TIMELINE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE (1450-1550)

 

TIMELINE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE (1450-1550)

From Chaucer to Spenser

OR

The Revival of Learning (1450-1550)

History / Events	Literature
1455-85 Wars of the Roses begin 1492 Columbus lands in West Indies 1535 Sir Thomas More, St John Fisher, Anne Boleyn, William Tyndale executed. 1549 Book of Common Prayer. 1476 Printing press started.	1412 Govenail of princes by Hoccieve. 1422 The Kings Quair by James I 1470 Morte Darthur by Malory (1085) 1516 Utopia by More (Latin) 1551 Utopia by More (English) 1557 Tottel’s Miscellany by Wyatt.

RULERS
1461-83	Edward IV
1483	Edward V
1483-85	Richard III
1485-1509	Henry VII
1509-47	Henry VIII
1547-53	Edward VI
AUTHORS
1422-1491	William Caxton
1452-1519	Leonardo de Vinci
1456-1513	William Dunbar
1469-1527	Machiavelli
1477-1535	Thomas More
1503-1542	Thomas Wyatt
1504-1556	Nicholas Udall
1513-1572	John Lyly
1474-1522	Gawain Douglas

1.      Who was credited for the introduction of the printing press in England and in which year?

Ans. Caxton was credited for the introduction of the printing press in England. The year was 1477.

2.      Who wrote Utopia? who translated it into English in which year?

Ans. Thomas Moore wrote Utopia (1516), the fantasy book and Ralph Robinson translated it into English in 1551.

3.      Name two Female characters featured in The Canterbury Tales.

Ans. The Canterbury Tales is a veritable picture gallery of the 14^th century England. Among the women characters, dainty and aristocratic Madan Eglantine and her fellow nun represent the Church. Here is further the immortal Woman character – The wife of Bath.

4.      What are the Historical importance of 1453 and 1477?

Ans. Constantinople, the capital of Roman Empire fell to the Turks in 1453. The monks and philosophers at there fled to different parts of Europe with their scholastic learning. These created a new awakening of learning which is popularly called the Renaissance movement in Europe.

            The 1477 is important for the establishment of printing press in England by Caxton. The first printing book is Lydgate’s Temple of glass, The Sheep and The Goose.

5.      What is known as Lollard movement?

Ans. Lollard simply means the poor priests. They are the supporters of reformist Wycliffe. Wycliffe challenges the authority of the Catholic Church and protests the rampant corruption in it. He starts a movement by the help of these Lollards to spread his teachings. He translated the Bible into simple English.