English literature of the 14th, 15th century
In prose, very simple, vivid, the last great
representative of medieval romances. Even as he was writing it, the whole idea of
chivalry was losing its status.
· William Caxton the first printer in England. One of his earlier prints was of "Morte
D'Arthur"
· The genre of the ballad became very popular and very well developed. A ballad is a
song that tells a story, usually they were accompanied by music. They usually consist
of four lines called a quatrain. Features of a ballad:
o The beginning is often sudden
o The language is simple
o The story is told through dialogue and action
o The theme is usually fairly tragic, although there are some comic ballads as
well
o There is usually a refrain
o A ballad usually deals with a single episode
o There is little setting
o There is a strong dramatic element
o The narrator is impersonal
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