This volume spans five centuries of post-Conquest literature, written at a time in which enormous social, political and linguistic changes transformed life in Britain. Medieval genres such as Arthurian romance, lyrics, dream narratives and mystery plays are brought to life and accompanied by discussions of key debates such as “Gender and Power”, “The Emergent Individual” and “Society and Class”. Bringing together historical contexts and critical theory, this is essential reading for any student of medieval literature.