My Account
The Middle English period of English literature extends from approximately 1150 CE to approximately 1500 CE. It includes a large body of secular and religious poems and prose works. It also includes several notable figures in English literature, such as Chaucer, the Pearl Poet, and Malory.
More information

Subcategories 9

Related categories 5

Includes pages on Chaucer, Gower, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Langland, Julian of Norwich, Kempe, Malory, Lydgate, Hoccleve, and the Paston Letters. Also has pages on Middle English lyrics (with sound recordings), Middle English plays, and Everyman. Each page in the anthology has some or all of the following features: texts, translations, introduction, biography, essays, articles, and links to web resources.
Volume 1, Chapters 9-20, and Volume 2, chapters 1-18, cover the Middle English period (1100-1500). These chapters treat all major Middle English authors, works, and subjects.
A full-text database containing a large number of Middle English texts. You can read each text in its entirety, and you can perform simple or complex searches across the entire corpus.
Sound recordings of excerpts from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and other works by him. Useful for hearing what Middle English sounds like.
Selected Middle English texts from the 15th century. Edited with introduction, notes, and glossary by Alfred W. Pollard. Project Gutenberg e-book.
Selected Middle English texts from the 14th century. Edited by Kenneth Sisam. Project Gutenberg e-book.
Created by J.R.R. Tolkien and designed for use with Kenneth Sisam's "Fourteenth Century Verse and Prose." Project Gutenberg e-book.
Modern English translations of Middle English texts.
A list of links to sites that aid in the study of Middle English literature. These sites include collections of literary texts and translations, Bible texts and translations, specific author sites, and language-related sites.
Part 1 of this volume covers the Old English period. Part 2 covers the Middle English period. To access the table of contents or index for both parts, pull down the arrow next to "Jump to Section," click "Jump to page," and enter "#13" for the table of contents or "#327" for the index.
Provides bibliographic descriptions of all the verse and prose texts cited in the Middle English Dictionary. Use the search engine to find the entries for given authors and titles. A publication of the Middle English Compendium (MEC).
A history and critical study of Middle English literature by W.P. Ker. Includes a chapter on Old English literature. Project Gutenberg e-book.
Describes a large number of items related to the Old and Middle English periods, mainly manuscripts and early print editions. Each description includes images and background information about the author, work, or manuscript. Site also contains items not related to medieval England.
A collection of a large number of Middle English texts. The apparatus for each text contains some or all of the following items: introduction, side glosses, notes, bibliography, and indices. Includes a search engine.
An overview of Middle English poetry and prose. From the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia.
Provides online texts of selected Middle English lyrics together with sound recordings of many of the lyrics. Also includes essays, articles, web resources, and a link to all of the lyrics in the famous collection known as the Harley Lyrics.
A survey of Middle English poetry and prose from Britannica. Covers both the Early Middle English and Later Middle English periods. Click the links in the left frame to view each topic.
Includes a detailed introduction to Middle English drama and links to more than 175 play texts. Also contains links to essays, articles, and additional web resources. These resources include general studies, bibliographies, and pointers to other Middle English and medieval European drama sites.
An edition of King Horn, Havelok the Dane, Bevis of Hampton, and Athelston. The apparatus for each work consists of an introduction, the Middle English text, side glosses, and notes. There is also a general introduction to the genre of romance.
Selected texts edited by Joseph Hall. Introductions, notes, and other apparatus for each text are in Part 2 (Notes). Project Gutenberg e-book.
Joseph Hall's introductions, notes, and other apparatus for each work contained in Part 1 (Texts). Project Gutenberg e-book.
Provides self-contained editions of short Middle English poems. In most cases, each edition includes an introduction, the Middle English text, a modern English translation, notes, glossary, and a manuscript image with a description. Also includes modern English translations of longer poems.
This index page contains links to the writings of Middle English authors. Five sections have links to one or more of these writings: Historiography; Literary Texts>English>Middle English; Medieval Thought; Medieval Spiritual Writing; and Governmental, Administrative, and Legal Documents.
