
The host of the inn proposes to spend the time with some
entertainment and fun ,
So each pilgrim were to narrate two tales during their onward
journey, and two more on return !
The best story teller was to be awarded with a free meal
and a toast, - as judged at the end by the Host !
Form and Characterization of Canterbury Tales :
Out of some hundred tales planned only 24 remains
completed by Chaucer;
Who fills his stories with astonishing variety of vividly
portrayed characters !
Some stories like 'The Knight’s Tale' are drawn from the
romances of chivalry;
While 'The Monk’s Tale' deal with moralizing scriptural
stories !
In an age of allegorical abstractions in Literature, Chaucer’s
characters never become lifeless or shadowy creatures !
Be it the hot-tempered Miller, the sermonizing Pardoner;
Or the vivacious and experienced 'Wife of Bath' ,with her
‘transient blessings’ of five husbands;
And her mind contemplating the sixth, - her next !
Around 17,000 lines of the text are in ‘heroic’ verse,
With rhymed couplets and five accented syllables;
With the ‘Tale of Melibee’ and the ’Parson’s Tale’ in
prose - as exceptions !
Scholars of English Literature love to linger over the
Prologue of The Canterbury Tales ;
Where the 29 pilgrims are introduced by Chaucer in
dramatic and intimate details !
I quote the opening stanza in Middle English which give
us the month and time;
Do read aloud to hear the music present in these couplet
lines :-
“When that April with his shoures soothe
The droughte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
When zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heath
Tender croppesand the younge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
Thane lonen folk to goon on pilgrimage”
("When April with his showers sweet/ The drought of March has
pierced unto the root/And bathed each vein with liquor that has
power/To generate therein and sire the flower;/When Zephyr also
has with his sweet breath,/Quickened again, in every holt and heath,/
The tender shoots and buds and the young sun,/Into the Ram one half
his course has run,/And many little buds make melody/That sleep
through all the night with open eye/Then do folks long to go on
pilgrimage.")
CONCLUDING PART THREE :
Having narrated briefly the story of Middle English Language
and Literature,
I mentioned its greatest English poet Geoffrey Chaucer !
Chaucer’s age was the age of transition, which preceded
the Renaissance and the Reformation !
It witnessed the gradual decline of feudalism, chivalry, and
the Catholic Church ;
Also the Great Plague, the Peasant’s Revolt, rise of labour
and the Middle Class !
Chaucer gave English poetry that fire, vigor, life and color,
- raising it above mere rhymed prose ;
Modified the East Midland dialect using it as a medium
for English Literature, – from which vernacular literature
arose !
Chaucer had brought the Terza Rima into England, first
used by Dante in his Divine Comedy;
And invented the Rhyme Royal equipping English Poetry!
The actual life of the English society was represented by
Chaucer;
The imaginative life by Edmund Spencer; and the ideal
life by Shakespeare !
And finally I end here with this message, - “CHAUCER
HAD FOUND ENGLISH A DIALECT, AND LEFT IT A
LANGUAGE!”
