A BOOK OF MIDDLE ENGLISH - Hardcover

J.A. Burrow; Thorlac Turville-Petre

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Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0631160973 ISBN 13: 9780631160977

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 1992

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This book is an introduction to the wide range of literature written in England between 1150 and 1400. The first part describes the language of the time to enable the reader to achieve a proper understanding of the literature introduced in the second part. The authors describe the language as it was used in different parts of the country, giving guidance on pronunciation, metre and vocabulary, and showing how the language evolved in the period. The also explain how a manuscript text is edited. The following texts are presented: "The Peterborough Chronicle"; "Sir Orfeo"; "Patience"; "St Erkenwald"; John Trevisa's "Dialogue Between a Lord and Clerk"; and the York play of the crucifixion. There are, additionally, extracts from "Piers Plowman", "The Cloud of Unknowing", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and John Gower's "Confessio Amantis". Each text is accompanied by notes.

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Book Description

This essential book introduces readers to the wide range of literature written in England between 1150 and 1400. It opens with an introduction designed to enable the reader to understand the representative pieces of Middle English literature that follow. It describes the language as it was used in different parts of the country, shows how it evolved over this period, and offers guidance on pronunciation, grammar, meter, and vocabulary. The third edition of A Book of Middle English has been extensively enhanced. The authors have revised key works in light of new editions, updated bibliographic entries, and added two new texts. Taken as a whole, the book is the ideal overview of Middle English language and literature.

From the Back Cover

This authoritative textbook introduces readers to the wide range of literature written in England between 1150 and 1400.

The book opens with an introduction to the language of the time, designed to enable the reader to understand the representative pieces of Middle English literature that follow. The authors describe the language as it was used in different parts of the country, show how it evolved over this period, and offer guidance on pronunciation, grammar, metre and vocabulary.

Already a standard classroom text, A Book of Middle English has been extensively enhanced for the third edition. The authors have revised key works in light of new editions, updated bibliographic entries, and have added two substantial new extracts, from Pearl and from Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde.

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