Families of the King: Writing Identity in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Toronto Old English Studies)

"The annals of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are fundamental to the study of the language, literature, and culture of the Anglo-Saxon period. Ranging from the ninth to the twelfth century, its five primary manuscripts offer a virtually contemporary history of Anglo-Saxon England, contribute to the body of Old English prose and poetic texts, and enable scholars to document how the Old English language changed. In Families of the King, Alice Sheppard explicitly addresses the larger interpretive question of how the manuscripts function as history. She shows that what has been read as a series of disparate entries and peculiar juxtapositions is in fact a compelling articulation of collective identity and a coherent approach to writing the secular history of invasion, conquest, and settlement. Sheppard argues that, in writing about the king's performance of his lordship obligations, the annalists transform literary representations of a political ethos into an identifying culture for the Anglo-Saxon nobles and those who conquered them."-- Provided by publisher The Annals Of The Anglo-saxon Chronicle Are Fundamental To The Study Of The Language, Literature, And Culture Of The Anglo-saxon Period. Ranging From The Ninth To The Twelfth Century, The Chronicle's Five Primary Manuscripts Offer A Virtually Contemporary History Of Anglo-saxon England, Contribute To The Body Of Old English Prose And Poetic Texts, And Enable Scholars To Document How The Old English Language Changed. In Families Of The King, Alice Sheppard Explicitly Addresses The Larger Interpretive Question Of How The Manuscripts Function As History. She Shows That What Has Been Read As A Series Of Disparate Entries And Peculiar Juxtapositions Is In Fact A Compelling Articulation Of Collective Identity And A Coherent Approach To Writing The Secular History Of Invasion, Conquest, And Settlement.--jacket. Introduction : Reading The Chronicle's Past -- 1. Writing Identity In Chronicle History -- 2. Making Alfred King -- 3. Proclaiming Alfred's Kingship -- 4. Undoing Aethelred -- 5. Unmaking Aethelred But Making Cnut -- 6. Writing William's Kingship -- 7. Conclusion : After Lives. Alice Sheppard. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-250) And Index.

The annals of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are fundamental to the study of the language, literature, and culture of the Anglo-Saxon period. Ranging from the ninth to the twelfth century, its five primary manuscripts offer a virtually contemporary history of Anglo-Saxon England, contribute to the body of Old English prose and poetic texts, and enable scholars to document how the Old English language changed.

In Families of the King, Alice Sheppard explicitly addresses the larger interpretive question of how the manuscripts function as history. She shows that what has been read as a series of disparate entries and peculiar juxtapositions is in fact a compelling articulation of collective identity and a coherent approach to writing the secular history of invasion, conquest, and settlement. Sheppard argues that, in writing about the king's performance of his lordship obligations, the annalists transform literary representations of a political ethos into an identifying culture for the Anglo-Saxon nobles and those who conquered them.

"The annals of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle are fundamental to the study of the language, literature, and culture of the Anglo-Saxon period. Ranging from the ninth to the twelfth century, the Chronicle's five primary manuscripts offer a virtually contemporary history of Anglo-Saxon England, contribute to the body of Old English prose and poetic texts, and enable scholars to document how the Old English language changed." "In Families of the King, Alice Sheppard explicitly addresses the larger interpretive question of how the manuscripts function as history. She shows that what has been read as a series of disparate entries and peculiar juxtapositions is in fact a compelling articulation of collective identity and a coherent approach to writing the secular history of invasion, conquest, and settlement."--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction: Reading the Chronicle's Past 11 1. Writing Identity in Chronicle History 19 2. Making Alfred King 36 3. Proclaiming Alfred's Kingship 61 4. Undoing/Ethelred 81 5. Unmaking Æthelred but Making Cnut 104 6. Writing William's Kingship 131 7. Conclusion: After Lives 154 Notes 167 Bibliography 227 Index 261