Topical Vocabulary. vulnerable - уязвимый, ранимый invasion - вторжение, нашествие descend - происходить tribe - племя

vulnerable - уязвимый, ранимый invasion - вторжение, нашествие descend - происходить tribe - племя

invade - вторгаться, захватывать

stretch - пространство

adopt - принимать, заимствовать

owe - быть должным, быть обязанным

allegiance - вассальная зависимость duke - герцог

thereafter - после этого, впоследствии royal court - королевский двор alter - изменяться confcssor - исповедник, духовник heir - наследник

claim - претендовать, заявлять права

contender - соперник, претендент

decisive - решающий

conqueror - завоеватель

proceed - приняться

soil - почва, земля

loyally - верность, преданность

retain - сохранять

repurchase - перекупать

ensure - обеспечивать

compile - составлять, собирать

survey - отчет, обзор

Domesday Book - Земельная Опись

eject - изгонять

substitute - заменить

serf - крепостной

permanent - постоянный

obedience - повиновение, подчинение

duty - пошлина

tax - налог

clergy - духовенство

vast - обширный, громадный

maintain - сохранять, содержать

ecclesiastical - духовный, церковный

supervise - надзирать, заведовать

continually - постоянно

compete - состязаться

initiate - вводить

ruler - правитель

displace - вытеснять, замещать

nobility - дворянство evolve - развиваться

recent - новый

primarily - первоначально

medieval - средневековый

cluster - ipyriiia, скопление

tiny - маленький

refectory - трапезная, столовая

entertainment - развлечение

verve - живость и яркость

vigorous - сильный, энергичный

sermon - проповедь

course - ход, течение

alien - чуждый

vary - меняться, расходиться

vitality - жизнеспособность

humble - скромный, простой

survive - пережить, уцелеть

adventure - приключенческий

prosperity - процветание

influence - влияние, воздействие

striking - поразительный, замечательный

combine - сочетать

wide-range - широкодиапазонный

shrine - гробница, святыня

current - современный, текущий

relish - наслаждаться

iambic pentameter - ямбический пентаметр

alternately - попеременно

accented - ударный

pierce - пронзать, пронизывать

drought - засуха, жажда

engender - порождать, вызывать

exhale - выдыхать, растаять в воздухе

grove - роща, лесок

heath - степь, пустошь

fowl - птица, дичь

prick - колоть, терзать

palmer - паломник

strand - берег

hallow - почитать

holy - священный, святой

blissful - блаженный, счастливый

martyr - мученик

plowman - пахарь

attribute - приписывать

fascinating - пленительный

glimpse - некоторое представление

brief - краткий

scene - сцена, эпизод

eventually - со временем, в конце концов

craft - ремесло

guild - гильдия, организация, союз

feature - изображать, показывать

quality - качество

evil - зло, грех

tear apart - разрываться

warfare - война, столкновение, борьба

knight - рыцарь

bitter - горький, резкий

cruelty - жестокость

struggle - борьба

faction - группировка, раздоры

govern - править, управлять

confusion - смятение

regain - возвратиться, получить обратно

ingenious - искусный

movable - подвижной

laboriously - тяжело

obtainable - достигнутый, достижимый

shift - меняться

Discussion I. Answer the Questions:

1. How long had England been vulnerable to invasion from the Continent?

2. Who were the Normans?

3. What title did the Norman ruler hold?

4. How long did the upper class speak French?

5. Who continued to speak English?

6. What elements did Middle English include?

7. How did the Norman duke William become the English king?

Norman Society.

II. Prove:

1.William, «the Conqueror», wanted to ensure his firm control.

2. Most of the Englishmen were serfs.

3. The clergy had a great influence on society.

4. In the Norman English society there were three languages.

III. Discuss the ways in which William, the Conqueror, pro­ceeded to transform England.

Medieval Literature.

IV. Agree or disagree:

1.The Norman invasion meant death for English literature.

