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Part Two:

Middle English

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English:

English Takes Over

In the middle 1300s, English began to take over as the main language

of England, replacing French.

At this time, English was already spoken by most working class people in England, but in 1348, English replaced Latin as the language spoken in schools.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

“Wow!You speak great

English!”

Sound effects found at: http://www.findsounds.com

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English:

English Takes Over

English also replaced French as the language of the law, the language

spoken in the courts.

This happened because of a law called The Statute of Pleading Law

of 1362.

Commander dans le

tribunal!

I mean, Orderin the Court!

Order in the Court!

Sound effects found at: http://www.findsounds.com

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, wrote The Canterbury Tales,

a collection of stories, between 1387 and 1400. It is the story

of a group of thirty pilgrims traveling to Canterbury England.

Here you will see a copy of the beginning(prologue) of the Canterbury Tales,

written in Middle English.

Notice that more of the words are familiar than

they were in Old English.

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Image and Sound found at: http://www.wwnorton.com/nto/noa/audio.htm

Image found at: http://www.wikipedia.org

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

sweetMouse over the

underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

“whose creative influence brings flowers into blossom"

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

the warm, west wind

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

woods

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

Aries, the Greek God of Warfollow along!

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

“so strongly are they moved by natural impluse."

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

pilgrims who visited the Holy Land

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

shores

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

far-off

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

shrines

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

familiar

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

Holy, blissful martyr, referring to St. Thomas

Becket who was murdered at Canterbury.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

“who has cured them”

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sootethe droghte of March hath perced to the roote,And bathed every veyne in swich licourOf which vertu engendred is the flour;Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonneHath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,And smale foweles maken melodye,That slepen al the nyght with open ye(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they wende,The hooly blisful martir for to seke,That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English: Canterbury Tales

sick

Mouse over the underlined wordsto see what they

mean.

Then, click the megaphone

to hear how the poem sounds

in MiddleEnglish.

1100 – 1500 A.D. - Middle English:

The Printing Press!

In 1499, at the very end of the Middle English period, the first dictionary was

printed on English soil.

It was printed by Wynkyn de Wonde.

In 1447, a printing press withmovable type was invented

by Johannes Gutenberg and broughtto England by William Caxton.

This invention would allow the Englishlanguage to be spread throughout

the world.

End of Part Two

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