NAKED BEFORE GOD: UNCOVERING THE BODY IN ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND (WV MEDIEVEAL EUROPEAN STUDIES)

At different times and in different places, the human form has been regarded in different ways. The Ancient Greeks thought it was the most admirable subject for art, whereas early Christians often viewed it as lascivious in our post-lapsarian state. With illustrations taken from manuscripts, statuary and literary, this is a fascinating collection of essays with much that will be new to scholars and general readers alike. Frontmatter List of Illustrations (page vii) List of Abbreviations (page xi) Acknowledgments (page xii) Forward: Uncovering the Body in Anglo-Saxon England (Benjamin C. Withers, Indiana University South Bend, page 1) Introduction: Medieval Bodies Then and Now: Negotiating Problems of Ambivalence and Paradox (Suzanne Lewis, Stanford University, page 15) 1. The Wanton Hand: Reading and Reaching Into Grammars and Bodies in Old English Riddle 12 (Sarah L. Higley, University of Rochester, page 29) 2. The Key to the Body: Unlocking Riddles 42-46 (Mercedes Salvador, Universidad de Sevilla, page 60) 3. The Body as Text in Early Anglo-Saxon Law (Mary P. Richards, University of Delaware, page 97) 4. The Sacrificial Synecdoche of Hands, Heads, and Arms in Anglo-Saxon Heroic Story (John M. Hill, United Sates Naval Academy, page 116) 5. Nudity on the Margins: The Bayeux Tapestry and Its Relationship to Marginal Architectural Sculpture (Karen Rose Mathews, University of Washington, page 138) 6. The Donestre and the Person of Both Sexes (Susan M. Kim, Illinois State University, page 162) 7. Exiles from the Kingdom: The Naked and the Damned in Anglo-Saxon Art (Catherine E. Karkov, Miami University, Ohio, page 181) 8. Breasts and Babies: The Maternal Body of Eve in the Junius 11 Genesis (Mary Dockray-Miller, Lesley University, page 221) 9. Penitential Nakedness and the Junius 11 Genesis (Janet S. Erickson, University of Minnesota-Morris, page 257) 10. Naked in Old English: The Embarrassed and the Shamed (Jonathan Wilcox, University of Iowa, page 275) Index (page 310) Forward: Uncovering The Body In Anglo-saxon England / Benjamin C. Withers -- Introduction: Medieval Bodies Then And Now: Negotiating Problems Of Ambivalence And Paradox / Suzanne Lewis -- 1. The Wanton Hand: Reading And Reaching Into Grammars And Bodies In Old English Riddle 12 / Sarah L. Higley -- 2. The Key To The Body: Unlocking Riddles 42-46 / Mercedes Salvador -- 3. The Body As Text In Early Anglo-saxon Law / Mary P. Richards -- 4. The Sacrificial Synecdoche Of Hands, Heads, And Arms In Anglo-saxon Heroic Story / John M. Hill -- 5. Nudity On The Margins: The Bayeux Tapestry And Its Relationship To Marginal Architectural Sculpture / Karen Rose Mathews -- 6. The Donestre And The Person Of Both Sexes / Susan M. Kim -- 7. Exiles From The Kingdom: The Naked And The Damned In Anglo-saxon Art / Catherine E. Karkov -- 8. Breasts And Babies: The Maternal Body Of Eve In The Junius 11 Genesis / Mary Dockray-miller -- 9. Penitential Nakedness And The Junius 11 Genesis / Janet S. Ericksen -- 10. Naked In Old English: The Embarrassed And The Shamed / Jonathan Wilcox. Edited By Benjamin C. Withers And Jonathan Wilcox. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. At different times and in different places, the human form has been regarded in different ways. The Ancient Greeks thought it was an admirable subject for art, whereas early Christians often viewed it as lascivious. With illustrations taken from manuscripts, statuary and literary, this is a fascinating collection of essays with much that will be new to scholars and general readers alike. SITUATED at the intersection of contemporary discourses about identity, sexuality, gender, and subjectivity, the body (or em-bodiment) dominates the center of many conversations we are now having about the Middle Ages.