Medieval Literature

The literary culture that thrived in the Medieval era was far ahead of the times. There was a smattering of different languages, from Latin to French to English. Liturgical literary works were mostly written in Latin as not only was it the main cross-cultural language at that time but it was the very language used by the church and the academe (usually for the purpose of learning).

“For secular Literature, French was the dominant language”.

THEMES:


Allegory
The Norman Conquest 
The Black Death
Romance
King Arthur
Authority (auctoritas)
The Peasants' Uprising
Revenge vs. Forgiveness
Antifeminism
The Catholic Church and Protestantism 
French was the dominate language in Secular medieval literature
Valour and chivalric qualities were popular in medieval times and made popular medieval literature subjects
Arthur the legendary knight was popular in the medieval literature written by Geoffrey of Monmouth
Latin was also a popular language in which to write medieval literature
Henry IV established the common use of English in medieval literature above other previously dominate languages

References:
http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-life/medieval-literature-images/
http://www.shmoop.com/medieval-english-literature/characteristics.html