Transition period (1400-1550)

This period is often called a transition period due to covering a period between two major
figures in British literature, is that Chaucer and Shakespeare, and perhaps also because the
British at the time of sensory experience that marks the transition roba between English
middle to modern English, from diversity dialect to the standard English. There is also the
name of this period because many poems imitative produced at that time felt Chauser
imitate. This naming may be less precise, but certainly is that during that period no British
literary figures who can be compared with Chauser. And must also be recognized that the
figures for Chauser it would leave a strong influence.

Poetry

Prose
In the field of prose in the first place we need to call the "Morte d'Arthur" (1470), written by
Sir Thomas Malory. This is a prose romance that revolves around King Arthur and the
knights. This work has important historical meaning as used as a source of inspiration and
source material for the famous poet in the future, such as Shakespeare and Tennyson.
Simple and lively prose, and succeeded in expressing the atmosphere and spirit of medieval
better than French writers of the beginning.

Other prose works very influential, was also among the people, is a translation of the book
of the new covenant (1525) which was done by William Tyndale (1484-1536). This
translation of English to establish standards and spread not only among scholars, but also
among the common people, because it is used in every church in the country. Tyndale's
work is the basis of the "Authorized Version", is the standard Bible in English, published
beginning in 1611.

Drama
Meanwhile, England continued to experience dramatic growth. Around the mid-15th
century emerged a new kind of drama called "moralities". Unlike the "Mysteries" and
"Miracles". A "Morality" is no longer showing scenes plucked from the Bible or the lives of
the saints, but tells the characters are abstractions, such as "virtue", "crime", "mankind",
and so on . The main purpose of a "Morality" is to teach morals. But do not forget the
entertainment element. Like religious dramas that often feature previously "Satan" as a
character laugh, as well as "Morality" often give ridiculous nature of the "crime". One of the
"Morality" is famous and is still often played in this modern era is the "Everyman" is created
in the late 15th century by an unknown author. One example of the moral taught is as
follows: on the one day "Death" (death) called "Everyman" (per person) to the Lord: his
friends in the world to forget over time, which will leave "Good Deeds" (charity ) alone who
accompanied him to the Lord.

In addition to "Moralities", performed well as a new type of drama in the period called
"Interludes". A "Interlude" is a form of short plays that are not religious, nor are allegorical,
but merely aims to entertain, although the opportunity for the author of morals still exist.
"Interludes" is not the kind of drama for the common people, but the drama was shown in
place of usual residence of the employer. One of the "Interlude" is the famous "fulgens and
Lucres" by Henry Medwall, which tells about a girl named Lucres who hesitated for two
bachelor dipinang, one of the upper class and a subordinate of the group but eventually
dropped to the second choice.

Towards the end of this period, the influence of Renaissance which we will describe in the
next chapter,