I bought and read this anthology for my Medieval Literature class in college. The book includes an interesting introduction, parts of BEOWULF, parts of THE CANTERBURY TALES, SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, THE WAKEFIELD SECOND SHEPHERD'S PLAY, the classic play EVERYMAN, a fragment of MORTE D'ARTHUR, and various other poems and short stories of Medieval English. Each major piece is prefaced by an introduction describing various details and history about the text. This book also includes some black and white pictures and copies of art from the period. Towards the very end of the book a glossary describing in detail medieval literary terms and such can be found. I sold most of my literary textbooks and anthologies, but I kept this one because I enjoy the literature of the period and it's also one of the more well put together anthologies that I have read. A nice reference book to have on hand if your interested in the really old and good stuff in English literature.