Publisher Description

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.

Author Biography

Larry Scanlon is Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Chronology; Introduction Larry Scanlon; Part I. Contexts, Genres, and Traditions: 1. Re-inventing English: Middle English language and its literature Wendy Scase; 2. Textual production and textual communities Richard Firth Green; 3. Religious writing: hagiography, pastoralia, devotional and contemplative works Richard Newhauser; 4. Romance Christine Chism; 5. Dialogue, debate, and dream vision Steven F. Kruger; 6. Drama Sarah Beckwith; 7. Lyric Ardis Butterfield; 8. Lollard writings Rita Copeland; Part II. Authors: 9. William Langland Ralph Hanna; 10. The Gawain-Poet Sarah Stanbury; 11. John Gower Diane Watt; 12. Geoffrey Chaucer Larry Scanlon; 13. Julian of Norwich Lynn Staley; 14. Thomas Hoccleve Ethan Knapp; 15. John Lydgate James Simpson; 16. Margery Kempe Rebecca Krug; 17. Sir Thomas Malory David Wallace; 18. Robert Henryson Sally Mapstone; Guide to further reading.

Review

'Scanlon's Companion brings together an impressive cast of contributors and provides its reader with an authoritative and accessible guide to the study of Middle English literature today.' De Gruyter

Promotional

A wide-ranging survey of the most important medieval authors and genres, designed for students of English.

Review Quote

'Scanlon's Companion brings together an impressive cast of contributors and provides its reader with an authoritative and accessible guide to the study of Middle English literature today.' De Gruyter

Promotional "Headline"

A wide-ranging survey of the most important medieval authors and genres, designed for students of English.

Description for Bookstore

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 and genres, the book offers an overview of the riches of medieval writing, with a chronology and guide to further reading.

Description for Library

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 and genres, the book offers an overview of the riches of medieval writing, with a chronology and guide to further reading.

Details