ABSTRACT
This reference is a comprehensive guide to literature written 500 to 1500 A.D., a period that gave rise to some of the world's most enduring and influential works, such as Dante's Commedia, Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a large body of Arthurian lore and legend. While its emphasis is upon medieval English texts and society, this reference also covers Islamic, Hispanic, Celtic, Mongolian, Germanic, Italian, and Russian literature and Middle Age culture.
Longer entries provide thorough coverage of major English authors such as Chaucer and Sir Thomas Malory, and of genre entries, such as drama, lyric, ballad, debate, saga, chronicle, and hagiography. Shorter entries examine particular literary works; significant kings, artists, explorers, and religious leaders; important themes, such as courtly love and chivalry; and major historical events, such as the Crusades. Each entry concludes with a brief biography. The volume closes with a list of the most valuable general works for further reading.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
letter |32 pages
A
entry |2 pages
Abelard, Peter (1079–1142)
entry |1 pages
Acrostic
entry |1 pages
Adam
entry |3 pages
Ælfric (955–1010)
entry |2 pages
Æthelwold (c. 908–94)
entry |1 pages
Alfonso X (“El Sabio”)
entry |2 pages
Alfred the Great (849–899)
entry |1 pages
Allegory
entry |2 pages
Alliterative Revival
entry |1 pages
Alliterative Verse
entry |2 pages
Alysoun
entry |2 pages
Ancrene Wisse
entry |1 pages
Andreas
entry |1 pages
Andreas Capellanus (c. 1180)
entry |2 pages
Anelida and Arcite
entry |2 pages
Anglo-Latin Literature
entry |2 pages
Anglo-Norman
entry |1 pages
Anglo-Saxon
entry |3 pages
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
entry |1 pages
Annales Cambriae
entry |1 pages
Annals
entry |1 pages
Anselm, ST. (1033–1109)
entry |2 pages
Aquinas, ST. Thomas (c. 1225–74)
entry |2 pages
Aristotle (384–322 B.C.)
entry |9 pages
Arthurian Legend
entry |2 pages
Athelston
entry |1 pages
Aucassin et Nicolette
entry |1 pages
Augustine, ST. (354–430)
entry |2 pages
Awntyrs of Arthure
entry |1 pages
Aymon, the Four Sons of
letter |37 pages
B
entry |2 pages
Bacon, Roger (c. 1214–1294?)
entry |12 pages
Ballads (Balladry)
entry |2 pages
Ballade
entry |1 pages
Barbara Allen
entry |2 pages
Barbour, John (c. 1320–95)
entry |1 pages
Bard
entry |2 pages
Barlaam and Josaphat
entry |2 pages
Battle of Brunnanburgh, the
entry |2 pages
“Battle of Finnsburgh.”
entry |2 pages
Battle of Maldon, the
entry |1 pages
Beast Epic. (Beast Fable)
entry |2 pages
Becket, ST. Thomas (c. 1118–1170)
entry |2 pages
Bede, ST., the Venerable (673?-735)
entry |2 pages
Beowulf
entry |2 pages
Bernard of Clairvaux, ST. (1090–1153)
entry |2 pages
Bestiaries
entry |1 pages
Bevis of Hampton
entry |8 pages
Boccaccio, Giovanni (1313–1375)
entry |2 pages
Boethius (c. 480–525)
entry |1 pages
Book of the Duchess, the
entry |1 pages
Bourchier, John
entry |2 pages
Bruce, the
letter |45 pages
C
entry |1 pages
Cabalero Zifar, El
entry |2 pages
Cabot, John (d. 1498?)
entry |2 pages
Cædmon (c. 670)
entry |1 pages
“Cædmon's Hymn.”
