Paradise, Death and Doomsday in Anglo-Saxon Literature (Cambridge Studies in Anglo-Saxon England, Series Number 32)

How did the Anglo-Saxons conceptualize the interim between death and Doomsday? In this 2001 book, Ananya Jahanara Kabir presents an investigation into the Anglo-Saxon belief in the 'interim paradise': paradise as a temporary abode for good souls following death and pending the final decisions of Doomsday. She locates the origins of this distinctive sense of paradise within early Christian polemics, establishes its Anglo-Saxon development as a site of contestation and compromise, and argues for its post-Conquest transformation into the doctrine of purgatory. In ranging across Old English prose and poetry as well as Latin apocrypha, exegesis, liturgy, prayers and visions of the otherworld, and combining literary criticism with recent scholarship in early medieval history, early Christian theology and history of ideas, this book is essential reading for scholars of Anglo-Saxon England, historians of Christianity, and all those interested in the impact of the Anglo-Saxon period on the later Middle Ages. How Did The Anglo-saxons Conceptualise The Interim Between Death And Doomsday? In Paradise; Death And Doomsday In Anglo-saxon Literature, Ananya Jahanara Kabir Presents The First Investigation Into The Anglo-saxon Belief In The 'interim Paradise'; Paradise As A Temporary Abode For Good Souls Following Death And Pending The Final Decisions Of Doomsday. She Locates The Origins Of This Distinctive Sense Of Paradise Within Early Christian Polemics, Establishes Its Anglo-saxon Developments As A Site Of Contestation And Compromise, And Argues For Its Post-conquest Transformation Into The Doctrine Of Purgatory. In Ranging Across Old English Prose And Poetry As Well As Latin Apocrypha, Exegesis, Liturgy, Prayers And Visions Of The Otherworld, And Combining Literary Criticism With Recent Scholarship In Early Medieval History, Early Christian Theology And History Of Ideas, This Book Is Essential Reading For Scholars Of Anglo-saxon England, Historians Of Christianity, And All Those Interested In The Impact Of The Anglo-saxon Period On The Later Middle Ages.--jacket. Preface -- List Of Abbreviations -- 1. Between Eden And Jerusalem, Death And Doomsday : Locating The Interim Paradise -- 2. Assertions And Denials : Paradise And The Interim, From The Visio Sancti Pauli To Ælfric -- 3. Old Hierarchies In New Guise : Vernacular Reinterpretations Of The Interim Paradise -- 4. Description And Compromise : Bede, Boniface And The Interim Paradise -- 5. Private Hopes, Public Claims? Paradisus And Sinus Abrahae In Prayer And Liturgy -- 6. Doctrinal Work, Descriptive Play : The Interim Paradise And Old English Poetry -- 7. From A Heavenly To An Earthly Interim Paradise : Toward A Tripartite Otherworld -- Select Bibliography -- Index. Ananya Jahanara Kabir. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 190-202) And Index.

How did the Anglo-Saxons conceptualise the interim between death and Doomsday? In Paradise, Death and Doomsday in Anglo-Saxon Literature, Dr. Kabir presents the first investigation into the Anglo-Saxon belief in the "interim paradise" or paradise as a temporary abode for good souls following death and pending the final decisions of Doomsday. She determines the origins of this distinctive sense of paradise within early Christian polemics, establishes its Anglo-Saxon development as a site of contestation and compromise, and argues for its post-Conquest transformation into the doctrine of purgatory.

If it is permissible to define literature, with a certain rhetorical flourish, as a mirror of society, it is nevertheless a more or less distorting mirror depending on the conscious or unconscious desires of the collective soul which is examining itself - depending, more particularly, on the interests, prejudices, sensibilities and neuroses of the social groups responsible for making the mirror and holding it up to society, or at least that part of society capable of seeing, that is, of reading.