(To be continued)
FOOT NOTES :-
It is important to remember that even before the Norman Conquest of 1066AD,
Edward the Confessor, who became King of England in 1042AD, -was the son of
Emma, sister of Richard II of Normandy ! Edward who had spent 30 years of his life in Normandy, had brought along advisors & clerics from France with him,-establishing
the French Connection ! The West Saxon Dialect established by King Alfred went out
use ! The upper class spoke Norman-French, the clergy spoke & wrote in Latin ; and
the Natives spoke their various local dialects, which was held in contempt by the Norman
Rulers of England! Walter Scott’s novel ‘Ivanhoe’ give us a glimpse of feudal England ! It became fashionable to translate & imitate French Literature those days & Chaucer was no exception initially ! Between 1100 -1300 the Troubadours of Southern France with their poems and ballads popularized the ideals of courtly love and chivalry ! They influenced Europe,& England was no exception ! King Henry II’s French wife Elenor, encouraged them in England ! Their influence is seen in Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ even a100 Year’s later! Therefore, decline of Anglo-Saxon poetry & English rhyme prior to Chaucer is not surprising! Main Difference between CHAUCER & LANGLAND was Linguistic & not Poetic ! Chaucer blends skillfully & harmoniously the foreign terms in his writings to appear like native-born words!Under Chaucer the East Saxon dialect of England advanced to pre-eminence & became the Standard for English Literature ! 'Terza Rima' used by Dante in 'Divine Comedy' early 14th century, had 3 lines per stanza with rhyme scheme aba, bcb, cdc...First English poet to use Terza Rima was Chaucer in his "Complaint to His Lady".Later used by Shelly in 'Ode to the West Wind'; by Browning in 'The Statue and the Bust'; also by WH Auden & Robert Frost . 'Rhyme Royal'=King James the First used the 'Chucerian Stanzas' for his compositions, so it became known as 'Rhyme Royal'!In 'The Pardoner's Tale' Chaucer uses the words-"Rum-Ram-Ruf', to mock the Alliterative verse in vogue, because he had presented English Literature with his innovative verses & rhyme !After William Caxton established the first Printing Press in Westminister in 1473, 'The Caterbury Tales' was the first book to get printed ! After his death in 1400 Chaucer was the first poet to be buried in the 'Poet's Corner' in Westminister Abbey! **ALL COPYRIGHTS ARE WITH RAJ NANDY OF NEW DELHI** E-Mail :- rajnandy21@yahoo.in
do you know National Geographic Channel? or Discovery? it feels like you're a poet who narrates it well... thank you so much for ever sharing your knowledge to your readers. As Mr. premji said it somewhere in the comment section, "you deserve knighthood for this exceptional work". Keep it up, my friend!
How are you Raj? And with the publication of your book in march 2012. Is it 100% OK? Love to read it! Eagerly waiting, Sylvia FC
dear raj ji, you deserve a knighthood for this exceptional work!
I look forward to reading all of this wonderful work.. I will take in parts as it is a long study. Thanks for this true treasure. Cat
My respect and salutation to one of the great living Historians!
Thanks dear Raj for your unequaled scholasticism on rise of English language through a series of centuries, i really admire and honor the way you narrate its history, Bravo!!!
Raj ji, very interesting. But sometimes I am confused. I think if you can give an abstract at the end with dates, places and events, it will be easier to remember.
Loved reading it!
every year, some 300 local languages die... power cannot kill a wonderful language! thanks for sharing...
Greateful to all my Readers who have taken the pains & some pleasure of reading this True Story in Verse ! Google has reflected all my compositions on their permanent web page as reference ! Hope to publish this series once I complete it ! Thanks for reading , & wishing you all a Happy New Year ! -Raj
Raj, it is always a pleasure and an education to visit your beautiful writings. How marvelous of you to share. Thank you so much! You go to great lengths to inform in great detail the facts of your writings...I applaude you for doing so and appreciate all you do...I think I am repeating myself so thank you again...12:13 a.m. here EST. Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
i am back again, Raj!! In one word as i remembered Geoffrey Chaucer (he was my fav. in this matter) he is a genius of his time, perhaps all time then his literature, he was the creator of some of the most celebrated poems of world literature. He also led a busy public life as a soldier, courtier, diplomat, civil servant and has held a variety of public functions. During that career he was the confidant and protégé of three successive kings, namely Edward III (1312-1377), Richard II (1367-1400) and Henry IV (1367-1413). Yet Chaucer took the time to write thousands of lines of verse which is still highly appreciated by lovers of literature and admired, he showed that the English of his day (now called Middle English) as well could be used in poetry as French or Latin, making it the title 'father of English literature concerned. Although he wrote many works, he is most renowned for his unfinished frame narrative The Canterbury Tales. SORRY RAJ, but u must write these down, my fav. about Geoffrey Chaucer (that because he had so many many things at the same time, he is a real genius!!) Chaucer's work is characterized by a wide variety of topics, genres and styles. He highlighted the human striving for a meaningful life in many ways. In his work he combines humor with seriousness and perspective in the treatment of important philosophical questions. Chaucer is a poet of love, which he describes in lustful adultery spiritual unity with God. He offers a comprehensive view of the weaknesses and follies, but also on the generosity of mankind. This IS Geoffrey Chaucer, my tutor before Sakespeare and Raj !!!!!
