Title Old age in early medieval England a cultural history / Thijs Porck

Published Woodbridge, Suffolk : The Boydell Press, [2019] ©2019

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Description 1 online resource Series Anglo-Saxon studies ; 33 Anglo-Saxon studies ; 33. Contents Frontmatter -- Contents -- Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1. Definitions of Old Age -- 2. Merits of Old Age -- 3. Drawbacks of Old Age -- 4. frode fyrnwitan: Old Saints in Anglo-Saxon Hagiography -- 5. hare hilderincas: Old Warriors in Anglo-Saxon England -- 6. ealde eðelweardas: Beowulf as a Mirror of Elderly Kings -- 7. gamole geomeowlan: Old Women in Anglo-Saxon England -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index Summary 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 of the life cycle; the merits and downsides 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 as a mirror for elderly kings; and the cultural roles attributed to old women Analysis Anglo-Saxon Culture Anglo-Saxons Cultural Roles Early Medieval England Elderly Saints Heroic Literature Leiden University Medieval English Old Age Pious Living Senescence Wisdom cultural conceptualization early medieval England historical attitude multidisciplinary approach old age Subject Old age -- England -- History -- To 1500 Aging -- Social aspects -- England -- History -- To 1500 Old age in literature. English literature -- History and criticism. Literature, Medieval -- History and criticism. LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval. Aging -- Social aspects English literature Literature, Medieval Old age Old age in literature SUBJECT Great Britain -- History -- Medieval period, 1066-1485. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85056740 Subject England Great Britain Genre/Form Criticism, interpretation, etc. History Form Electronic book ISBN 9781787444690 1787444694

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