Description
A survey of the significance of names, or their absence, in medieval English, French, and Anglo-Norman romance. Naming and namelessness are among the major themes of medieval romance. Because the genre is so difficult to define, scholars have viewed romance as containing a critical number of themes; this book treats naming as a major themeof romance, and furthermore examines romance's relationship with contemporary naming-theory. A new genre, it is able to play with naming in a way that previously established genres are not. The book begins with a discussion of the medieval background to romance, and explores a series of naming-patterns found across a broad range of texts. It continues with detailed analysis of twenty-one romances [in English, French, and Anglo-Norman, from 1130 to 1500], to show how naming-themes are treated differently in each, and to demonstrate the importance of name as a generic marker. Finally, an appendix provides details of each romance's context, together with indications for further research. JANE BLISS is an independent scholar; she gained her PhD from Oxford Brookes University.
Reviews
A very valuable reference work. * JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY *
The volume is to be admired as much for the author's willingness to shoulder a difficult and interesting topic as it is for the breadth of primary texts that it treats. [...] Researchers interested in the topic will, nevertheless, find in this volume a rich trove of examples on which to base further study of this theme. * ENCOMIA *
An indispensable tool for scholars investigating the themes of name and identity in medieval romance. * ARTHURIANA *
[The author] has generously laid the necessary groundwork for scholars who wish to examine the theme of naming in other contexts. * SPECULUM *
Provides a refreshingly non-ideological approach to romance, cutting across the questions posed by language choice, the popular/courtly debate, gendered readings, or any other culturally evaluative analysis. A worthwhile, interesting book, which positively encourages critical engagement on the part of the reader, and further scholarship on the subject. * REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES *
Book Information
ISBN 9781843841593
Author Jane Bliss
Format Hardback
Page Count 266
Imprint D.S. Brewer
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Weight(grams) 560g
Reviews
A very valuable reference work. * JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY *
The volume is to be admired as much for the author's willingness to shoulder a difficult and interesting topic as it is for the breadth of primary texts that it treats. [...] Researchers interested in the topic will, nevertheless, find in this volume a rich trove of examples on which to base further study of this theme. * ENCOMIA *
An indispensable tool for scholars investigating the themes of name and identity in medieval romance. * ARTHURIANA *
[The author] has generously laid the necessary groundwork for scholars who wish to examine the theme of naming in other contexts. * SPECULUM *
Provides a refreshingly non-ideological approach to romance, cutting across the questions posed by language choice, the popular/courtly debate, gendered readings, or any other culturally evaluative analysis. A worthwhile, interesting book, which positively encourages critical engagement on the part of the reader, and further scholarship on the subject. * REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES *
Book Information
ISBN 9781843841593
Author Jane Bliss
Format Hardback
Page Count 266
Imprint D.S. Brewer
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Weight(grams) 560g