entry |1 pages
Caesura
entry |1 pages
“Canon's Yeoman's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Cantar De Mio Cid
entry |5 pages
Canterbury Tales
entry |1 pages
Canute (Cnut) (994–1035)
entry |1 pages
Canzone
entry |1 pages
Capet, Hugh (940?-996),
entry |2 pages
Capgrave, John (1393–1464)
entry |2 pages
Carmina Burana
entry |1 pages
Castle of Perseverance, the (c. 1425)
entry |3 pages
Cavalcanti, Guido (1250–1300)
entry |2 pages
Caxton, William (c. 1422–1491)
entry |2 pages
Celtic Literature
entry |2 pages
Chandos Herald (fl. 1360s)
entry |1 pages
Chanson De Geste
entry |2 pages
Chanson De Roland, La
entry |2 pages
Charlemagne (742–814),
entry |1 pages
Charles V (1338–1380),
entry |2 pages
Charms
entry |6 pages
Chaucer, Geoffrey (c. 1343/44–1400)
entry |1 pages
Chivalry
entry |2 pages
Chrétien De Troyes (c. 1125–1191)
entry |2 pages
Christ and Satan
entry |5 pages
Chronicles and Annals
entry |2 pages
Cimabue, Giovanni (1240–1302)
entry |1 pages
City of God, the
entry |2 pages
Clanvowe, Sir John (d. 1391)
entry |1 pages
Cleanness
entry |2 pages
“Cleric's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Cligés
entry |1 pages
Conrad III (1093–1152)
entry |1 pages
Consolation of Philosophy, the
entry |1 pages
“Cook's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Copernicus, Nicolaus (1473–1543)
entry |1 pages
Corpus Christl
entry |2 pages
Courtly Love
entry |1 pages
Court of Love, the
entry |2 pages
Crusades, the (1096–1270)
entry |3 pages
Cynewulf
letter |49 pages
D
entry |1 pages
Dance of Death
entry |14 pages
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)
entry |17 pages
Death and Life: See Debate Poetry, Medieval European
entry |3 pages
Decameron, the (Il Decamerone) (1349–1351)
entry |2 pages
Deor's Lament
entry |1 pages
De Soto, Hernando (1499?-1542)
entry |2 pages
Dias, Bartholomeu (1450?-1500)
entry |1 pages
Diceto, Ralph (c. 1120s-1202)
entry |2 pages
Divine Comedy, the. See Dante Alighieri
entry |1 pages
Donatello (1386–1466)
entry |10 pages
Drama, Medieval
entry |1 pages
Dream Allegory (Vision)
entry |2 pages
“Dream of the Rood, the.”
entry |2 pages
Dunbar, William (1465?-1530)
entry |2 pages
Duns Scotus, John (c. 1265–1308)
entry |2 pages
Dunstan, ST. (c. 910–98)
letter |17 pages
E
entry |1 pages
Earthly Paradise
entry |2 pages
Edda
entry |3 pages
Edward I (1239–1307),
entry |3 pages
Edward III (1327–1377),
entry |2 pages
Edward, Edward
entry |1 pages
Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122–1204)
entry |2 pages
Elegiac Poetry
entry |2 pages
Elegy
entry |2 pages
El Libro De Buen Amor
entry |2 pages
Emaré
entry |1 pages
Envoy (Envoi)
entry |2 pages
Erec Et Enide
entry |2 pages
Erl of Toulous, the
entry |2 pages
Everyman
entry |2 pages
Exemplum
entry |2 pages
Exeter Book, the
letter |34 pages
F
entry |2 pages
Fabliaux
entry |2 pages
Fantosme, Jordan (c. 1100-c. 1170s)
entry |2 pages
Feast of Fools
entry |1 pages
Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452–1516), and Isabella of Castile(1451–1504)
entry |9 pages
Festivals and Holidays
entry |2 pages
Fight at Finnsburgh, the
entry |2 pages
Filocolo, Il (1336–38?)
entry |3 pages
Filostrato, Il (1335?)
entry |1 pages
Fionn Cycle, the.
entry |2 pages
Floris and Blancheflour
entry |1 pages
Floure and the Leafe, the
entry |2 pages
Flytynge
entry |2 pages
“Fowles in the Frith.”
entry |3 pages
Francis of Assisi, St. (1181–1226)
entry |3 pages
“Franklin's Tale, the.”
entry |10 pages
French Literature
entry |2 pages
“Friar's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Froissart, Jean (c. 1337-c. 1404)
letter |32 pages
G
entry |1 pages
Gamelyn, Tale of, the
entry |2 pages
Gawain (Pearl) Poet, the (fl. 1360–1400)
entry |3 pages
Genealogy of the Gentile Gods, the (1360?-1371)
entry |1 pages
“General Prologue, the.”
