Anglo-Norman literature

Anglo-Norman literature is a special kind of writing from the years 1066 to 1204. It was written in the Anglo-Norman language. This language was spoken when the Duchy of Normandy and the Kingdom of England were joined together.

This literature has many stories and poems. They tell us about life and culture from that time long ago. Because it was written in a mix of old French and English, it shows us the history and ideas of people from that special time.

Introduction

The Norman language came to England with William the Conqueror. After the Norman Conquest, it was spoken by the nobility. The Anglo-Norman language became an important language for writing in the 12th century and was used at the royal court until the 14th century. During Henry IV's time, English became the everyday language of England’s kings.

Anglo-Norman literature grew strongly from the early 12th century until around 1225. Important writers like Wace, Benoît de Sainte-More, and Marie de France created famous stories during this time. These works included adventures, teachings, and poems.

Fiction

French epic stories came to England very early. The Chanson de Roland (Song of Roland) might have been sung at the battle of Hastings. Some old Anglo-Norman manuscripts of chansons de geste still exist today. Many exciting tales, like the Romance of Horn and Bovon de Hampton, were inspired by these stories.

Breton romances and adventure stories show how French and English literature influenced each other. Famous tales like The Lais of Marie de France were written in England. Legends of Merlin and Arthur also spread from England into French stories. The famous love story of Tristan and Iseult was written by Anglo-Norman authors.

Historiography

The Anglo-Norman period had many important historical writings. One of the first writers was Geoffrey Gaimar, who wrote Estoire des Engleis for Dame Constance. His book told stories up to the death of William Rufus and used historical documents.

Another important writer was Wace, who wrote Roman de Rou and Brut. These books shared both real history and popular stories of the time. Benoît de Sainte-More also wrote about the dukes of Normandy, often focusing on exciting adventures.

The History of William the Marshal is another valuable book. It was written about the famous regent of England and shows us life in the medieval period. There were also many other chronicles and poems that told stories of kings, battles, and important events.

Didactic literature

Didactic literature is an important part of Anglo-Norman literature. It includes many works that taught religious and everyday lessons to lords and ladies. Some key examples are:

• Philippe de Thaun wrote a poem about the calendar around 1119.
• There are psalters, like the Oxford and Cambridge versions, from around 1150 to 1160.
• There are translations and stories, such as the Disticha Catonis and Le Roman de fortune.
• Other works include Donnei des Amanz, with tales like L'homme et le serpent and L'homme et l'oiseau.
• Many books taught lessons, like Enseignements Trebor and Le Corset and Le Miroir by Robert de Gretham.
• In the 14th century, Nicole Bozon wrote moral tales, and there were books to help people learn French.

These writings helped share important ideas and stories with people at the time.

Apocrypha

Anglo-Norman writers told many religious stories that were not part of the usual Bible teachings. One example is Les Enfaunces de Jesu Crist. This book tells an older French story about the early life of Jesus.

Some important books were translated into the Anglo-Norman language. For example, a book about the priesthood of Jesus was written long ago in Greek. It was later put into Latin and then translated into Anglo-Norman.

There were also special collections of stories about Mary, the mother of Jesus. These stories were gathered by different writers. One collection was made by a writer named Adgar. He translated stories from an older writer named William of Malmesbury. Another collection was written by Everard of Gateley, a monk who lived near Bury. A third collection included sixty different stories about Mary.

Other religious tales were written by a person named Chardri. These include stories about the Seven Sleepers and the life of Josaphat. They were written around the year 1216.

Hagiography

Anglo-Norman literature included many stories about the lives of saints. Some important stories are:

• Voyage de Saint Brandan, written in 1121 for Queen Aelis of Louvain.
• Life of St. Catherine by Clemence of Barking.
• Life of St. Giles, written around 1170 by Guillaume de Berneville.
• Life of St. Nicholas and life of Our Lady, by Wace.
• Life of St. George by Simon de Fresne.
• Expurgatoire de Ste. Patrice, by Marie de France.
• La vie de St. Edmund le Rei, by Denis Pyramus, from the end of the 12th century.
• Life of St. Thais by Henri d'Arci.
• Life of St. Gregory the Great by Frère Angier, written on April 30, 1214.
• The Vie de seint Clement, from the early 13th century.
• Life of St. Modwenna, written between 1225 and 1250.
• Stories about St. Thomas Becket, written around 1230 and in the 13th century.
• Life of Edward the Confessor, written before 1245 by an anonymous monk of Westminster.

Lyric poetry

The most important songs from Anglo-Norman literature are the seventy-one Ballads by Gower. Many of these songs were about religion. Although there were many songs long ago, only a few have survived because of mixing between English, French, and Provençals people.

One famous piece of Anglo-Norman lyric poetry from the late 13th century is called the Plainte d'amour. There are also many other lyrical works written in two or three languages, such as Latin and French, or English and French. For example, in Early English Lyrics, there is a poem where a lover sends a greeting to his friend in three languages, and the friend replies in the same way.

Satire

The Roman de Renart and the Anglo-Norman version of the Riote du Monde were very popular in England. People there loved funny and clever jokes. Writers sometimes made jokes about priests and women, but some also defended women. One poet wrote a poem called La Bonté des dames to praise ladies. Another writer, Nicole Bozon, first criticized women but later wrote a piece called Bounté des femmes where he praised their kindness and care for their children. There were also funny poems about the differences between French and English people.

Drama

Anglo-Norman drama may have helped create mystery plays in England. But no French plays from the 12th and 13th centuries in England have survived. A play named Adam, sometimes thought to be Anglo-Norman from the 12th century, was likely written in France a bit later. Another play called the Anglo-Norman Resurrection is also from France. The first English morality plays seem to have been inspired by these French plays.

Main article: mystery play

Main articles: morality plays