THE DATING OF BEOWULF

Chase, Colin

ISBN 10: 0802078796 / ISBN 13: 9780802078797

Editore: University of Toronto Press, 1997

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Very minor lifting of corners of wraps. ; Toronto Old English Studies; 0.69 x 9.78 x 6.78 Inches; 230 pages; The date of Beowulf, debated for almost a century, is a small question with large consequences. Does the poem provide us with an accurate if idealized view of early Germanic culture? Or is it rather a creature of nostalgia and imagination, born of the desire of a later age to create for itself a glorious past? If we cannot decide when, between the 5th and 11th centuries, the poem was composed, we cannot distinguish what elements in Beowulf belong properly to the history of material culture, to the history of myth and legend, to political history, or to the development of the English literary imagination. This book represents both individual and concerted attempts to deal with this important question, and presents one of the most important inconclusions in the study of Old English. The contributors raise so many doubts, turn up so much new and disturbing information, dismantle so many long-accepted scholarly constructs that Beowulf studies will never be the same: henceforth every discussion of the poem and its period will begin with reference to this volume.

Codice articolo 1913

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: THE DATING OF BEOWULF
• Editore: University of Toronto Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 1997
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0802078796
• ISBN 13: 9780802078797
• Rilegatura: Softcover
• Condizione: Near Fine
• Peso: 1,3 libbre
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Medieval Studies
  • Anglo-Saxon Studies

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

The date of Beowulf, debated for almost a century, is a small question with large consequences. Does the poem provide us with an accurate if idealized view of early Germanic culture? Or is it rather a creature of nostalgia and imagination, born of the desire of a later age to create for itself a glorious past? If we cannot decide when, between the 5th and 11th centuries, the poem was composed, we cannot distinguish what elements in Beowulf belong properly to the history of material culture, to the history of myth and legend, to political history, or to the development of the English literary imagination.

This book represents both individual and concerted attempts to deal with this important question, and presents one of the most important inconclusions in the study of Old English. The contributors raise so many doubts, turn up so much new and disturbing information, dismantle so many long-accepted scholarly constructs that Beowulf studies will never be the same: henceforth every discussion of the poem and its period will begin with reference to this volume.

Informazioni sugli autori

The late Colin Chase (1935-1984) was a member of the Department of English and of the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto.

COLIN CHASE (1935-1984), the editor of this volume, was a member of the department of English and of the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. NICHOLAS HOWE is the Director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Ohio State University, Columbus.