Challenging Communion: The Eucharist and Middle English Literature (Interventions: New Studies Medieval Cult)

In this book, Jennifer Garrison examines literary representations of the central symbol of later medieval religious culture: the Eucharist. In contrast to scholarship that depicts mainstream believers as enthusiastically and simplistically embracing the Eucharist, 'Challenging Communion: The Eucharist and Middle English Literature' identifies a pervasive Middle English literary tradition that rejects simplistic notions of eucharistic promise. Through new readings of texts such as 'Piers Plowman', 'A Revelation of Love', 'The Book of Margery Kempe', and John Lydgate's religious poetry, Garrison shows how writers of Middle English often take advantage of the ways in which eucharistic theology itself contests the boundaries between the material and the spiritual, and how these writers challenge the eucharistic ideal of union between Christ and the community of believers. By troubling the definitions of literal and figurative, Middle English writers respond to and reformulate eucharistic theology in politically challenging and poetically complex ways. Garrison argues that Middle English texts often reject simple eucharistic promises in order to offer what they regard as a better version of the Eucharist, one that is intellectually and spiritually demanding and that invites readers to transform themselves and their communities. In This Book, Jennifer Garrison Examines Literary Representations Of The Central Symbol Of Later Medieval Religious Culture: The Eucharist. In Contrast To Scholarship That Depicts Mainstream Believers As Enthusiastically And Simplistically Embracing The Eucharist, Challenging Communion: The Eucharist And Middle English Literature Identifies A Pervasive Middle English Literary Tradition That Rejects Simplistic Notions Of Eucharistic Promise. Through New Readings Of Texts Such As Piers Plowman, A Revelation Of Love, The Book Of Margery Kempe, And John Lydgate's Religious Poetry, Garrison Shows How Writers Of Middle English Often Take Advantage Of The Ways In Which Eucharistic Theology Itself Contests The Boundaries Between The Material And The Spiritual, And How These Writers Challenge The Eucharistic Idea Of Union Between Christ And The Community Of Believers. Resisting The Fantasy Of Identification In Robert Mannyng's Handlyng Synne -- Devotional Submission And The Pearl-poet -- Christ's Allegorical Bodies And The Failure Of Community In Piers Plowman -- Julian Of Norwich's Allegory And The Mediation Of Salvation -- The Willful Surrender Of Eucharistic Reading In Nicholas Love And Margery Kempe -- John Lydgate And The Eucharistic Poetic Tradition: The Making Of Community -- Conclusion. Jennifer Garrison. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 187-201) And Index. Acknowledgments ix INTRODUCTION. Eucharistic Poetics and Christian Community 1 CHAPTER 1. Resisting the Fantasy of Identification in Robert Mannyng’s 'Handlyng Synne' 19 CHAPTER 2. Devotional Submission and the 'Pearl'-Poet 51 CHAPTER 3. Christ’s Allegorical Bodies and the Failure of Community in 'Piers Plowman' 81 CHAPTER 4. Julian of Norwich’s Allegory and the Mediation of Salvation 105 CHAPTER 5. The Willful Surrender of Eucharistic Reading in Nicholas Love and Margery Kempe 132 CHAPTER 6. John Lydgate and the Eucharistic Poetic Tradition: The Making of Community 159 CONCLUSION 182 Bibliography 187 Index 203