English Language and Literature in the Middle ages Essay -- essays pap

English Language and Literature in the Middle ages English Society of the Middle Ages saw many developments and new trends, but none so plainly as the developments witnessed in the Language and Literature of that time. It began with the Norman Conquest: eloquent french words substituted for the â€Å"harsh† saxon equivalents, primarily in the upper levels of society. Literature began to reflect these changes in the language, and continued to evolve throughout the Renissance. Together, these aspects helped define the Middle Ages. The Norman Conquest took place in 1066 with the death of King Edward. William of Normandy, later to be reffered to as â€Å"The Conquerer†, fought King Harold in order to claim the crown in Britian. Succeeding, William integrated Norman life into the Old English culture, concentrating in the higher courts and plitical scene. This integration of the Norman culture then filtered down to the underclass. The developmental trends of the English Language can be clearly seen in the literature of the time. Geoffrery Chaucer, who’s works were a precursor to t...