Medieval Literary Genres

Main thing

Medieval literary genres refer to the distinct categories of literature that emerged during the Middle Ages, including fabliaux, courtly love poetry, mystery plays, Breton lays, English romance, and lyric poetry. These genres reflect the diverse cultural, religious, and social values of the time.Specific types of medieval literary genres include:

• Fabliaux: Short comic tales in verse that often contained bawdy and irreverent material.

• Courtly Love: Poetic narratives and songs that idealized chivalrous love.

• Mystery Plays: Dramatic representations of biblical stories, performed in public spaces.

• Breton Lays: Short romances blending folklore and chivalry, often with supernatural elements.

• English Romance: Stories of adventure and knightly quests.

• Lyric Poetry: Short poems expressing personal emotion, often set to music.

For example, the "Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer is a collection of stories told by pilgrims in various genres, including fabliaux and courtly love narratives.

Terminology

• Fabliaux - Short, humorous tales often filled with bawdy content. Example: "The Miller's Tale" in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".

• Courtly Love - Idealized and often secret love between a knight and a married noblewoman. Example: "Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart" by Chrétien de Troyes.

• Mystery Plays - Religious dramas based on biblical stories. Example: The York Mystery Plays.

• Breton Lays - Short romances often involving chivalry and the supernatural. Example: "Sir Orfeo", an anonymous Breton lay.

• English Romance - Adventure stories featuring knights and their quests. Example: "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".

• Lyric Poetry - Short, emotive poems often set to music. Example: The poems of the troubadours.

An analogy

Think of Medieval literary genres as different types of modern TV shows. Fabliaux are like sitcoms, full of humor and everyday situations. Courtly love is akin to romantic dramas, filled with passion and longing. Mystery plays are similar to religious programs, presenting biblical stories. Breton lays and English romances are like fantasy series, filled with adventure and supernatural elements. Lyric poetry is like music videos, expressing personal emotions in a musical format.

A main misconception

A common misconception is that Medieval literature is all about knights and chivalry. While these themes are prevalent, especially in genres like English romance and courtly love, Medieval literature also includes fabliaux, which are humorous and often irreverent, and mystery plays, which are religious in nature.

The history

1. 5th-10th century: Early Middle Ages, literature primarily in Latin.

2. 11th-12th century: Emergence of vernacular literature, including courtly love and fabliaux.

3. 13th-14th century: Development of mystery plays and English romance.

4. 15th century: Flourishing of lyric poetry.

"Medieval literature, indeed all literature, is a mirror in which we see ourselves." - Umberto Eco, renowned Italian medievalist and author.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. A literature teacher uses examples of fabliaux to teach students about humor in literature, using "The Miller's Tale" from "Canterbury Tales".

2. A theater group decides to perform a mystery play, bringing biblical stories to life for a modern audience.

3. A songwriter takes inspiration from medieval lyric poetry, crafting songs that express personal emotions in a similar style.

Interesting facts

1. The term "courtly love" was not used during the Middle Ages. It was coined by Gaston Paris in 1883.

2. Mystery plays were often performed on wagons that moved around town, a practice known as "pageant wagons".

3. Breton lays are named after the region of Brittany in France, but most surviving examples are in Middle English or Old Norse.

4. Fabliaux were popular in France, but only a few examples exist in English, most notably in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".

5. Lyric poetry was often performed with musical accompaniment, with the poet also acting as a musician.