Old Age in Early Medieval England : A Cultural History Paperback / softback
by Thijs Porck
Part of the Anglo-Saxon Studies series
Paperback / softback
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Description
First full-length study of the notion and concept of old age in early medieval England. How did Anglo-Saxons reflect on the experience of growing old?
Was it really a golden age for the elderly, as has been suggested?
This first full survey of the Anglo-Saxon cultural conceptualisation of old age, as manifested and reflected in the texts and artwork of the inhabitants of early medieval England, presents a more nuanced and complicated picture.
The author argues that although senescence was associated with the potential for wisdom and pious living, the Anglo-Saxons also anticipated various social, psychological and physical repercussions of growing old.
Their attitude towards elderly men and women - whether they were saints, warriors or kings - was equally ambivalent. Multidisciplinary in approach, this book makes use of a wide variety of sources, ranging from the visual arts to hagiography, homiletic literature and heroic poetry.
Individual chapters deal with early medieval definitions ofthe life cycle; the merits and drawbacks of old age as represented in Anglo-Saxon homilies and wisdom poetry; the hagiographic topos of elderly saints; the portrayal of grey-haired warriors in heroic literature; Beowulf asa mirror for elderly kings; and the cultural roles attributed to old women.
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Out of Stock - We are unable to provide an estimated availability date for this product
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:288 pages, 8 b/w illus.
- Publisher:Boydell & Brewer Ltd
- Publication Date:18/06/2021
- Category:
- ISBN:9781783276349
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Information
-
Out of Stock - We are unable to provide an estimated availability date for this product
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:288 pages, 8 b/w illus.
- Publisher:Boydell & Brewer Ltd
- Publication Date:18/06/2021
- Category:
- ISBN:9781783276349