After finishing the text, I feel myself a little bit astonished, with so devotion you have painted the canvas of big history with so short strokes...amazing, very risky job no-doubt, but with such a fluent speed I have proceeded for the next to learn...that is your charisma to catch the reader with this raw material of history. You should be awarded for this work. Unprecedented by poetic form... the history of a language and literature. Should be honoured properly. Yes, Unprecedented is the right word to match. Flag it high again. After all we the readers are your official support for such work for the different language origin writers and poets who use English to communicate and the next generation of English origins. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! What a brilliant piece again, with that special ‘Raj Nandy Spark’ as ever! Borrowing a few lines from this very poem, and modifying it a bit, I should say that you have “brought a bright, varied, talkative literature of endless verses; Making magic out of everything you touch!” You make English Literature and all of us indebted to you. Thank you, Sir.
Thank you Raj, grateful for your dedication in sharing this great historical write.
Compressing 300 years of English history into a poetic version such as this must have been a humongous task, indeed. But this impressive work reflects your passion, zeal and sense of enjoyment and fulfillment. And in my opinion, this is the greatest wealth one could acquire in one's lifetime. Such feelings make all material gains fade into insignificance. Having been associated with academia, I can very well relate to this. I particularly like this part: "The actual life of the English society was represented by Chaucer; The imaginative life by Edmund Spencer; and the ideal life by Shakespeare !"
thanks for your herculian task. i have downloaded.
Immensely penned! Thank you for sharing your views with me through my poems. MBJ Pancras
Rare to be sure is this phenominal song of the rise of language as used in before-days. Chaucer is brought much to our attention as mentor and writer of immense importance - in fact this series is ear-marked for sure as Recommended and therefore to be read again and again. Thank you Raj for both effort and ability used to help readers attain working knowledge of the sources etc found in the English language.
Thanks so much for this educative lesson of a story Raj.I am saving it to my PC for later reading.Thanks so much.
Thanks so much for this educative lesson of a story Raj.I am saving it to my PC for later reading.Thanks so much.
Well, Sir I've copied these pages on my computer to read them again and again. You have crafted a masterpiece with this series, I hope u publish them someday. It will be a great asset to poetry and the English language.
Raj, finally I finished reading this immensely impressive poem, and as suggested by you, I recited the prologue to Canterbury tales aloud. It was such a delight for the images of nature are so beautiful early in the morning. I think I would love to listen to you in a classroom. All these fascinating details, forms, structures and how it came about has aroused my interest to study Chaucer all over again. Somewhere I had Canterbury's tales with me, guess got misplaced, shall definitely read it on net. I owe it you that am inspired and motivated to delve into all this to enhance my knowledge and enjoyment. A good teacher always manages to ignite a spark!
Explaining the difficult stuff in very simple poetic way..it is the predominant diversity of your poems...in fact you are trying to edify your readers.....keep it up...
Brillant series, Raj Nandy...informative and thorough....Especially love the section on Chaucer...
I have been reading and reading your english history to day excellent work my friend
A pleasure to read the English history condensed so well it should be of great interest to those at learning institutions, your so good at it I will always use its reference for I love facts to read, pity you could not keep it up...regards
Raj, I echo all C.P. Sharma's words, as I feel this simplified explanation of the origins of the English language, will be made use of by future generations with gratitude. Again I have found it most interesting and I thank you for this splendid work.
It was very interesting to read all the historical background. Enjoyed reading this wonderful piece!!!!Thanks for sharing.
It's picking up tempo! Very interesting to read an adventurous history through your poetic pen! Keep it up!
Great taste of history. Enjoyed this historical writing Raj ji. tfs
Such a perfect After-study for me, very refreshing and a big treat to read, Raj. Enjoy all the historical background, parading before my eyes again. Really a delight to read my own subject again. THANK YOU, SIR!! A REAL TREAT!! I'll COME AGAIN, like my own home!
Raj, You sing so beautifully the chronicles of the English literary events that the generations to come will sing your praise for making it so interesting and precise. It places you among the rare man of letters.
La, the pure, delicious enjoyment of this is soaking up the history, which has long been a great delight to me. I must remember now to read all your other historical tributes. This was very fascinating and I quite enjoyed it. Thanks for a wonderful taste of history, I loved it!
Great work! Enjoyed reading this fascinating piece!