Периоды английской литературы. Карпова В.А - 13 стр.

9. The Cuckoo Song described the misery of earth and glory of heaven.
10. The earliest romances were in verse (hence the term "metrical romances").

II.  Choose the best answer for the following questions.
1. Medieval romances are tales of adventure which reflect:
              a. An heroic age.
              b. Chivalric deeds of knights, kings, or distressed ladies.
              c. Serious and well motivated fighting.
2. Medieval religious plays based on Biblical history were often known as:
              a. Chronicle plays.
              b. Pastoral plays.
              c. Mystery plays.
3. The Anglo-Norman period is also often called:
              a. The Middle English period.
              b. The Early Middle English period.
              c. The Renaissance period.
4. By 1300 English was becoming again the language of:
              a. The conquered slaves.
              b. The conquerors.
              c. The upper classes.
5. The medieval religious drama grew out of:
              a. The liturgical services of the church.
              b. The folk epic.
              c. The ancient Elizabethan drama.

                         The Middle English Period
                               (1350-1500)
       The period in English history and literature between 1350 and 1500
marked by the replacement of French by Modern English as the language of
court and art and the early appearances of definitely modern English writings is
referred to as the Middle English Period. The period between 1350 and 1400
was a rich poetic age: it saw the first major English poet, Chaucer, as well as
poetry like “Pearl”, “The Vision of Piers Plowman” and Gower’s “Confessio
Amantis”.
       Chaucer is by general concurrence the greatest English medieval author,
the centre of English medieval literature. He has seemed to stand at the
beginning of modern English literature as Homer has seemed to stand at the
beginning of Greek, indeed of European literature – almost as if he has founded
or invented it.
       The reader who eventually reads Chaucer’s poems in chronological order,
will begin with the Chaucerian “Romaunt of the Rose” (before 1373). It is a
delightful new English poem and at the same time the nearest thing in English to
the original “Roman de la Rose”. The reader could have no more intimate
introduction to the medieval French romances and allegories of courtly love and
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