Medieval Era: History, Characteristics, and Literary Figures
The Middle Ages: Definition and Scope
The Middle Ages is a historical period beginning in 476 AD, marked by the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and concluding in 1492, the date of the discovery of America.
Key Areas of Study in the Medieval Era
- Medieval Society
- Cultural Periods (High and Late Middle Ages)
- Literary Expressions
- The Middle Ages in Spain
Cultural Periods and Social Structures
Within the cultural periods, we distinguish:
- High Middle Ages: Often associated with the rise of feudalism and courtly/
Academic Essay Writing: Structure and Linking Devices
Effective Connectors for Academic Essays
Use the following linking devices based on the type of essay you are writing. Note that many connectors are suitable for both Opinion and For and Against essays.
Connectors for Opinion Essays
Expressing Personal Opinion
- I certainly believe that…
- I am certain that…
- To my mind, there is no question that…
- I am convinced that…
- It has long been my feeling that…
- Without doubt.
- As far as I am concerned…
- I believe there is no evidence to support…
- I cannot agree
Renaissance Literary Forms: Miscellanies and Humanist Dialogue
Miscellaneous Humanistic Writings
Miscellaneous humanistic writings are collections that mix a variety of topics. These works, similar to books of notes but conceived as a unified book, have ancient roots in the work of Valerius Maximus, entitled Facta et Dicta Memorabilia. In this work, sections were collected into neat anecdotes and deeds of ancient Roman and some Greek characters.
Renaissance Models of Miscellany
In the Renaissance period, miscellanies can be found in several models:
- Collections
Francisco de Quevedo: Analysis of a Baroque Sonnet on Time
The Baroque Context and Quevedo’s Sonnet Structure
The seventeenth-century Baroque art and cultural movement broke away from the schemes of the Renaissance, creating a profound style characterized by exaggeration and disproportion. It was during this period that Francisco de Quevedo wrote this sonnet.
Formal Structure of the Work
The work is a sonnet, composed of two quartets and two tercets. Each verse contains 11 syllables (hendecasyllable), a meter often used to mimic natural speech patterns, making
Read MoreSamuel Johnson’s Rasselas: The Pursuit of Happiness and Eternity
Samuel Johnson’s *Rasselas*: Context and Creation
Johnson’s only novel, Rasselas, was written in the remarkable span of a single week in 1759, prior to the death of his mother. He claimed that he had to write it quickly in order to get money for her funeral. The novel deals with the theme of the human search for happiness, nonetheless ending with the affirmation that the “choice of eternity” is far more important.
Unlike the novels that appeared in the centuries that followed, Rasselas is
Read MoreThe Enduring Friendship of Stanhope and Osborne in Journey’s End
The Centrality of Moral Values in Journey’s End
In R. C. Sherriff’s play, Journey’s End, in addition to depicting the horrors of the First World War, the author’s main purpose is to let the audience reflect on how important moral values are in life. In particular, Sherriff highlights the value of friendship, which is portrayed vividly through the relationship between Captain Stanhope and Lieutenant Osborne. The bond between the two men is presented through a series of key scenes that play an
Read More