The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Literature 1100-1500 (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

The medieval period was one of extraordinary literary achievement sustained over centuries of great change, anchored by the Norman invasion and its aftermath, the re-emergence of English as the nation's leading literary language in the fourteenth century and the advent of print in the fifteenth. This Companion spans four full centuries to survey this most formative and turbulent era in the history of literature in English. Exploring the period's key authors - Chaucer, Langland, the Gawain-Poet, Margery Kempe, among many - and genres - plays, romances, poems and epics - the book offers an overview of the riches of medieval writing. The essays map out the flourishing field of medieval literary studies and point towards new directions and approaches. Designed to be accessible to students, the book also features a chronology and guide to further reading. The Medieval Period Was One Of Extraordinary Literary Achievement Sustained Over Centuries Of Great Change, Anchored By The Norman Invasion And Its Aftermath, The Re-emergence Of English As The Nation's Leading Literary Language In The Fourteenth Century, And The Advent Of Print In The Fifteenth. This Companion Maps Out The Flourishing Field Of Medieval Literary Studies And Points Towards New Directions And Approaches. -- Back Cover Re-inventing The Vernacular: Middle English Language And Its Literature / Wendy Scase -- Textual Production And Textual Communities / Richard Firth Green -- Religious Writing: Hagiography, Pastoralia, Devotional And Contemplative Works / Richard Newhauser -- Romance / Christine Chism -- Dialogue, Debate, And Dream Vision / Steven F. Kruger -- Drama / Sarah Beckwith -- Lyric / Ardis Butterfield -- Lollard Writings / Rita Copeland -- William Langland / Ralph Hanna -- The Gawain-poet / Sarah Stanbury -- John Gower / Diane Watt -- Geoffrey Chaucer / Larry Scanlon -- Julian Of Norwich / Lynn Staley -- Thomas Hoccleve / Ethan Knapp -- John Lydgate / James Simpson -- Margery Kempe / Rebecca Krug -- Sir Thomas Malory / David Wallace -- Robert Henryson / Sally Mapstone. Edited By Larry Scanlon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 257-278) And Index. the cambridge companion to medieval english literature 1100–1500......Page 2 Contens......Page 6 Abbreviations......Page 8 Contributors......Page 10 Chronology......Page 12 Introduction......Page 22 1 Re-inventing the vernacular: Middle English language and its literature......Page 30 2 Textual production and textual communities......Page 44 3 Religious writing: hagiography, pastoralia , devotional and contemplative works......Page 56 4 Romance......Page 76 5 Dialogue, debate, and dream vision......Page 90 6 Drama......Page 102 7 Lyric......Page 114 8 Lollard writings......Page 130 9 William Langland......Page 142 10 The Gawain -poet......Page 156 11 John Gower......Page 170 12 Geoffrey Chaucer......Page 182 13 Julian of Norwich......Page 196 14 Thomas Hoccleve......Page 208 15 John Lydgate......Page 222 16 Margery Kempe......Page 234 17 Sir Thomas Malory......Page 246 18 Robert Henryson......Page 260 Guide to further reading......Page 274

The medieval period was one of extraordinary literary achievement sustained over centuries of great change, anchored by the Norman invasion and its aftermath, the re-emergence of English as the nation's leading literary language in the fourteenth century, and the advent of print in the fifteenth. This Companion maps out the flourishing field of medieval literary studies and points towards new directions and approaches.