What does the “Anglo-Norman” Period refer to?
The Anglo-Normans were the medieval ruling class in England, composed mainly of a combination of ethnic Angles and Normans, following the Norman Conquest.
What does “Anglo-Norman” literature mean?
Anglo-Norman literature is literature composed in the Anglo-Norman language developed during the period 1066–1204 when the Duchy of Normandy and England were united in the Anglo-Norman realm. The most flourishing period of Anglo-Norman literature was from the beginning of the 12th century to the end of the first quarter of the 13th century.
Didactic literature is the most considerable and most interesting branch of Anglo-Norman literature. It comprises of a large number of works written chiefly with the object of giving both religious and profane instruction to Anglo-Norman lords and ladies.
About Literature in the Anglo-Norman Period
Following the Norman Conquest, English had a severe struggle to maintain itself as a written language and as a result, English literature showed little signs of life and for a period of 150 years it almost ceased to exist. It wasn’t revived until the reign of John.
In Layamon’s poems three streams of influences, i.e. Celtic, French, and English run together and follow the Anglo-Saxon principle of alliteration along with a taste of French rime.
The period between the conquest and Chaucer is more speaking of English as a language than English literature as little was produced in literature but one can note that modern English was evolving out of conflict of opposing tongues and assuming national rank as speech of the whole people and the final product of this was a compound, mixed language.
Some Important works of the Anglo-Norman Period
Geoffrey’s Historic Regum Britanniae
Layamon’s Brut, the main interest of which is in giving Aurther’s legends
Metrical Romances based on matter of France, Rome, and Britain
Ormulum by a Linconshire priest named ORM were a series of metrical homilies
Mannyng’s Handlyng Synne
Ayenbite of Inwyt
Other works of the period consists of ballads, lyrics and poems such as…
The Owl and the Nightingale
Cursor Mundi
The Pearl
Cleanness also Patience and Purity
Roger Bacon’s Opus Majus
References
An outline history of English Literature by W.H.Hudson
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