AltBritLit by ER

“The General Prologue” by Geoffrey Chaucer is an Anglo-Norman literary work that has aspects in the work that would deem it a type of satire. This work is about a group of people who are on a pilgrimage and, with each individual, Chaucer points out that person’s flaws or sins in some way. Early on in this work, Chaucer speaks of a knight from the Crusades who embodies chivalry and bravery. Chaucer specifically discusses the knight’s attire and appearance, “But for to tellen you of his array, His hors were goode, but he was nat gay.” (195). This passage is telling that this supposedly amazing and chivalrous knight is dressed rather poorly and not with much color or ornaments; the knight did not truly showcase what he should look like. Another individual Chaucer brings up is a Prioresse, which is similar to a nun, who he mocks for her almost inability to be able to be brave. Although Chaucer does appreciate her beauty, which is odd because she is a religious woman, he makes these remark...

The poem “Lanval” is a piece of romance literature that tells the story of a young knight, named Lanval, who was a beautiful man that many, even King Arthur, did not favor. Lanval ends up leaving the kingdom due to the many people who dislike him because they are jealous of him. Because Lanval leaves his home, he ends up encountering the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, “... the lily and the young rose when they appear in the summer are surpassed by her beauty.” (123). Lanval ends up falling madly in love with this woman but this love comes with a price - he is not allowed to speak of her to anyone because their love must be kept a secret. She wants their love to be kept as a secret because otherwise she says she would have to leave Lanval, “... you would lose me for good if this love were known; you would never see me again or possess my body.” (124). Many romance literary works involve many situations where the protagonist goes off away from his home and experiences someth...

Irish Literature came around during the Anglo-Saxon literature period and includes some aspects of that type of literature but does not seem to have as much despair and death that is found in more traditional Anglo-Saxon works. In the literary work, “Cuchulainn’s Boyhood Deeds”, this piece of Irish literature tells of several warrior-like actions that are performed by a young man named Cuchulainn. Themes of battle and masculinity are explored in this work as we see this young man embark on a coming of age journey. Cuchulainn and his charioteer travel far from their home over vass mountains where they encounter a man who appears to be a mighty warrior. The charioteer warns Cuchulainn that this man is dangerous and must be killed skillfully; Cuchulainn immediately goes to kill the warrior, “He flung the spear at him, and it pierced him and broke his back. He removed the trophies, and the head with them.” (115). This success of killing a great warrior shows the reader that Cuchulainn ha...

“The Seafarer” is a poem from the Anglo-Saxon literature period that takes a deep look into the pains of a man who is forced to deal with the cold and misery that comes along with sea travel. During this literature period, there are many themes of fatality and death that are explored throughout written works. In general, this was a dark time for people because the reality of death loomed all around them from situations like war to more day-to-day events like childbirth. There are noticeable moments in this work that indicate it is a kind of lamentation of this man who has been exiled to the sea, “... how I, wretchedly sorrowful, lived a winter on the ice-cold sea, upon the tracks of exile, deprived of friendly kinsmen, hung with rimy icicles.” (“Anglo-Saxon…). The time of Anglo-Saxon literature was a period that involved much conflict among families and tribes so exile was almost considered a common punishment put upon men and women for various reasons. This man begins to contemplate ...

“The Dream of the Rood” is a poem that explains a man’s dream of the tree that was used for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, this poem contains more than just a discussion of that tree but rather emphasizes the continual faith that has filled Christians since the day of the crucifixion. Early on in this work, the author states, from the perspective of the tree, “I beheld the sign rapidly changing clothing and colors. Now it was covered in moisture, drenched with streaming blood, now decked in treasure.” (33). The author emphasizes the reward of the crucifixion despite the blood and mockery of the event while reminding the reader that the great end result of that suffering was the salvation of mankind. As the poem continues, it tells of aspects of the crucifixion but then talks about the time after that event. The tree is talked about in a more respected way than when it was used for the death of Christ, “Long ago I became the most cruel punishment, most hated by men, until I ...