Religious Writings
Ayenbite of Inwyt (Remorse of Conscience) 1340
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Translation of French Somme le Roi (Book of Vices and Virtue)
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A treatise on Christian morality. Written in Kentish dialect of Middle English.
Pricke of Conscience – 1340
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Anonymous poem with 10000 lines set into four stressed rhyming couplets and into seven parts and a prologue.
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It deals with the the miserable state of mankind, worldly life, death, purgatory, doomsday, the tormants of hell and joys of heaven.
Revelations of Divine Love 1390
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Written by Julian of Norwich, first published book in English written by a woman
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A book of Christian mystical devotions.
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The book describes a series of wonderful ‘Revelations’ or ‘Showings’ that Julian experienced after a period of ill health.
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The Subject of the Revelation is God’s Love for mankind, suffering and death of Jesus Christ and response of man towards Gods, his maker, keeper, and Preserver.
Romances
The Tale of Gamelyn (1350)
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An English Metrical romance of some 900 lines, written in the East Middle Dialect of Middle English.
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The poem was added to a version of The Canterbury Tales where it followed the unfinished Cook’s Tale.
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Story:
William and Werewolf (1350s/1360s)
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Retelling of Roman de Guillaume de Palerne. Translated by a certain William in Middle English in 14th C. at the instigation of one Humphery de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford and nephew of King Edward II
Geoffrey Chaucer (1340 – 1400)
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Book of the Duchess
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Prologue to the Canturbury Tale
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The Parliament of the Fowles (1380)
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Legend to Good Women is written in dream vision
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Two tales in prose: tales of Melibee, the Parson’s Tale
