Middle English Pronunciation Before the Great Vowel Shift

Middle English Pronunciation Before the Great Vowel Shift: 'a' as in modern 'father' long 'e' as in modern 'there' short 'e' as in modern 'egg' 'i'/vowel 'y' as in modern 'see' long 'o' as the oa in modern 'oar' short 'o' as in modern 'on' 'u' as in modern 'do'

Middle English Pronunciation No silent “e”: “I rode my bike” = “Ee road-uh me beakuh” No silent consonants: “Knight” = “k’neekht” Ellision: “droghte of March” = “droakht uv March” (not “droakht-uh uv March”)

Genres of Medieval Literature Religious drama --Miracle plays --Morality plays Lyrics and ballads --popular folk music Romances --narrative poems describing knights on quests displaying the ideals of chivalry

Geoffrey Chaucer Life reflects social change Born to the merchant class Educated and well-traveled (Italy) Connected to aristocracy High-ranking government official Popular poet

The Canterbury Tales • • • Inspired by Boccacio’s Decameron Frame story of religious pilgrimage Stories mostly secular in nature Pronounced anti-clericalism Mixture of stories: long & short, noble & low Stories match the character who tells them

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Anonymous romance • Draws upon Arthurian legend and English folklore • Employs alliteration as did OE • Both supports and questions the ideals of chivalry