Medieval Literature Quizzes

Medieval literature is a genre of European literature that flourished during the Middle Ages, from the 5th century to the 15th century. The period is broadly divided into two main categories; early medieval and late medieval. Early medieval works were mainly written in Latin, while later works often used vernacular languages such as French, German and English. Medieval literature encompasses a wide range of topics including courtly romance, religious epics, hagiography and scientific treatises.One of the most popular genres during this time was courtly romance. This type of writing focused on tales of chivalry and knightly adventure with stories featuring heroic knights, beautiful princesses and fantastical settings. These stories typically featured themes such as courtly love and honor. Examples include Chrétien de Troyes’ Arthurian Romances which includes Yvain: The Knight with the Lion (1177) as well as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1375). Another important genre in Medieval Literature was religious epic poetry or hagiography which focused on stories related to Christianity or moral lessons inspired by Christian texts. An example is Beowulf which tells a story about an ancient Scandinavian hero who faces off against supernatural monsters to defend his people; however it also contains references to Christian beliefs such as redemption through faith in God. Other popular works include The Song Of Roland (eleventh-century Old French epic poem) which is about Charlemagne’s successful defense against Muslim invaders in Spain during the 8th century; Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (circe 1320) which follows a soul’s journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven; and Gesta Romanorum (early 14th century collection of Latin tales). The Renaissance period saw an explosion of literary creativity with writers producing plays, poems, sonnets and philosophical treatises that sought to challenge religious dogma or simply entertain readers with tales from mythology or classical antiquity . However there are still many authors from medieval times whose works remain relevant today such as Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote The Canterbury Tales (1387) – a collection of stories told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral – Dante Alighieri who wrote Divine Comedy (circe 1320), Jean de Meun who wrote Romance Of The Rose(1237-1240), Chretien de Troyes who wrote Arthurian Romances including Yvain: The Knight With The Lion(1177). In conclusion, Medieval literature was varied in its subject matter but united by its focus on Christianity while providing both entertainment value through its courtly romances along with moral guidance through its religious epics. Despite centuries having passed since these works were written they continue resonate today due their timeless themes such courage, loyalty , faith , love among others .