Vernacular Literature

Definition

Vernacular literature refers to works written in the everyday language spoken by people, as opposed to Latin which was commonly used in Europe for scholarly and official writings.

Analogy

Think of vernacular literature like social media posts today. They're written in the language we use every day, making them accessible and relatable to a wide audience. In contrast, Latin texts were like scientific research papers - important and informative but not easily understood by everyone.

Related terms

Middle Ages: This term refers to a period in European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. It's often divided into three parts: early (fall of Western Roman Empire), high (11th-13th centuries), and late Middle Ages (14th-15th centuries).

Latin: A classical language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. During the Middle Ages, it was widely used for scholarly and ecclesiastical purposes across Europe.

Humanism: An intellectual movement during the Renaissance that focused on human potential and achievements. Humanists promoted the study of subjects such as grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, and moral philosophy – many of which were studied through vernacular literature.