The Age of Transition (12th–14th Century)
The Age of Transition was the period between Anglo-Saxon literature and the fully developed Chaucerian Age. It is called a transitional era because it witnessed a shift from purely religious, heroic, and didactic writings to more human-centered, romantic, and lyrical expressions.
Key Features:
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Decline of Latin & French Dominance
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After the Norman Conquest (1066), French and Latin dominated literature and education.
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By the 13th–14th centuries, English began to regain importance as the language of common people, law, and eventually, literature.
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This shift set the stage for National literature in English.
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Rise of Secular Themes
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Earlier works were religious, written in the form of sermons, saints’ lives, and hymns.
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Gradually, we see that literature embraces love, nature, romance, and human relationships.
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Allegories and fables became popular.
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Translations & Adaptations
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Writers translated Latin and French works into English, making them easily available to the common man.
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Example: Ormulum and Layamon’s Brut show an attempt to bring history and scripture into the English tongue.
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🌅 The Dawn of New Learning
This period coincided with early signs of the Renaissance spirit in Europe, though the full Renaissance in England came later (16th century).
- University & Scholarly Growth
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University of Oxford
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The exact founding date is uncertain, but teaching at Oxford is believed to have begun around 1096.
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It developed rapidly from 1167, when King Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris.
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This makes Oxford the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
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University of Cambridge
Cambridge University (King’s College Chapel) -
Founded later, in 1209, when a group of scholars left Oxford after disputes with townspeople and established a new center of learning at Cambridge.
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It received a royal charter in 1231 from King Henry III, formally recognizing it as a university.
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Writers focused on writing about man’s life, love, joys, and struggles instead of only divine salvation.
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This was the beginning of a human-centered worldview.
2. Influence of Continental Writers
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Italian poets like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio inspired English poets.
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The concept of courtly love and allegory was introduced to English poetry through French traditions.
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The Birth of English Poetry
Before Chaucer, there were a few poets who experimented with form, subject, and language. They are often seen as pioneers of English poetry.
Important Figures:
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John Gower (1330–1408)
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Contemporary of Chaucer.
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Wrote in Latin, French, and English.
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His major work, Confessio Amantis, is a long poem exploring love, morality, and philosophy.
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He represents the didactic and moral tradition of medieval poetry.
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William Langland (1332–1386)
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Author of Piers Plowman, a powerful allegorical poem.
William Langland -
Focused on social justice, religion, and corruption in the Church.
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He gave voice to the struggles of the common people.
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The Pearl Poet (14th century)
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Anonymous poet who wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and other works.
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Combined chivalric romance with Christian morality.
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Introduced symbolic and imaginative storytelling.
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Early Lyric Poets & Ballads
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Short religious lyrics, love songs, and folk ballads became popular.
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Example: The Owl and the Nightingale (a debate poem).
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These works introduced music, rhythm, and emotional tone into English verse.
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Why is the Age of Transition important?
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This Age of Transition marks the birth of English poetry in its true form.
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We see a shift of language from Latin and French to vernacular English, making literature more democratic.
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Themes expanded from religion to love, society, and human life.
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The foundations were laid for Chaucer’s genius and the Renaissance spirit.
Conclusion:
The Transition Age was like the sunrise before the bright day of Chaucer. It gave English its first real poetic voice, revived learning, and blended medieval traditions with early humanism.
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