The English and England in the French literature during the Hundred Years War

Abstract

The article is devoted to the question of how and why the images of the British in French literary works of the Hundred Years War period received their reflection. The Hundred Years War became a catalyst for the formation of the French nation and national identity. French authors, whose works are analyzed, belonged to different age and social groups, had different educational levels, and the time of their work covers the period from the end of the XIV century until the first half of the XV century. It is such a rather long period that allows us to see the dynamics in the development of the national identity of the French authors. The sense of homeland, which each had their own (Champagne, Normandy), they intertwined with the awareness of themselves subjects of the French king. In this sense, we can talk about the transfer of patriotic feelings in relation to a particular territory to France within the French kingdom as a whole. The image of the British as conquerors ravaging the French lands, in the views of some of the authors, however, does not mix with a respectful attitude to English culture.