Rewriting the Old Testament in Anglo-Saxon Verse - Becoming the Chosen People

The Bible played a crucial role in shaping Anglo-Saxon national and cultural identity. However, access to Biblical texts was necessarily limited to very few individuals in Medieval England. In this book, Samantha Zacher explores how the very earliest English Biblical poetry creatively adapted, commented on and spread Biblical narratives and traditions to the wider population. Systematically surveying the manuscripts of surviving poems, the book shows how these vernacular poets commemorated the Hebrews as God's 'chosen people' and claimed the inheritance of that status for Anglo-Saxon England. Drawing on contemporary translation theory, the book undertakes close readings of the poems Exodus , Daniel and Judith in order to examine their methods of adaptation for their particular theologico-political circumstances and the way they portray and problematize Judaeo-Christian religious identities.

Product details

• Authors: Samantha Zacher
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 05.12.2013
• EAN: 9781441134776
• ISBN: 978-1-4411-3477-6
• No. of pages: 208
• Series: New Directions in Religion and Literature; New Directions in Religion and; New Directions in Religion and Literature; New Directions in Religion and
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval, RELIGION / Christianity / General, RELIGION / Biblical Studies / General, Christianity, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Biblical Studies & Exegesis, Anglo-Saxon / Old English, Anglo-Saxon