entry |1 pages
Genesis
entry |1 pages
Genesis and Exodus
entry |2 pages
Genghis Khan (1162–1227), Mongol emperor
entry |1 pages
Geoffrey De Vinsauf (fl. c. 1200)
entry |3 pages
Geoffrey of Monmouth (1084–1154)
entry |1 pages
Geoffrey of Villehardouin (c. 1150-c. 1213)
entry |10 pages
German Literature
entry |1 pages
Gest
entry |1 pages
Gesta Romanorum
entry |2 pages
Gest of Robin Hood, A
entry |1 pages
Ghiberti, Lorenzo (1378–1455)
entry |2 pages
Gildas (c. 516–570)
entry |2 pages
Giotto Di Bondone (1266–1337)
entry |2 pages
Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald De Barri) (c. 1146–1220)
entry |1 pages
Glanville, Ranulf De (c. 1150)
entry |1 pages
Glasgerlon
entry |1 pages
Gleeman
entry |1 pages
Gnomic Poetry
entry |2 pages
Gregory the Great (540–604), pope (590–604)
entry |2 pages
Gregory VII (1015–1085), pope (1073–1085)
entry |2 pages
Gregory of Tours (538–594)
entry |3 pages
Grosseteste, Robert (1170–1253)
entry |3 pages
Guinizelli, Guido (1235–1276)
entry |2 pages
Guy of Warwick (c. 1300)
letter |30 pages
H
entry |1 pages
Hagiography
entry |2 pages
Halloween
entry |1 pages
Hardyng, John (1378–1465)
entry |1 pages
Harleian Manuscripts, the
entry |1 pages
Harley Lyrics
entry |2 pages
Harrowing of Hell
entry |2 pages
HaVelok the Dane
entry |1 pages
Heimskringla, the
entry |2 pages
Henry I
entry |2 pages
Henry II
entry |1 pages
Henry III
entry |2 pages
Henry IV
entry |2 pages
Henry of Huntingdon (C.1084-C.1157)
entry |2 pages
Henryson, Robert (1420? – 1505?)
entry |2 pages
Henry the Minstrel
entry |1 pages
Higden, Ranulf (c. 1280s-c.1364)
entry |12 pages
Hispanic Medieval Literature
entry |1 pages
Historia Brittonum (c. 800)
entry |1 pages
Historia Regum Brittaniae (1136)
entry |2 pages
Histories
entry |1 pages
Hoccleve (or Occleve), Thomas (c. 1369–1426)
entry |2 pages
Holcot, Robert (died c. 1349)
entry |1 pages
Horn Childe
entry |1 pages
House of Fame, the
entry |1 pages
Hrotsvitha (Roswitha) (c.1100)
entry |1 pages
Huchown (c.1400)
entry |1 pages
Hugh of Lincoln, St. (1246–1255)
entry |2 pages
Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester (1391–1447)
entry |2 pages
Hundred Years' War, the (1337–1453)
letter |30 pages
I
entry |1 pages
Illuminated Manuscripts
entry |2 pages
Innocent III (11617?–1216) pope (1198–1216)
entry |2 pages
Interlude
entry |1 pages
Ipomadon
entry |1 pages
Irish Annals
entry |8 pages
Irish Literature
entry |1 pages
Isidore of Seville (c.560–636)
entry |7 pages
Islamic Literature
entry |2 pages
I Syng of A Myden
entry |11 pages
Italian Literature
entry |2 pages
Ivan III (1440–1505) Romanov, tsar of Russia (1462–1505)
entry |1 pages
Ivan IV (1530–1584) Romanov, tsar of Russia (1533–1584)
letter |17 pages
J
entry |10 pages
Japanese Literature
entry |1 pages
Jean Sire De Joinville (1224–1317)
entry |1 pages
Jerome, ST. (c. 340–420)
entry |2 pages
John
entry |2 pages
John of Gaunt,
entry |2 pages
John of Salisbury (c. 1120–1180)
entry |1 pages
Jongleur
entry |2 pages
Jordanes (fl. mid-6th century)
entry |2 pages
Judas
entry |1 pages
Judith
entry |2 pages
Julian of Norwich (c. 1342–1413?)
entry |1 pages
Junius Manuscript, the
letter |14 pages
K
entry |1 pages
Katherine Group, the
entry |1 pages
Kells, Book of
entry |2 pages
Kempe, Margery (c. 1373–1439)
entry |1 pages
Kenning
entry |2 pages
King Horn (dated c.1225)
entry |2 pages
Kingis Quair
entry |2 pages
Knightly Tale of Gologras and Gawain, the
entry |2 pages
“Knight's Tale, the.”
