Old English Literature: Critical Essays - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300091397 ISBN 13: 9780300091397

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2002

Synopsis

Recognizing the dramatic changes in Old English studies over the past generation, this up-to-date anthology gathers twenty-one outstanding contemporary critical writings on the prose and poetry of Anglo-Saxon England, from approximately the seventh through eleventh centuries. The contributors focus on texts most commonly read in introductory Old English courses while also engaging with larger issues of Anglo-Saxon history, culture, and scholarship. Their approaches vary widely, encompassing disciplines from linguistics to psychoanalysis.

In an appealing introduction to the book, R. M. Liuzza presents an overview of Old English studies, the history of the scholarship, and major critical themes in the field. For both newcomers and more advanced scholars of Old English, these essays will provoke discussion, answer questions, provide background, and inspire an appreciation for the complexity and energy of Anglo-Saxon studies.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"A great resource for students grappling with translating the works most often encountered in an introductory Old English course, as well as for those reading them in translation. Liuzza provides an elegant introductory essay suggesting the challenges and joys of interpreting literature written a millennium ago."—Jonathan Wilcox, University of Iowa, editor of the Old English Newsletter "This invaluable volume fills an obvious gap in the field by offering a series of first-rate essays that introduce students to the culture, historiography, and literature of Anglo-Saxon England. Liuzza's introduction to the book is written with his characteristic lucidity, directness, and wit."—Nicholas Howe, The Ohio State University "The essays in this stimulating collection are thought-provoking, never dull, and occasionally controversial. They represent some of the most exciting work in the field today."—Daniel Donoghue, Harvard University

About the Author:

R. M. Liuzza is associate professor of English at Tulane University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0300091397
• ISBN 13: 9780300091397
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 518
• Editor: Liuzza R. M.