Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Monsters and Heroes in Beowulf

For Students 9th - 10th
This article tries to figure out the meaning of monsters in Beowulf, comparing the hero with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon.
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Heroes and Heroines

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover some of the earliest heroes and heroines in English literature, from Beowulf to King Arthur. What are the typical characteristics of a medieval hero, and what can this reveal about society in the Middle Ages?
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: John Wycliffe

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life and works of John Wycliffe. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles, collection items, and works.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Margery Kempe

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life and works of Margery Kempe. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles, collection items, and works.
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Geoffrey Chaucer

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles, collection items, works, and teacher resources.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: William Caxton

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life of William Caxton. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles, collection items, works, and teacher resources.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Guthlac

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life of Guthlac. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Julian of Norwich

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life and works of Julian of Norwich. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, links to related articles, and collection items.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Bede

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the life and works of Bede. This source contains a quick fact sheet, a short biography, and links to related articles, collection items, and works.
Activity
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British Library: 20th Century: Creative Activities

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Channel your creativity with these writing activities.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: What Is the Owl and the Nightingale About?

For Students 9th - 10th
"The Owl and the Nightingale" is one of the earliest substantial texts to be written in Middle English. Read an overview of this poem and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
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British Library: Discovering Literature: The Canterbury Tales

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer and view additional resources such as articles, collection items, and teacher resources.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Middle English

For Students 9th - 10th
This article explains how Middle English developed from Old English, changing its grammar, pronunciation, and spelling, and borrowing words from French and Latin.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Old English

For Students 9th - 10th
This article charts the evolution of Old English through the 700 years during which it was written and spoken.
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Language and Voice

For Students 9th - 10th
From the development of Old and Middle English to the innovations of William Caxton and the printing press: explore language and voice in the medieval period.
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British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: The Book of the City of Ladies

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of the poem "The Book of the City of Ladies" by Christine de Pizan and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Piers Plowman

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of the poem "Piers Plowman" by William Langland (possibly) and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Le Morte Darthur

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of the poem "Le Morte Darthur" by Thomas Malory and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
Article
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Beowulf

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of the Old English poem "Beowulf" and view additional resources such as articles and collection items.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Piers Plowman: An Introduction

For Students 9th - 10th
This article introduces the questions of penance and obligation that are at the heart of Piers Plowman and shows how the work's fierce satire and commitment to justice have influenced English literature, from multimedia reimaginings to...
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British Library: Discovering Literature: Collection Items

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover a wealth of literary manuscripts and early print editions from the medieval period.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: William Caxton and the Introduction of Printing to England

For Students 9th - 10th
This article explains how William Caxton brought the printing press to England and published printed versions of works by writers including Chaucer, Malory, Gower, Cicero, and Virgil.
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British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: A Close Reading of Chaucer's 'The Merchant's Prologue and Tale'

For Students 9th - 10th
This article introduces 'The Merchant's Prologue and Tale', exploring the way in which it combines literary genres and traditions, and refuses to give the reader a clear moral or message.