entry |7 pages
Korean Literature
entry |2 pages
Kulhwch and Olwen (c.1100)
letter |34 pages
L
entry |1 pages
La Celestina
entry |2 pages
Lallans
entry |2 pages
Lancelot or the Knight of the Cart
entry |1 pages
Lanfranc (c. 1015–89)
entry |2 pages
Langland, William (c. 1330–1386)
entry |3 pages
Langton, Stephen (c. 1155–1226)
entry |1 pages
Lauda
entry |2 pages
Laxdale Saga
entry |4 pages
Lay (Lai), Breton
entry |2 pages
Layle Freine (Lay of the Ash)
entry |2 pages
Layamon
entry |1 pages
Legend of Good Women, the
entry |1 pages
“Lenten is Come with Love to Town” (c. 1314)
entry |1 pages
Libeaus Desconsus
entry |2 pages
Liberal Arts,
entry |2 pages
Lindsay, Sir David (1490–1555)
entry |1 pages
Lollards
entry |2 pages
Lopez De Ayala, Pedro (1332–1407)
entry |1 pages
Lord Randal
entry |1 pages
Louis VI (1081–1137)
entry |2 pages
Louis IX (1214–1270)
entry |1 pages
Louis XI (1423–1483)
entry |16 pages
Lyric
letter |26 pages
M
entry |1 pages
Madrigal
entry |2 pages
Magellan, Ferdinand (Fernão de Magalhães) (1480–1521)
entry |6 pages
Malory, Sir Thomas (c. 1408–1471)
entry |1 pages
“Manciple's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Mandeville, Sir John (?-1372)
entry |2 pages
Mannynge, Robert (c. 1264–1340)
entry |1 pages
“Man of Law's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Manuel, Juan
entry |2 pages
Map, Walter (c. 1140-c. 1209)
entry |1 pages
Martianus Capella (c. 400-c. 440)
entry |2 pages
Masaccio (1401–1428)
entry |1 pages
“Matter of Britain, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Matter of England, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Matter of France, the.”
entry |2 pages
“Matter of Rome, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Melibee, Tale of.”
entry |2 pages
“Merchant's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
“Miller's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Minnesinger
entry |2 pages
Minstrel
entry |1 pages
Mongke (?-1259),
entry |9 pages
Mongolian Literature
entry |1 pages
“Monk's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Morted'arthur
entry |1 pages
Mum and the Sothsegger
letter |4 pages
N
entry |1 pages
Nennius (fl.800s)
entry |2 pages
“Nou Sprinkes the Spral”
entry |2 pages
“Now Gooth Sunne Under Wode.”
entry |2 pages
“Nun's Priest's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Nut Brown Maid.”
letter |8 pages
O
entry |1 pages
Ockham, William of (c. 1285–1349)
entry |2 pages
Ogham (OGAM)
entry |1 pages
Ogier the Dane
entry |2 pages
Ogodei (1229–1241),
entry |3 pages
Old English Poetry
entry |2 pages
Ormulum, the
entry |2 pages
Otto of Freising (c. 1114–1158)
entry |2 pages
Owl and the Nightingale, the
letter |17 pages
P
entry |1 pages
“Pardoner's Tale, the.”
entry |3 pages
Paris, Matthew (c. 1200-c. 1259)
entry |1 pages
Parliament of Fowls, the
entry |1 pages
Patience
entry |2 pages
Paul the Deacon (c. 720-c. 799)
entry |2 pages
Pearl
entry |1 pages
Peasants' Revolt
entry |1 pages
Pecock, Reginald (1395–1460)
entry |2 pages
Pelagian
entry |1 pages
Perceval
entry |2 pages
Peterborough Chronicle, the
entry |1 pages
Peter Lombard (c. 1100–1164)
entry |2 pages
Peter the Hermit (c. 1050–1115)
entry |2 pages
Petrarch (1304–1374)
entry |1 pages
Philip II (1165–1223)
entry |2 pages
Philip IV (1268–1314)
entry |1 pages
“Physician's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Piero Della Francesca (1426–1492)
entry |2 pages
Polo, Marco (12547–1324?), Maffeo, and Niccolò
entry |1 pages
Ponce De Leon, Juan (1460–1521)
entry |2 pages
“Prioress's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Provençal
entry |1 pages
Proverbs of Alfred, the
entry |1 pages
Prudentius (348-c. 410)
entry |2 pages
Ptolemy (2nd century A. D.)
letter |2 pages
Q
entry |1 pages
Quadrivium
entry |2 pages
Quem Quaeritis Trope
letter |12 pages
R
entry |1 pages
“Reeve's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Reynard the Fox
entry |1 pages
Rhyming Poem, the
entry |1 pages
Richard I
entry |2 pages
Richard II (1367–1400)
entry |1 pages
Richard Coeur De Lion
entry |1 pages
Richard the Redeless
entry |2 pages
Riddles
entry |1 pages
Robert of Gloucester (fl. 1260–1300)
entry |2 pages
Robin Hood
entry |2 pages
Rolle, Richard, of Hampole (c. 1290–1349)
entry |2 pages
Romance
entry |2 pages
Rom Aunt of the Rose, the
entry |1 pages
“Ruin, the.”