A full-text database that includes a number of Middle English texts. You can search or browse the entire corpus. At the University of Michigan.
Provides bibliographic descriptions of all the verse and prose texts cited in the Middle English Dictionary. Use the search engine to find the entries for given authors and titles. A publication of the Middle English Compendium (MEC).
A collection of a large number of Middle English texts. The apparatus for each text contains some or all of the following items: introduction, side glosses, notes, bibliography, and indices. Includes a search engine.
A full-text database containing a large number of Middle English texts. You can read each text in its entirety, and you can perform simple or complex searches across the entire corpus.
Sound recordings of excerpts from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and other works by him. Useful for hearing what Middle English sounds like.
An edition of King Horn, Havelok the Dane, Bevis of Hampton, and Athelston. The apparatus for each work consists of an introduction, the Middle English text, side glosses, and notes. There is also a general introduction to the genre of romance.
Volume 1, Chapters 9-20, and Volume 2, chapters 1-18, cover the Middle English period (1100-1500). These chapters treat all major Middle English authors, works, and subjects.
Describes a large number of items related to the Old and Middle English periods, mainly manuscripts and early print editions. Each description includes images and background information about the author, work, or manuscript. Site also contains items not related to medieval England.
A survey of Middle English poetry and prose from Britannica. Covers both the Early Middle English and Later Middle English periods. Click the links in the left frame to view each topic.
This index page contains links to the writings of Middle English authors. Five sections have links to one or more of these writings: Historiography; Literary Texts>English>Middle English; Medieval Thought; Medieval Spiritual Writing; and Governmental, Administrative, and Legal Documents.
Includes pages on Chaucer, Gower, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Langland, Julian of Norwich, Kempe, Malory, Lydgate, Hoccleve, and the Paston Letters. Also has pages on Middle English lyrics (with sound recordings), Middle English plays, and Everyman. Each page in the anthology has some or all of the following features: texts, translations, introduction, biography, essays, articles, and links to web resources.
Includes a detailed introduction to Middle English drama and links to more than 175 play texts. Also contains links to essays, articles, and additional web resources. These resources include general studies, bibliographies, and pointers to other Middle English and medieval European drama sites.
Provides online texts of selected Middle English lyrics together with sound recordings of many of the lyrics. Also includes essays, articles, web resources, and a link to all of the lyrics in the famous collection known as the Harley Lyrics.
Part 1 of this volume covers the Old English period. Part 2 covers the Middle English period. To access the table of contents or index for both parts, pull down the arrow next to "Jump to Section," click "Jump to page," and enter "#13" for the table of contents or "#327" for the index.
Provides self-contained editions of short Middle English poems. In most cases, each edition includes an introduction, the Middle English text, a modern English translation, notes, glossary, and a manuscript image with a description. Also includes modern English translations of longer poems.
Joseph Hall's introductions, notes, and other apparatus for each work contained in Part 1 (Texts). Project Gutenberg e-book.
Selected texts edited by Joseph Hall. Introductions, notes, and other apparatus for each text are in Part 2 (Notes). Project Gutenberg e-book.
An overview of Middle English poetry and prose. From the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia.
A full-text database that includes a number of Middle English texts. You can search or browse the entire corpus. At the University of Michigan.
Created by J.R.R. Tolkien and designed for use with Kenneth Sisam's "Fourteenth Century Verse and Prose." Project Gutenberg e-book.
Selected Middle English texts from the 14th century. Edited by Kenneth Sisam. Project Gutenberg e-book.
A history and critical study of Middle English literature by W.P. Ker. Includes a chapter on Old English literature. Project Gutenberg e-book.
Selected Middle English texts from the 15th century. Edited with introduction, notes, and glossary by Alfred W. Pollard. Project Gutenberg e-book.
A list of links to sites that aid in the study of Middle English literature. These sites include collections of literary texts and translations, Bible texts and translations, specific author sites, and language-related sites.
Modern English translations of Middle English texts.
Category editors:
tomnor1 plantrobflash
Last update:
January 28, 2026 at 18:35:42 UTC
Arts
Business
Computers
Games
Health
Home
News
Recreation
Reference
Regional
Science
Shopping
Society
Sports
All Languages