2. Medieval literature was primarily oral.

3. In medieval times few people could read.

4. In medieval times people lived in tiny groups.

5. Singing and telling a story were the chief forms of literature.

6. Literature was the primary entertainment.

7. The Norman invasion did not stop English literature.

8. Some of literary traditions continued in their oral form.

9. As medieval culture evolved, new forms of literature devel­oped.

10. The Germanic Anglo-Saxon language can easily be read.

11. Many Latin words entered the English language in medi­eval time.

V.Speak about:

1) the changes in the English language in medieval times;

2) the chief forms of medieval literature;

3) the authors devoted their works to king Arthur and his knights;

4) the greatest writer of the Middle English period.

VI. Express your opinion:

1. Why is Geoffrey Chaucer considered lo be the greatest writer of the Middle English period?

2. Why did «The Canterbury Tales» become one of the most popular poems of its day?

3. Why were «The Canterbury Tales» important for the devel­opment of English poetry?

VII. Explain:

1.What forms did Early English Drama develop from?

2. What forms of drama appeared in medieval times?

3. What advantages had printing?

Extension

VIII. In a short essay describe the importance of literature in medieval times. You may use the following key points:

1.The development of literary traditions in their oral form.

2. The development of the English language.

3. The chief forms and works of medieval literature.

3.2. Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?— 1400), was the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. He wrote «The Canterbury Tales», a group of stones that ranks among the masterpieces of literature.

Life. Chaucer was bom in London sometime between 1340 and 1343. He lived most of his life there. He came from a prosperous middle-class family, and was trained as a civil servant and diplo­mat. Chaucer was controller of customs from 1374 to 1386 and clerk of the King's Works from 1389 to 1391. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1385, and was appointed to Parliament in 1386. His experiences in all these positions probably developed his fascination with people, his wide knowledge of English life, and the tone of charitable irony in his works.

Chaucer wrote for a circle of people in and around the courts of Edward III and, especially, Richard II. Though Chaucer was a sup­porter of Richard II, he also was associated with Richard's rival, the powerful nobleman John of Gaunt. Chaucer viewed the aristo­cratic fashion called «courtly love» with polite and amused skepti-

cisin, In his poelry, he often satirized the fashion's lofty ideals, elaborate etiquette, and literary style. Chaucer viewed the corrup­tion he saw in the medieval church with less tolerance than he had for the fashion of courtly love. In «The Canterbury Tales», he sati­rized church abuses in his portrayals of the friar, monk, pardoner, and summoner.

Chaucer was one of the most learned men of his age. He trav­eled in Flanders, France, Italy, and Spain on diplomatic missions. He was influenced first by French writers and then by Italian writ­ers, especially Boccaccio, Dante, and Petrarch. Chaucer may have studied law. He was familiar with the Latin classics, medieval sci­ence, and theology. His prose works include a translation of Boethius' «Consolation of Philosophy» and an essay on the astro­labe, an astronomical instrument that was the forerunner of the sex­tant.

Poetry. Chaucer wrote in Middle English, the form of English used from about 1100 to about 1485. He was the first English poet to use heroic verse (rhymed couplets in iambic pentameter).

«The Book of the Duchess» (1368), one of Chaucer's earliest works, is a graceful elegy on the death of John of Gaunt's first wife. Chaucer modeled it on the French dream-vision form of po­etry. He gradually developed his individual style in «The House of Fame» (1379?), «The Parliament of Fowls» (1380?), «The Legend of Good Women» (1387?—1394?), and other shorter lyrics.

Apart from «The Canterbury Tales», Chaucer's greatest poem is «Troilus and Criseyde» (about 1386). Adapted from a love story by Boccaccio, this poem is both a medieval romance and a philo­sophical tragedy. Set in ancient Troy just before its fall, it tells of the love of Prince Troilus for Criseyde. In the poem Chaucer ex­plored the beauty of love, the mysterious workings of fortune, and the sad brevity of earthly joy.

«The Canterbury Tales» (about 1386—1400) is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on a joumey to the shrine of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. One of the pilgrims represents Chaucer himself. Chaucer pictured this pilgrim as a simple fellow who takes everything at face value. This device allowed Chaucer to describe the other pilgrims objectively, while allowing the reader to see the pilgrims' real personalities.