Medieval Literature

What this page covers

The page is a collection of study material on medieval and Old English texts, made by GoConqr users. Most of it is mind maps, with a smaller set of quizzes, flashcard decks, notes, slide sets and two flowcharts. The strongest cluster is Chaucer. The Wife of Bath appears again and again, and there are also maps on The Merchant's Tale and decks on the Pardoner's Prologue and Tale. Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight sit alongside them.

Where to start

If you are new to the period, begin with the wider picture. The Old English Period and Old English (Anglo-Saxon) are mind maps that set the scene. The quiz Literature Before Chaucer then lets you check what stuck.

If you are working on a set text, open one of the Wife of Bath maps. THE WIFE OF BATH: HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT covers Chaucer's life and background. Another map gathers quotes under themes such as marriage, power and religion.

Using maps and quizzes together

1. Read a mind map first to see how a text breaks into characters, themes, context and language.
2. Take a quiz, such as Wife of Bath's Tale or Beowulf Review Quiz, to find what you cannot yet recall.
3. Go back to the map branches for those gaps.
4. Use a flashcard deck of key quotes to practice until you can place each line in context.

Some resources mention A-level English Literature and GCSE English Literature, with maps on assessment objectives and critics. These suit school students. University students and professional candidates may prefer the notes on Old English poetry, the critics maps and the lecture-style quizzes.

Where this fits

This is the Medieval Literature unit, in the Literary Periods and Traditions strand of the Literature subject. Some resources are in Spanish or other languages, so check the title before you open one.

Choose one text, open its mind map and see how much you can explain before trying a quiz.