Middle English Literature

This book offers a fresh perspective on Middle English literature, exploring its cultural impact from the Norman Conquest to the early sixteenth century.

This history revitalizes the understanding of Middle English literature by exploring five distinctive categories: technology, insurgency, statecraft, place, and jurisdiction. Through these lenses, the book illustrates how this literature was not only a product of its time but also a powerful force in shaping the broader cultural landscape. Middle English Literature provides a unique perspective on a pivotal era, arguing that the centuries following the Norman Conquest through the early sixteenth century represent a crucial moment in literary history. It marks the emergence of literature as a distinct category, emphasizing how English writing began to assert its independence from social constraints.

Furthermore, the book delves into the intricate ways English writing gained its influence, featuring a series of interconnected close readings that highlight both well-known and lesser-known texts. These readings are framed within five engaging narratives that discuss the interplay between Middle English literature and key cultural domains, particularly focusing on how these works engaged with medieval technology, political upheaval, governance, and cultural identity. The concluding sections provide a thorough examination of the strategies, themes, and techniques employed by English writers to establish a new domain for their literary endeavors.

In addition to its historical insights, Middle English Literature is informed by the latest advancements in Middle English scholarship and literary theory. It serves not only as an introduction to these fields but also as a significant contribution to ongoing discussions within them.