Middle English literature summary history of english literature

 Middle English poetry (early)

The Battle of Hastings renewed many traditions in the English language and literature. Norman French became the language of the aristocracy and Latin for the clergy. The common people who were mostly uneducated retained their English language. English lost its upper class patronage. Only the commoners employed gleemen, their storytellers. English was despised by the aristocracy. But, it got inspired by the French language and literature. So, on century after the Norman conquest of 1066, English language reemerged.