Medieval Literature?

Insane Drummer · 11-10-2007, 01:10 PM

I have taken a few classes in Medieval Literature and even outside of them, I really enjoy this stuff. Anyone else read or study Medieval literature? It is really fascinating stuff.

**beanbag** · 11-10-2007, 10:42 PM

what exactly do you classify as medieval, Jason? there's stuff that was written in the middle ages, of course, but there's also stuff that has been written in the style of that time. are you talking about just the original writings, or both?

personally, I love lit that is set in/written in the style of the middle ages. I've only read very little Chaucer, though, and I have never read Beowulf, so my knowledge of authentic medieval material is limited. I have read several translations of medieval folklore (mostly the stuff about Siegfried) though, and it definitely is fascinating, as you say.

**meatfinger** · 11-10-2007, 11:40 PM

Chaucer's nice any way you slice him. Beowulf is maybe the most badass literary character of all time. And there's always Sir Gawain. And Dante's Inferno. I'd say medieval lit is pretty cool, though I haven't studied it much.

thelitguy · 11-11-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Beowulf is maybe the most badass literary character of all time.

No, you mean most lame.

I just finished writing a paper dealing with how Dante's Inferno influenced the religious views of people in the Medieval ages.

Insane Drummer · 11-11-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelitguy

No, you mean most lame.

Dood, Beowulf is pretty cool.

By Medieval I mean written in the Middle Ages. I am really enjoying the Mabinogi(on) right now, wonderfully bizarre Welsh material.

bethany. · 11-11-2007, 05:45 PM

I really can't stand Beowulf, maybe it's the lack of characterization. Chaucer is pretty snazzy though. And I don't know if they're considered medieval, but I love Spenser and Sidney's works.

Boy Genius · 11-13-2007, 12:16 AM

Beowulf is one of the greatest pieces of literature, in my opinion. It's magnificent.

Amanda · 11-17-2007, 07:38 PM

I dig Sir Gawain quite a bit (I wrote a paper on it a few years ago). Also, if you're digging the Mabinogion, check out the Tain bo Cualinge, which is an Irish epic in kind of the same vein, or the old Irish hagiographies. Fun stuff (flying people!).

My friend Rachel just wrote her honors thesis on a series of French Arthurian poems--I haven't read the poems, but her paper's fascinating enough to make me want to.

ryan a johnson · 12-07-2007, 04:15 AM

the history of the kings of britain by geoffrey of monmouth is fun too