Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

V.A. The Middle Ages / James Simpson, Alfred David. Introduction ; Timeline ; Anglo-Saxon literature : Bede (ca. 673-735) and Cædmon's hymn ; The dream of the rood ; Beowulf ; Judith ; The wanderer ; The wife's lament ; Irish literature: Cúchulainn's boyhood deeds ; Early Irish lyrics ; Anglo-Norman literature: The myth of Arthur's return ; Thomas of England ; Ancrene Wisse (Guide for Anchoresses) ; Romance: Marie de France, Sir Orfeo ; Middle English literature in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (ca. 1375-1400): Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1343-1400) ; John Gower (ca. 1330-1408) ; Thomas Hoccleve (ca. 1367-1426) ; William Langland (ca. 1330-1387) ; Middle English incarnation and crucifixion lyrics : Julian of Norwich ; Margery Kempe ; The York play of the crucifixion : Mystery plays : Middle English lyrics : Sir Thomas Malory (ca. 1405-1471) : Robert Henryson (ca. 1425-ca. 1500) ; Everyman (after 1485) ; Appendixes ; General bibliography ; Literary terminology ; Geographic nomenclature ; British money ; The British baronage ; The royal lines of England and Great Britain ; Religions in England ; Illustration: The universe according to Ptolemy ; v. B. The Sixteenth century and the early Seventeenth century / Stephen Greenblatt, George Logan [and others] v. C. The Restoration and the Eighteenth century / James Noggle, Lawrence Lipking v. D. The Romantic Period / Deidre Sauna Lynch, Jack Stillinger v. E. The Victorian Age / Catherine Robson, Carol T. Christ v. F. The Twentieth Century and after / Jahan Ramazani, Jon Stallworthy.