Geoffrey of Monmouth (Twayne's English Authors Series)

In this beautifully crafted new entry in Twayne's English Authors Series, Michael J. Curley sets out to instruct the nonspecialist in the events of Geoffrey's career, the techniques governing his three known works - the History, The Prophecies of Merlin, and The Life of Merlin-, and Geoffrey's enduring appeal as commentator on the human condition. Geoffrey's characters "are driven by passion, greed, rivalry, a thirst for glory and adventure, a restless spirit, and a consciousness of their origins," Curley asserts in his preface; "Above all, they are imbued with a sense of their own autonomy." In the five chapters that follow, Curley provides cogent biographical and background information, treats each of Geoffrey's works, and addresses the many issues scholars have raised about the writer. Throughout, Curley guides readers gracefully through complex, highly influential works of not just the Middle Ages but indeed Western civilization, amply demonstrating the power of Geoffrey's contribution to British historiography and cultural myth. We know of the Pearl poet only from the four extraordinary poems composed sometime during the late fourteenth century and preserved in a small handwritten manuscript held in the British Library. Sandra Pierson Prior here presents a thorough introduction to these four treasures: Pearl, a dream poem mourning the death of a young maiden; Cleanness and Patience, retellings of biblical narratives stressing their respective virtues; and the famous Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a brilliantly conceived Arthurian romance. Prior launches her close readings of each of the poems with background on the Pearl poet's Ricardian milieu where, with Chaucer, Langland, and Gower, he brought Middle English poetry to full flower. Considering the cultural, literary, and linguistic contexts of poetry in Ricardian England, Prior illuminates how the Pearl poet joined his contemporaries in exploiting a newly emerging English literature and language while drawing on older Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and continental traditions. Exploring the poems, Prior shows us that they are filled with Biblical and religious learning, and that while their dialect indicates a certain distance from cosmopolitan culture, they are tightly crafted and highly literary, commanding careful attention from the aristocratic courtly audiences they addressed as well as from today's readers. Prior brings all the Pearl poet's achievements clearly into view: his use of the alliterative verse, his creation of syllabic verse and complex rhyme schemes virtually unmatched by his peers, and his mastery of visual description. The Pearl poet is also markedly "modern" in his combination of literate learning and accessibility, as Prior reveals in her explications of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a romance that blends courtly features with popular ones, and of Patience and Cleanness, with their vernacular versions of biblical scholarship. To further acquaint contemporary readers with the poet's complex craft, Prior also offers an invaluable introduction to significant aspects of Middle English literature, and throughout her study quotes the Pearl poet both in the original and in her own translations Contents Preface Chronology One. The Life and Career of Geoffrey of Monmouth Two. The History of the Kings of Britain: Introduction and Non-Arthurian Material The Very Ancient Book Description of Britain Legend of Brutus Early Britain King Leir and His Three Daughters The Brothers Belinus and Brennius Roman Britain The Saga of Vortigern The Sacrifice of the Boy without a Father The Stonehenge Episode The Story of Arthur's Conception Three. The History of the Kings of Britain: The Prophecies of Merlin HRB Book 7 : Part 1 HRB Book 7 : Part 2 Conclusion Four. The History of the Kings of Britain: Arthur and His Successors The Reconquest of Britain and the Neighboring Islands The Campaigns in Norway, Denmark, and Gaul Arthur's Plenary Court at Pentecost Victory over the Romans in Gaul The Battle of Camblan Arthur’s Successors Five. The Life of Merlin Summary of the Vita Merlini The Date of the Poem Sources of the Life of Merlin The Vita Merlini and Geoffrey’s Other Works The Arthurian Matter Notes and References Selected Bibliography Index