Laments for the Lost in Medieval Literature (MEDIEVAL TEXTS AND CULTURES OF NORTHERN EUROPE)

This is a collection of essays on the subject of lament in the medieval period, with a particular emphasis on parental grief. The analysis of texts about pain and grief is an increasingly important area in medieval studies, offering as it does a means of exploring the ways in which cultural meanings arise from loss and processes of mourning. The international scholars who come together to produce this volume discuss subjects as diverse as lament psalms in Old and Middle English, medieval Latin laments, mourning in Anglo-Saxon literature, mourning through objects, medieval art and archaeology, Old French poetic elegy, skaldic poetry, medieval women’s writing, Old Polish drama, English massacre plays, and Middle English nativity lyrics. Front matter (“Contents”, “Acknowledgements”, “List of Contributors”), p. i Free Access Singing a Song of Sorrow: Tropes of Lament, p. 1 Anne L. Klinck https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2595 Structures of Sorrow: The Lament Psalms in Medieval England, p. 21 M.J. Toswell https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2596 Dustsceawung: Texting the Dead in the Old English Elegies, p. 45 Mary K. Ramsey https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2597 The Grave, the Sword, and the Lament: Mourning for the Future in Beowulf, p. 67 Anne Savage https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2598 Laments for Lost Children: Latin Traditions, p. 81 Jan M. Ziolkowski https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2599 The Language of Philomena’s Lament, p. 109 Susan Small https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2600 Mary, Motherhood, and Theatricality in the Old Polish Listen, Dear Brothers and Chaucer’s Man of Law’s Tale, p. 129 Anna Czarnowus https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2601 ‘Myth to Live By’ in Sonatorrek, p. 149 Joseph Harris https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2602 ‘Non enim possum plorare nec lamenta fundere’: Sonatorrek in a Tenth-Century Context til minningar um Stefán Karlsson, p. 173 Russell Poole https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2603 Lullaby as Lament: Learning to Mourn in Middle English Nativity Lyrics, p. 201 Amy N. Vines https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2604 Natural Feeling and Unnatural Mothers: Herod the Great, The Life of Saint Bridget, and Chaucer’s Clerk’s Tale, p. 225 Rebecca Krug https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2605 ‘Son, dey þou nat without þy modyre’: The Landscape of Suffering in The Lamentacioun of Oure Lady, p. 243 Elizabeth Towl https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2606 Christine de Pizan’s Life in Lament: Love, Death, and Politics, p. 265 Nadia Margolis https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2607 Spinning Women and Manly Soldiers: Grief and Game in the English Massacre Plays, p. 283 Jane Tolmie https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2608 Postscript/Postlude/Afterword, p. 299 Derek Pearsall https://doi.org/10.1484/M.TCNE-EB.3.2609 Back matter (“Medieval Texts and Cultures of Northern Europe”), p. 307 Free Access Singing A Song Of Sorrow : Tropes Of Lament / Anne L. Klinck -- Structures Of Sorrow : The Lament Psalms In Medieval England / M.j. Toswell -- Dustsceawung : Texting The Dead In The Old English Elegies / Mary K. Ramsey -- The Grave, The Sword, And The Lament : Mourning For The Future In Beowulf / Anne Savage -- Laments For Lost Children : Latin Traditions / Jan M. Ziolkowski -- The Language Of Philomena's Lament / Susan Small -- Mary, Motherhood, And Theatricality In The Old Polish Listen, Dear Brothers And Chaucer's Man Of Law's Tale / Anna Czarnowus -- Myth To Live By In Sonatorrek / Joseph Harris -- Non Enim Possum Plorare Nec Lamenta Fundere : Sonatorrek In A Tenth-century Context Til Minningar Um Stefán Karlsson / Russell Poole -- Lullaby As Lament : Learning To Mourn In Middle English Nativity Lyrics / Amy N. Vines -- Natural Feeling And Unnatural Mothers : Herod The Great, The Life Of Saint Bridgit, And Chaucer's Clerk's Tale / Rebecca Krug -- Son, Dey þou Nat Without þy Modyre : The Landscape Of Suffering In The Lamentacioun Of Oure Lady / Elizabeth Towl -- Christine De Pizan's Life In Lament : Love, Death, And Politics / Nadia Margolis -- Spinning Women And Manly Soldiers : Grief And Game In The English Massacre Plays / Jane Tolmie -- Postscript/postlude/afterword / Derek Pearsall. Edited By Jane Tolmie And M.j. Toswell. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References.