The great corpus that is medieval literature contains, at its very center, the tale. These verse and prose fictional narratives, as well as stories that are grounded in some degree of historical truth, are the foundation of what readers, scholars, and enthusiasts often point to as signifiers of the medieval age. These tales - from the skillfully crafted to the more rudimentary and plain - often make familiar to modern readers what seems so distant and foreign about the Middle Ages. This volume of essays focuses on the tale and its ability to create "mirth," what modern audiences would often define as "happiness" or "joy," and the significance that the book has had on the transference of this mirth to audiences.

This volume also celebrates the scholarship of Thomas H. Ohlgren, a medievalist whose work encompasses a number of different areas, but at its center lives the power of the tale and its ability to create a lasting impression on readers, both medieval and modern.

About the Author
Dorsey Armstrong is Associate Professor of English, Purdue University.

Shaun F. D. Hughes is Professor of English, Purdue University.

Alexander L. Kaufman is Professor of English, Auburn University at Montgomery.


Book Information
ISBN 9781580442190
Author Dorsey Armstrong
Format Hardback
Page Count 404
Imprint Medieval Institute Publications
Publisher Medieval Institute Publications
Weight(grams) 785g