The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature

Description

The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature offers a new, inclusive, and comprehensive context to the study of medieval literature written in the English language from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Middle Ages. Utilising a Trans-European context, this volume includes essays from leading academics in the field across linguistic and geographic divides. Extending beyond the traditional scholarly discussions of insularity in relation to Middle English literature and ‘isolationism’, this volume: Oversees a variety of genres and topics, including cultural identity, insular borders, linguistic interactions, literary gateways, Middle English texts and traditions, and modern interpretations such as race, gender studies, ecocriticism, and postcolonialism. Draws on the combined extensive experience of teaching and research in medieval English and comparative literature within and outside of anglophone higher education and looks to the future of this fast-paced area of literary culture. Contains an indispensable section on theoretical approaches to the study of literary texts. This Companion provides the reader with practical insights into the methods and approaches that can be applied to medieval literature and serves as an important reference work for upper-level students and researchers working on English literature. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of Contributors List of Figures Abbreviations Note on Referencing General Introduction: Medieval English Literature in Trans-European and Global Contexts Part I The Forms of Literature: Introduction Chapter 1 Orality, Vocality, and Textuality Chapter 2 Vernacularity Chapter 3 Books and Materiality Chapter 4 Form and Genre Part II Insular Borders, Linguistic Interactions: Introduction Chapter 5 Middle Welsh Chapter 6 Irish Chapter 7 Scots Chapter 8 Multilingualism Part III Literary Gateways: Introduction Chapter 9 ‘Travel’ of the Mind via Study: translatio studii et imperii Chapter 10 ‘Travel’ of the Soul via Religiosity: Imaginary and Actual Pilgrimages Chapter 11 French-Speaking Courts and Literary Dominance in Europe Chapter 12 The Norman Rule Chapter 13 The Venetian Gateway: Commerce, Plague, Oriental Motifs Chapter 14 Origination and Mediation: Sicily Chapter 15 Islamic Pathways and Imaginary Borders Chapter 16 Mercantile Networks Chapter 17 Maps and the Medieval World at Large Part IV Middle English Texts and Traditions: Introduction Chapter 18 The Endurance of Early English Literary Traditions Chapter 19 Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Chronicle Tradition Chapter 20 Marie de France and Middle English Romance Chapter 21 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Alliterative Tradition Chapter 22 Geoffrey Chaucer Chapter 23 John Gower Chapter 24 William Langland: European Poet? Chapter 25 Hoccleve and Lydgate: Transnationalism and Tradition Chapter 26 Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, and Female Spirituality Chapter 27 The Middle English Lyrics in Their European Context Chapter 28 Medieval English Drama and Performance Chapter 29 Thomas Malory Chapter 30 Hagiography Part V The Modern Middle Ages: Introduction Chapter 31 Emotion Chapter 32 Race Chapter 33 Gender/Queer Chapter 34 Postcolonialism Chapter 35 Ecocriticism Chapter 36 Human/Animal Chapter 37 Medievalism Timeline Index Index of Manuscripts