John Lackland, King of England: (1167-1216) :
King John was the son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He reigned as King of England from 1199-1216. In 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta (Great Charter), a critical document in the long historical process leading to the rule of constitutional law in the English-speaking world (middle-ages.org.uk).
King John was the son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He reigned as King of England from 1199-1216. In 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta (Great Charter), a critical document in the long historical process leading to the rule of constitutional law in the English-speaking world (middle-ages.org.uk).
Geoffrey Chaucer: (1343-1400):
“Father of English Literature” Most famous for his work The Canterbury Tales but also noted for The Book of the Duchess, House of Fame, and Legend of Good Women. It is said that due to Chaucer’s status as a public figure, his writing was more widely accepted and his writing gave credibility to the English language (Pollard, 2006).
“Father of English Literature” Most famous for his work The Canterbury Tales but also noted for The Book of the Duchess, House of Fame, and Legend of Good Women. It is said that due to Chaucer’s status as a public figure, his writing was more widely accepted and his writing gave credibility to the English language (Pollard, 2006).
Margery Kempe: (1373-1438):
Kempe was an East Anglian woman who is known for The Boke of Margery Kempe. This text is an account of her religious experiences, including visions and pilgrimages. Kempe had withdrawn from society and married life in order to become a religious recluse. The Boke of Margery Kempe was essentially her autobiography; some consider it to be the first in the English language. Since Kempe was illiterate, her account was written by a scribe and later a priest (Stokes, 1999).
Kempe was an East Anglian woman who is known for The Boke of Margery Kempe. This text is an account of her religious experiences, including visions and pilgrimages. Kempe had withdrawn from society and married life in order to become a religious recluse. The Boke of Margery Kempe was essentially her autobiography; some consider it to be the first in the English language. Since Kempe was illiterate, her account was written by a scribe and later a priest (Stokes, 1999).
William Caxton (1422-1491) :
Caxton was a merchant who turned into a writer. He set up the first printing press in England in 1476. He acquired his knowledge of printing technique in Cologne, Germany. He then returned to England to apply what he had learned. He set up his press at Westminister, during his career as publisher he produced more than 90 editions of established and novice authors. Among the well-known were Chaucer (Cantebury tales), Gower (Confessio amantis), and Malory (Morte d’Arthur). Caxton prepared some translations of Latin and French, as well as wrote prefaces for his editions which revealed documents of literary attitudes in the late 15th century England (Deacon, 1977).
Caxton was a merchant who turned into a writer. He set up the first printing press in England in 1476. He acquired his knowledge of printing technique in Cologne, Germany. He then returned to England to apply what he had learned. He set up his press at Westminister, during his career as publisher he produced more than 90 editions of established and novice authors. Among the well-known were Chaucer (Cantebury tales), Gower (Confessio amantis), and Malory (Morte d’Arthur). Caxton prepared some translations of Latin and French, as well as wrote prefaces for his editions which revealed documents of literary attitudes in the late 15th century England (Deacon, 1977).
The Pearl Poet: (14th century)
An anonymous poet responsible for the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as well as works such as Pearl. These works are important because they introduce the genre Romance in English poetry (Jokinen, 2010).
An anonymous poet responsible for the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as well as works such as Pearl. These works are important because they introduce the genre Romance in English poetry (Jokinen, 2010).