entry |3 pages
Russian Literature, Old
letter |33 pages
S
entry |2 pages
Saga
entry |2 pages
Sawles Warde
entry |1 pages
Scholasticism
entry |2 pages
Schoolmen
entry |1 pages
Scogan, Henry (c. 1360–1407)
entry |1 pages
Scop
entry |2 pages
Scott, Michæl (c. 1160–1235)
entry |5 pages
Scottish Literature
entry |1 pages
“Seafarer, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Second Nun's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Second Shepherd's Play, the
entry |2 pages
Seven Deadly Sins
entry |2 pages
Seven Sages of Rome
entry |1 pages
“Shipman's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
Shirley, John (c. 1366–1456)
entry |1 pages
Sic Et Non
entry |2 pages
Siete Partidas
entry |3 pages
Sir Degaré
entry |1 pages
Sir Ferumbas
entry |2 pages
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c. 1370)
entry |2 pages
Sir Gowther
entry |2 pages
Sir Isumbras
entry |2 pages
Sir Launfal
entry |3 pages
Sir Orfeo (King Orfew)
entry |2 pages
Sir Patrick Spens
entry |1 pages
“Sir Thopas” (c. 1387–1400)
entry |2 pages
Skaldic Verse
entry |1 pages
Skelton, John (c. 1460–1529)
entry |2 pages
Snorri Sturluson (c. 1178–1241)
entry |1 pages
Somnium Scipionis (Dream of Scipio)
entry |1 pages
Sordello (c. 1200-c. 1270)
entry |1 pages
Speculum meditantis
entry |2 pages
Squire of Low Degree, the
entry |2 pages
“Squire's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
“Sumer is Icumen in.”
entry |1 pages
Summa Theologica
entry |2 pages
“Summoner's Tale, the.”
entry |1 pages
Sword Dance
letter |11 pages
T
entry |1 pages
Taillefer (d.1066)
entry |2 pages
Taliesin
entry |2 pages
Teseida, Il (13397–1341)
entry |1 pages
Thomas À Kempis (1380–1471)
entry |2 pages
Thomas of Erceldoune (c. 1220–1297)
entry |2 pages
Three Ravens, the and the TWA Corbies
entry |2 pages
Thrush and the Nightingale, the
entry |2 pages
Trivet, Nicholas (1258-c. 1334)
entry |1 pages
Trivium
entry |3 pages
Troilus and Criseyde
entry |1 pages
Trouvères
entry |2 pages
Tyler, Wat (d. 1381)
entry |1 pages
Tyndale, William (c. 1495–1536)
letter |2 pages
U
entry |1 pages
Ubi Sunt
entry |2 pages
Ulftlas (311–381)
entry |1 pages
Ulster Cycle, the
entry |1 pages
Usk, Thomas (d.1388)
letter |7 pages
V
entry |1 pages
Valentine and Orson
entry |2 pages
Vercelli Book, the
entry |1 pages
Vespucci, Amerigo (1451–1512)
entry |1 pages
Vice, the
entry |1 pages
Villehardouin, Geoffrey De (c. 1150–1213)
entry |2 pages
Villon, François (1431-after 1463)
entry |2 pages
Vitalis, Orderic (1075–1142)
entry |2 pages
Volsunga Saga
entry |1 pages
Vox Clamantis (c.1382–1354)
entry |2 pages
Vulgate, the
entry |1 pages
Vulgate Cycle, the
letter |22 pages
W
entry |1 pages
Wakefield Master
entry |1 pages
Waldhere
entry |2 pages
Wallace, Sir William (c. 1270–1305).
entry |1 pages
Walther Von Der Vogelweide (c. 1170–1230)
entry |2 pages
“Wanderer, the.”
entry |2 pages
Wars of the Roses (1455–1485)
entry |7 pages
Welsh Literature
entry |1 pages
Weyden, Rogier Van Der (c. 1400–1464)
entry |3 pages
Widsith
entry |2 pages
“Wife of Bath's Tale, the.”
entry |2 pages
William I (The Conquerer) (1027–1087)
entry |2 pages
William of Malmesbury (1095–1143)
entry |2 pages
William of Palerne
entry |1 pages
“Wulf and Eadwacer.”
entry |2 pages
Wulfstan (d. 1023)
entry |2 pages
Wycliffe, John (c. 1330–1384?)
entry |1 pages
Wynkyn De Worde (d. 1535)
entry |1 pages
Wynnere and Wastour
entry |1 pages
Wyntoun, Andrew of (c. 1350–1425)
entry |1 pages
Wyrd
letter |1 pages
X
entry |1 pages
Ximenes, Francisco (1436–1517)
letter |2 pages
Y
entry |1 pages
Yvain
entry |2 pages
Ywain and Gawain
letter |1 pages
Z
entry |1 pages
Zanzis