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The Matter of Identity in Medieval Romance
Edited by Phillipa Hardman

Identity is a central concern of medieval romance. Here it is approached through essays on issues of origin and parentage, transformation and identity, and fundamental questions of what constitutes the human. The construction of knightly identity through education and testing is explored, and placed in relation to female identity; the significance of the motif of doubling is studied. Shifting perceptions of identities are traced through the histories of specific texts, and the identity of romance itself is the subject of several essays discussing ideas of genre (the overlap between romance and hagiography is a theme linking a number of articles in the collection). Medieval romance is shown as a marketable commodity in the printed output of William Copland, and as an opportunity for literary experimentation in the work of John Metham. Romances discussed include: Chevalere Assigne, Sir Gowther, Sir Ysumbras, Beves of Hamtoun, Robert of Cisyle, Fierabras romances, Breton lays, Thomas's Tristan and Marie de France's Eliduc. Contributors: W.A. DAVENPORT, JOANNE CHARBONNEAU, CORINNE SAUNDERS, AMANDA HOPKINS, MORGAN DICKSON, MARIANNE AILES, JUDITH WEISS, JOHN SIMONS, RHIANNON PURDIE, MALDWYN MILLS, A.S.G. EDWARDS, ROGER DALRYMPLE.

 

DETAILS

184 pages
Size: 23.4 x 15.6 cm
13 digit ISBN: 9780859917612
Binding: Hardback
First published: 28/Nov/2002
Price: 105.00 USD / 55.00 GBP
Imprint: D. S. Brewer
Subject: Medieval Literature

BIC class: CSBB

STATUS: Available
Details updated on 01/12/2008

Contents
1   The Matter of Identity in Medieval Romance
Phillipa Hardman
2   Abbreviation and the Education of the Hero in Chevalere Assigne
W A Davenport
3   From Devil to Saint: Transformations in Sir Gowther
Joanne A Charbonneau
4   Desire, Will and Intention in Sir Beves of Hamptoun
Corinne Saunders
5   Female Vulnerability as Catalyst in the Middle English Breton Lays
Amanda Hopkins
6   Female Doubling and Male Identity in Medieval Romance
Morgan Dickson
7   Ganelon in the Middle English Fierabras Romances
Marianne Ailes
8   Emperors and Antichrists: Reflections of Empire in Insular Narrative, 1130-1250
Judith Weiss
9   A Byzantine Identity for Robert of Cisyle
John Simons
10   Generic Identity and the Origins of Sir Isumbras
11   Generic Titles in Bodleian Library MS Douce 261 and British Library MS Egerton 3132A
Maldwyn Mills
12   William Copland and the Identity of Printed Middle English Romance
A S G Edwards
13   Amoryus and Cleopes: John Metham's Metamorphosis of Chaucer and Ovid
Roger Dalrymple

Reviews
[Readers] will find a number of solid investigations that contribute to the field of Middle English studies as well as several comparative readings of a variety of interesting works.The collection is most useful to generalists in any field of medieval literature. ARTHURIANA



 

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