How did the Black Death affect the period of later Middle English literature?

The Black Death (1347–1351) was a catastrophic event that significantly impacted the social and economic landscape of 14th-century England, yet it did not prevent the flourishing of English literature during the later Middle English period.1

While the plague caused massive mortality and economic disruption, literary culture persisted alongside other major challenges, such as the Hundred Years’ War, the Wars of the Roses, and significant social unrest like the Peasants’ Revolt.1

The broader cultural effects of the pandemic included:

• Preoccupation with Mortality: North of the Alps, the trauma of the plague fostered a heightened focus on death and the afterlife, which was reflected in the themes of contemporary poetry, painting, and sculpture.2
• Religious Shifts: The Roman Catholic Church saw its influence over the salvation of souls diminish as individuals increasingly turned toward mysticism.2
• Linguistic Evolution: Despite the instability, the period between 1350 and 1400 witnessed a remarkable literary and linguistic revolution, characterized by the increasing use of the English vernacular in public and literary life.13