ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

LITERATURE QUESTIONS

MEDIEVAL LITERATURE AND CULTURE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
How did French become the dominant language of England?
A
King Alfred wanted all educated people to speak French.
B
Many English nobles preferred French because of the culture’s superior poetry.
C
Edward the Confessor’s wife was French, and she had great influence at court.
D
After the successful invasion of England, the language of William of Normandy became the language of the elite.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Most of the French vocabulary in English entered the language after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when Old French, specifically the Old Norman dialect, became the language of the new Anglo-Norman court, the government, and the elites.

Detailed explanation-2: -The use of French by the upper class For 200 years after the Norman conquest, French remained the language of ordinary intercourse among the upper classes in England. Intermarriage and association with the ruling class numerous people of English extraction thought it was and advantage to learn the new language.

Detailed explanation-3: -By the late 18th century, the British Empire had spread English through its colonies and geopolitical dominance. Commerce, science and technology, diplomacy, art, and formal education all contributed to English becoming the first truly global language.

Detailed explanation-4: -The addition of vocabulary According to different sources, at least 30% of the modern English vocabulary is directly borrowed from French. Words like “prince, ” “joyful, ” and “beef” come from the French language, as well as common terminology in the military, legal, technological, and political fields.

Detailed explanation-5: -One major impact from the Battle of Hastings that can still be seen today is the change in the English Language. William being from 11th Century Normandy, spoke French, and when he conquered England he brought the Norman / French language across with him.

There is 1 question to complete.