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A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the RenaissanceJusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules)

History

A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance

Name: A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance
Author: Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules)

Jusserand, J. J. (Jean Jules)

English literature -- History and criticism

Coppice and forest trees                                           344

  I. Metrical Romances.--Jugglers and minstrels--Their
  life, deeds, and privileges--Decay of the profession towards
  the time of the Renaissance--Romances of the "Sir Thopas"
  type--Monotony; inane wonders--Better examples: "Morte
  Arthure," "William of Palerne," "Gawayne and the Green
  Knight"--Merits of "Gawayne"--From (probably) the same author,
  "Pearl," on the death of a young maid--Vision of the Celestial
  City                                                               344

  II. Amorous Ballads and Popular Poetry.--Poetry at
  Court--The Black Prince and the great--Professional poets
  come to the help of the great--The _Pui_ of London; its
  competitions, music and songs--Satirical songs on women,
  friars, fops, &c.                                                  352

  III. Patriotic Poetry.--Robin Hood--"When Adam
  delved"--Claims of peasants--Answers to the peasants'
  claims--National glories--Adam Davy--Crecy, Poictiers,
  Neville's Cross--Laurence Minot--Recurring sadness--French
  answers--Scottish answers--Barbour's "Bruce"--Style of
  Barbour--Barbour and Scott                                         359

  IV. John Gower.--His origin, family, turn of mind--He
  belongs to Angevin England--He is tri-lingual--Life and
  principal works--French ballads--Latin poem on the rising of
  the peasants, 1381, and on the vices of society--Poem in
  English, "Confessio Amantis"--Style of Gower--His tales and
  _exempla_--His fame                                                364


CHAPTER IV.

WILLIAM LANGLAND AND HIS VISIONS.

  Langland first poet of the period after Chaucer                    373

  I. Life and Works.--A general view--Birth, education,
  natural disposition--Life at Malvern--His unsettled state of
  mind--Curiosities and failures--Life in
  London--Chantries--Disease of the will--Religious
  doubts--The faith of the simple--His book a place of refuge
  for him                                                            374

  II. Analysis of the Visions.--The pilgrims of
  Langland and the pilgrims of Chaucer--The road to Canterbury
  and the way to Truth--Lady Meed; her betrothal, her
  trial--Speech of Reason--The hero of the work, Piers the
  Plowman--A declaration of duties--Sermons--The siege of
  hell--The end of life                                              382

  III. Political Society and Religious
  Society.--Comparison with Chaucer--Langland's
  crowds--Langland an insular and a parliamentarian--The
  "Visions" and the "Rolls of Parliament" agree on nearly
  all points--Langland at one with the Commons--Organisation
  of the State--Reforms--Relations with France, with the
  Pope--Religious buyers and sellers--The ideal of Langland          388

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A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance

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