A stylistic and historical study of one of the most celebrated features of Middle English alliterative poetry, the passages of vivid description. The study explores the narrative function of such descriptions, and the models for the poets' descriptive techniques.
This revised edition takes account of suggestions and comments from reviewers and from those who have used the first edition all over the world. The main features of the second edition are the inclusion of etymologies in the glossary and the edition of three complete texts by Chaucer: The Parliament of Fowls, The Reeve's Tale and The Prioress's Tale. Part One has been revised to cover English at the time of Chaucer, and suggestions for further reading have been updated throughout the book.
Focusing on the tradition of alliterative poetry in medieval English literature, this anthology features lesser-known, unmodernized poems. It provides readers with explanatory footnotes that facilitate a deeper critical engagement with the texts. Originally published in 1989, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding this unique poetic form and its historical context.
The poem explores a father's profound grief after losing his infant daughter, who appears to him in a dream. In this surreal encounter, she guides him towards understanding the role of death within the divine plan. This poignant narrative, rooted in the themes of loss and reconciliation, is one of four notable works by the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, showcasing the depth of medieval literature.