Caitlin Ryan

September 30, 2002

Medieval Literature

Website Evaluation

The website chosen for evaluation is entitled Norton Topics Online. The specified website was analyzed based on its readability, accessibility to the user; the links it contains; the content it provides; the legitimacy of its affiliation to other companies. The location for this site can be found at http://www.wwnorton.com/nael/nto/middlefrm.htm . The website is used as an accompaniment to The Norton Anthology Of English Literature.

The site was chosen for evaluation based on its obvious credibility, abundant content, and valuable hyperlinks to other resources. The Home Page is organized in such a fashion that is best fit to meet the needs of the user. It has a search engine located at the top of the site, and a list of the categories for the user to browse, beginning with The Middle Ages, and ending with the Twentieth Century. The main focus of this analysis is directed towards the category of the Middle Ages.

Once the user is easily lead to the Middle Ages segment of the site they will find that this sub link is comprised of three main categories: Medieval Estates and Orders: Making and Breaking Rules; King Arthur: Romancing Politics; The first Crusade: Sanctifying War. Each categorized overview has multiple links that hold specific information pertaining to the text. The content within each link has been organized in such a way that is most helpful to the user. It provides valuable information on medieval culture and literature through the use of writings, quotes, and historical information. The links are relatively current, easy to use, and are comprehensive to the reader. The website states that the last modification was made on Wednesday, July 18, 2001. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, however, differs in that it contains a copyright from the year 200. Therefore, the website’s subject matter is inevitably more up-to-date. The conclusion can be drawn that the website holds more current information for the sole reasoning that new additions can be made with greater ease through the use of electronics.

The site offers useful material that portrays both Medieval Literature, and lifestyles. For example, the first source available under the category of "Middle Ages" pertains to Chaucer’s General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, with criticisms, and direct quotes from Medieval Literature. For example, the following quote was taken from the website as an analytical critique on Chaucer’s writing "What is interesting about Chaucer’s Prologue is not that it portrays an archaic and closed social order but that it reveals that order in the process of breaking down" (http://www.wwnorton.com/nael/nto/middle/estates/estatesfrm.htm). The information presented in this website parallels The Norton Anthology of English Literature in that they both supply historical background information, critical viewpoints, and translations from Medieval Literature.

The user should have full confidence upon viewing this website that the material disclosed is of the most creditable and legitimate nature. Not only does the website provide countless Medieval legends, myths, and chronicles, but it is quite similar to that of the book used by students and professors among prestigious universities, such as Virginia Tech. Taking into account that this is an English based Website that accompanies a commendable Medieval text, the user should find no usage, grammatical, or mechanical problems.

The sole commercial affiliation that this specific website consists of is The Norton Anthology of English Literature. The URL contains absolutely no suspicious ".gov" or ".com". Rather, at the bottom of the site it has a documented copyright and the company of which it is affiliated, W.W Norton and Company. The user should be pleasantly surprised upon viewing this website. Its easy accessibility and educational tools enables the user to gain a greater insight into the captivating Medieval Period.