ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Early Medieval literature

Okay kiddo, let me try to explain early medieval literature to you!

In the olden days, when there were no computers or televisions, people used to tell stories to each other. Some of these stories were written down on paper, and these writings were called books.

During the early medieval period, which lasted from about the 5th to the 11th century, people wrote a lot of books. These were called early medieval literature.

These books were full of stories about brave knights, magical creatures, and mythical heroes. They were written using a fancy type of language called Old English or Latin.

One of the most famous early medieval books is called Beowulf. It’s a story about a hero named Beowulf who goes on an adventure to fight monsters and save his people.

Another popular book from this time is the Song of Roland. It’s a story about a knight named Roland who fights bravely for his king but becomes outnumbered by the enemy.

Early medieval literature also included poetry. Poems were like songs without music. They were often about love, nature, and religious beliefs. Some famous medieval poets include Caedmon, Bede, and Dante.

So kiddo, early medieval literature is all about exciting stories and beautiful poetry written a very, very long time ago by people who loved to tell stories and express themselves through writing.