Signifying Power of Pearl - Medieval Literary Cultural Contexts for Transformation of Genre

This book enhances understanding of the 14th-century Middle English dream vision poem Pearl, arguing that the poet intended it to be read at four levels of meaning and corresponding genres: literally, an elegy; spiritually, an allegory; morally, a consolation; and anagogically, a revelation. Using medieval and modern genre theory, it visits scholarly debates about Pearl's genre and meaning. It also considers folktale genre patterns in Pearl, including those drawn from parable, fable, and fairy-tale, and reads it in light of modern psychological theories of grieving and trauma. This book makes a strong case for recognizing Pearl's signifying power and the possibility of new interpretations.

List of contents

Preface
Introduction: Signifying
1. Literal Sense: Desiring the Beloved
2. Allegorical Meaning: Rejoicing in Salvation
3. Moral Purpose: Consoling the Heart
4. Anagogical Revelation: Imagining Spiritual Marriage
5. Parable, Fable, Fairy-Tale: Folktale Genre Patterns in Pearl
Conclusion: Remembering

About the author

Jane Beal, PhD is an Associate Researcher in the Department of English at the University of California, Davis. Her academic monograph, The Signifying Power of Pearl, is available from Routledge. She is also the author of John Trevisa and the English Polychronicon (ACMRS/Brepols, 2013), editor of Illuminating Moses: A History of Reception from Exodus to the Renaissance (Brill, 2014), and co-editor of Translating the Past: Essays on Medieval Literature (ACMRS, 2012) and Approaches to Teaching the Middle English Pearl (MLA, forthcoming). In addition to literary criticism and studies of collegiate pedagogy, she writes poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction and composes new work in translation. To learn more, please visit sanctuarypoet.net and medievalpearl.wordpress.com.

Product details

• Authors: Jane Beal, Beal Jane
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 02.12.2016
• EAN: 9781138678071
• ISBN: 978-1-138-67807-1
• No. of pages: 206
• Series: Routledge Studies in Medieval Literature and Culture
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, LITERARY CRITICISM / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, European history: medieval period, middle ages, Literature: history and criticism, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Medieval style