English Language and Literature in the Middle Ages
             English Society of the Middle Ages saw many developments and new trends, but
             none so plainly as the developments witnessed in the Language and Literature of that time.
             It began with the Norman Conquest: eloquent french words substituted for the "harsh"
             saxon equivalents, primarily in the upper levels of society. Literature began to reflect these
             changes in the language, and continued to evolve throughout the Renissance. Together,
             these aspects helped define the Middle Ages.
             The Norman Conquest took place in 1066 with the death of King Edward. William
             of Normandy, later to be reffered to as "The Conquerer", fought King Harold in order to
             claim the crown in Britian. Succeeding, William integrated Norman life into the Old
             English culture, concentrating in the higher courts and plitical scene. This integration of
             the Norman culture then filtered down to the underclass.
             The developmental trends of the English Language can be clearly seen in the
             literature of the time. Geoffrery Chaucer, who's works were a precursor to the
             Renissance, wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories set within a framing
             story of a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, the shrine of Saint Thomas â Becket. The
             poet joins a band of pilgrims, vividly described in the Prologue, who assemble at the
             Tabard Inn outside London for the journey to Canterbury. Ranging in status from a
             Knight to a humble Plowman, they are a detailed view of 14th-century English society.
             Another glimpse into the life of Middle England was created by William Langland,
             who was supposedly the author of the religious allegory known as Piers Plowman,
             considered one of the greatest English poems of medieval times. This work satires
             corruption among the clergy and the secular authorities, and upholds the dignity and value
             of labor, represented by Piers Plowman. Si...