The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature (Routledge Literature Companions)

"The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature offers a new, inclusive, and comprehensive context to the study of medieval literature written in the English language from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Middle Ages. Utilising a Trans-European context, this volume includes essays from leading academics in the field across linguistic and geographic divides. Extending beyond the traditional scholarly discussions of insularity in relation to Middle English literature and 'isolationism', this volume: Oversees a variety of genres and topics, including cultural identity, insular borders, linguistic interactions, literary gateways, Middle English texts and traditions, and modern interpretations such as race, gender studies, ecocriticism, and postcolonialism. Draws on the combined extensive experience of teaching and research in medieval English and comparative literature within and outside of anglophone higher education and looks to the future of this fast-paced area of literary culture. Contains an indispensable section on theoretical approaches to the study of literary texts. This Companion provides the reader with practical insights into the methods and approaches that can be applied to medieval literature and serves as an important reference work for upper-level students and researchers working on English literature"-- Provided by publsiher The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature offers a new, inclusive, and comprehensive context to the study of medieval literature written in the English language from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Middle Ages. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgements 10 List of Contributors 11 List of Figures 18 Abbreviations 19 Note on Referencing 21 General Introduction: Medieval English Literature in Trans-European and Global Contexts 22 Part I The Forms of Literature: Introduction 34 Chapter 1 Orality, Vocality, and Textuality 36 Chapter 2 Vernacularity 48 Chapter 3 Books and Materiality 60 Chapter 4 Form and Genre 78 Part II Insular Borders, Linguistic Interactions: Introduction 92 Chapter 5 Middle Welsh 96 Chapter 6 Irish 109 Chapter 7 Scots 119 Chapter 8 Multilingualism 128 Part III Literary Gateways: Introduction 142 Chapter 9 ‘Travel’ of the Mind via Study: translatio studii et imperii 146 Chapter 10 ‘Travel’ of the Soul via Religiosity: Imaginary and Actual Pilgrimages 157 Chapter 11 French-Speaking Courts and Literary Dominance in Europe 170 Chapter 12 The Norman Rule 183 Chapter 13 The Venetian Gateway: Commerce, Plague, Oriental Motifs 194 Chapter 14 Origination and Mediation: Sicily 207 Chapter 15 Islamic Pathways and Imaginary Borders 220 Chapter 16 Mercantile Networks 233 Chapter 17 Maps and the Medieval World at Large 244 Part IV Middle English Texts and Traditions: Introduction 254 Chapter 18 The Endurance of Early English Literary Traditions 258 Chapter 19 Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Chronicle Tradition 269 Chapter 20 Marie de France and Middle English Romance 280 Chapter 21 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Alliterative Tradition 289 Chapter 22 Geoffrey Chaucer 299 Chapter 23 John Gower 310 Chapter 24 William Langland: European Poet? 321 Chapter 25 Hoccleve and Lydgate: Transnationalism and Tradition 332 Chapter 26 Margery Kempe, Julian of Norwich, and Female Spirituality 342 Chapter 27 The Middle English Lyrics in Their European Context 353 Chapter 28 Medieval English Drama and Performance 366 Chapter 29 Thomas Malory 377 Chapter 30 Hagiography 388 Part V The Modern Middle Ages: Introduction 400 Chapter 31 Emotion 404 Chapter 32 Race 415 Chapter 33 Gender/Queer 425 Chapter 34 Postcolonialism 437 Chapter 35 Ecocriticism 447 Chapter 36 Human/Animal 457 Chapter 37 Medievalism 466 Timeline 476 Index 484 Index of Manuscripts 499 medieval,literature;,middle,english,literature;,isolationism;,linguistic,interactions;,literary,gateways;,Norman,conquest;,modern,middle,ages medieval literature,middle english literature,isolationism,linguistic interactions,literary gateways,Norman conquest,modern middle ages The Routledge Companion to Medieval English Literature offers a new, inclusive, and comprehensive context to the study of medieval literature written in the English language from the Norman Conquest to the end of the Middle Ages. Utilizing a Trans-European context, this volume includes essays from leading academics in the field across linguistic and geographic divides. Extending beyond the traditional scholarly discussions of insularity in relation to Middle English literature and 'isolationism', this volume: Oversees a variety of genres and topics, including cultural identity, insular borders, linguistic interactions, literary gateways, Middle English texts and traditions, and modern interpretations such as race, gender studies, ecocriticism, and postcolonialism. Draws on the combined extensive experience of teaching and research in medieval English and comparative literature within and outside of anglophone higher education and looks to the future of this fast-paced area of literary culture. Contains an indispensable section on theoretical approaches to the study of literary texts. This Companion provides the reader with practical insights into the methods and approaches that can be applied to Medieval Literature and serves as an important reference work for upper-level students and researchers working on city literature