Anglo-Norman Literature

 Introduction:

Anglo Norman is the title granted to the dialect of Medieval French imported into Britain in the wake of the Norman Conquest and utilized there, predominantly by royalty, the nobility, clerics and, progressively, the higher bourgeoisie, as part of a convoluted bilingual culture. Its use increased progressively more anachronistic, particularly from the second half of the 14th c., and by the middle of the 15th c. it had all but past away out. It has, although, left an indelible find on Modern English. (Benedeiz 26)As compared to English, which was accessible to both monolingual English speakers and bilingual French speakers, it stayed more or less class-exclusive.

The superior genres were histories, were, sacred and secular biographies, and homilies; romance and fiction were somewhat scarce. Perhaps the most significant historian was Geoffrey Gaimer, whose two-part annals of England, Histoire des Bretons and Estorie des Engles, was in writing in verse. (Dean 34) Philippe of Thaün, the soonest renowned Anglo Norman bard, was documented for the lesson allegory the Bestiaire. Of secular works, Thomas's Tristan is prominent both artistically and as an early source for the Tristram and Isolde legend.

General Characteristics of the Literature:

Among its most salient features are its quantity, its diversity, and its longevity. It clearly benefited from enlightened patronage, both clerical and secular, and the multicultural, polyglot environment in which it developed enabled it both to innovate and to thrive.

1. Narrative Forms:

a. Romance:

Only 3, 000 lines endure from what should have initially been a 13, 000-line romance of Tristan by Thomas. Incomplete though it is, this verse comprises the finest accomplishment of Anglo Norman literature. (Harper 21)A pervading sense of human imperfection and essential pain is counterbalanced by riches of incisive psychological fact and investigation of the consequences of mortal adulterous passion. Thomas's treatment of human love, with its unremitting language of affliction, stands in ambiguous compare to much up to designated day courtly composing on fin'amor. Amadas et Idoine, from the late 12th c., is a article of 'fine loial amour' which shadows the Tristan and Iseut legend to suggest a form of perfect, communally incorporated love. Only 3, 000 lines survive from what must have originally been a 13, 000-line romance of Tristan by Thomas.

b: Super-human Exploits:

Satisfying an insatiable appetite for activity and fast-moving unilinear plots that build up supply scholarly motifs, these breathless narratives pursue the superhuman exploits of dispossessed baronial champions over the extent and wideness of Europe, occasionally even into Africa and the Middle East, until, (Marx 76 )enclosed in individual and dynastic glory, they come back dwelling to assertion their rightful inheritance. Fouke le fitz Waryn, is an example ( Rhiannon,p.32).

c. Lais:

Among the shorter narrative types in Anglo-Norman, dignity of location should proceed to the inquiringly entitled Breton lais, especially those of Marie de France. A clever and wise Continental bard at the court of Henry II, she composed a sequence of short lyrical narratives, for which she assertions oral Celtic sources. (Miller 21)

d. Epic:

The nearest we ...