Evolution of Middle English and Chaucer's Social Impact

Middle English Literature [Fifth Slide]

Characteristics of Old English and the Norman Conquest

In conjunction with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the language use in the Middle English period also went through a vast change. While the ruling elite spoke strictly French because of their Norman heritage, English remained the language of the commoners.

"Why didn't the use of English fade throughout time?" you might ask. There are two distinct reasons for this:

• English was already too established among the Englishmen despite William's attempts to move in with French.
• The Normans began immediately intermarrying with the Englishmen, creating a huge impact on English vocabulary and grammar.

Grammar and Linguistic Shifts

The majority of the changes brought about through the conquest have much to do with inflection and spelling. Because those who chose to continue speaking English were forced to improvise depending on their region, they were forced to call upon Latin, French, and even Scandinavian traditions. Therefore, an incredible degree of variation is found in spelling, inflection, and vocabulary usage depending on regional variation.

Because of these influences on the English language, much of the Old English morphology changed to become staple characteristics of the Middle English period. For example, the use of strong inflections was reduced and most nouns lost their gender information (pronouns being the exception).

The Canterbury Tales [Sixth Slide]

Chaucer and the Medieval Social Theory

Medieval social theory held that society was made up of three "estates":

• The Nobility: Composed of a small hereditary aristocracy.
• The Church: The ecclesiastical order.
• The Commoners: Everyone else, the large mass of commoners who did all the real work.

By the late fourteenth century, however, these basic social categories became more complex and unstable. Birth, wealth, profession, and personal ability all played a part in determining one's status in a world that was rapidly changing economically, politically, and, therefore, socially.

The Life and Career of Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer's life and his work, especially The Canterbury Tales, were influenced by these forces. A growing and prosperous middle class was beginning to play increasingly important roles in church and state, blurring the traditional class boundaries. Chaucer was born into this "middle class" as the son of a prosperous wine merchant in London.

Instead of apprenticing Chaucer to the family business, his father was able to place him, in his early teens, as a page in one of the great aristocratic households of England. There, he learned the manners and skills required for a career in the service of the ruling class, serving as a personal attendant and in a series of administrative posts.