english
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History and Literature of Renaissance England Part 4: The Stuarts
The Stuart period begins with James I of England, who also ruled as James VI of Scotland. For the first time, England and Scotland are united under one crown. James believes strongly in the divine right of kings. In simple terms, he sees monarchy as something granted by God, not something to be questioned by… Continue reading
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History and Literature of Renaissance England Part 2: The Tudors
The Tudor story begins at the end of the Wars of the Roses. England had been torn apart by decades of conflict between rival noble houses. When Henry VII took the throne in 1485, his first priority was simple: control. He reduced the power of the nobility, strengthened the monarchy, and focused heavily on financial… Continue reading
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Road to Chaucer: History and Literature of Early England Part 7: The Norman Dynasty
After 1066, England was no longer the England that Alfred, Athelstan, or Edward had known. The Norman Conquest had upended kingship, aristocracy, and culture. William the Conqueror ruled not just as a king but as a conqueror, and his dynasty would reshape the land, law, and literature for generations. William’s victory at Hastings was only… Continue reading
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Road to Chaucer: History and Literature of Early England Part 6: End of the Anglo Saxon Period
In our previous we spoke about England under the first king to call himself “King of the English People”: Athelstan. For the first time, the word “England” had real meaning. But Athelstan’s greatness was not only military. His court became a beacon of culture and scholarship. Manuscripts were collected, laws codified, and scholars drawn from… Continue reading
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Road to Chaucer: History and Literature of Early England Part 5: Anglo-Saxon Britain
Before we get to pilgrims and playful storytelling with Geoffrey Chaucer, we have to go back much further, to a time that feels almost unrecognizable. When the Romans left Britain in the early 5th century, they did not make a dramatic exit. There was no grand farewell, no final speech, no sense of closure. They… Continue reading
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Road to Chaucer: History and Literature of Early England Part 4: Summary of Literature in Roman Britain
Before the Anglo-Saxons arrived in full force and Old English began to be written down, England had already experienced centuries of cultural contact, oral storytelling, and early written records. Understanding this “literary prehistory” helps us trace the roots of medieval English literature. When the Romans arrived, they brought Latin, the language of administration, law, and… Continue reading
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