| Description |
1 online resource (viii, 217 pages) |
| Series |
Nature and Environment in the Middle Ages ; 1 |
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Nature and environment in the Middle Ages ; 1.
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| Contents |
Frontcover; Contents; Acknowledgements; Note on the Text; Introduction; 1. be sonde, sæwealle neah: Locating Non-Human Subjects in an Anthropocentric World; 2. earfoða dæl: The Groan of Travail in the Ox Riddles; 3. wrætlic weorc smiþa: Inverting the Colophon in Riddle 26; 4. deope gedolgod: Wounding and Shaping in Riddles 53 and 73; 5. fruman agette eall of earde: The Principle of Accountability in Riddle 83; 6. mægene binumen: The Failure of Human Mastery in the Wine and Mead Riddles; 7. swa ne wenaþ men: The Limits of Wisdom in Riddle 84 and the Storm Riddles; Conclusion; Bibliography |
| Summary |
This book examines the depiction of the non-human world in the Exeter Book Riddle Collection, investigating humanity's action with, and attitudes towards, the rest of creation using the fields of eco-criticism and eco-theology. While much scholarly attention has been given to what the riddles have to say abuot human society and culture, about heroism, service, sex and war, little has been said about the natural world. The author argues that there is a programme of resistance to anthropocentrism at work in the riddles, whereby the riddles challenge human-centred ways of depicting and interpreting the created world: depictions of the marginalised perspectives of sentient and non-sentient beings such as trees and animals are not just a characteristic of the riddle genre, but are actively used to explore the point of view of the natural world and the impact humanity has on its non-human inhabitants. She also draws on eco-theology to deepen our understanding of the depiction of the natural world in the riddles, via the main themes of place, labour, creation, transformation, accountability, mastery and wisdom.0 |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-213) and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| SUBJECT |
Exeter book. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50079632
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Exeter book fast |
| Subject |
Riddles, English (Old) -- History and criticism
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English poetry -- Old English, ca. 450-1100 -- History and criticism
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Riddles in literature.
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Nature in literature.
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LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- Publishing.
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LITERARY CRITICISM -- Medieval.
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English poetry -- Old English
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Nature in literature
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Riddles, English (Old)
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Riddles in literature
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| Genre/Form |
Electronic books
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Literary criticism
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Criticism, interpretation, etc.
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Literary criticism.
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Critiques littéraires.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9781787440142 |
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1787440141 |
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