ABSTRACT

Medieval Literature: The Basics is an engaging introduction to this fascinating body of literature. The volume breaks down the variety of genres used in the corpus of medieval literature and makes these texts accessible to readers. It engages with the familiarities present in the narratives and connects these ideas with a contemporary, twenty-first century audience. The volume also addresses contemporary medievalism to show the presence of medieval literature in contemporary culture, such as film, television, games, and novels. From Dante and Chaucer to Christine de Pisan, this book deals with questions such as:

  • What is medieval literature?
  • What are some of the key topics and genres of medieval literature?
  • How did it evolve as technology, such as the printing press, developed?
  • How has it remained relevant in the twenty-first century?

Medieval Literature: The Basics is an ideal introduction for students coming to the subject for the first time, while also acting as a springboard from which deeper interaction with medieval literature can be developed.

chapter |9 pages

Introduction

Here Begynneth Game: The Basics of Medieval Literature

chapter 1|18 pages

Game of Texts

The Magic of Medievalism

chapter 2|23 pages

How to wield a Sword in the Middle Ages

The Literature of War and Violence

chapter 3|26 pages

Chivalry is Not Dead

The Literature of Love and Desire

chapter 4|28 pages

Touching Heaven

The literature of religion

chapter 5|18 pages

Meeting Monsters on the Map

Medieval literature of space and time

chapter 6|32 pages

The Most Extreme

Iconic Authors of the Middle Ages

chapter |3 pages

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