Overview

During the 1100's, court poets enjoyed tremendous popularity and respect. Poets of the 1100's often studied for many years to achieve their status. In Ireland, bardic schools such as the imaginary one described in this feature actually existed.

In fact, they might have benefited from a Web site like Bard.Guild. Although some performers belonged to the households of kings and nobles, others traveled about and entertained at castles along the way. These entertainers were known as bards in Ireland, troubadours in France, skalds in Scandinavia, and minnesingers in Germany.

The practice of formal oral storytelling began to die out by the late 1400's, as the printing press made it possible for people to enjoy and preserve their literature in written form. The tradition of the bard today survives at folk festivals, however.