The Monstrous Middle Ages

by Bildhauer, Bettina

• ISBN13: 9780708318225
• ISBN10: 0708318223
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-23
• Publisher: Univ of Wales Pr

Summary

"The essays in this collection explore the concept of medieval monstrosity from a variety of perspectives, considering both the representation of literal monsters (devils, dragons, and demons) and the consumption and exploitation of monstrous metaphors in everyday contexts. By examining the symbolic function of monsters in a wide range of aspects of medieval culture-art, literature, religion, and history-these essays draw important conclusions about the political, ethical, social, and spiritual uses to which monstrosity was put in this period."

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vii
Acknowledgements	ix
Notes on Contributors	xi
Abbreviations	xiv
Introduction: Conceptualizing the Monstrous	1	(27)
Bettina Bildhauer
Robert Mills
Jesus as Monster	28	(27)
Robert Mills
Monstrous Masculinities in Julian of Norwich's A Revelation of Love and The Book of Margery Kempe	55	(20)
Liz Herbert McAvoy
Blood, Jews and Monsters in Medieval Culture	75	(22)
Bettina Bildhauer
The Other Close at Hand: Gerald of Wales and the `Marvels of the West'	97	(16)
Asa Simon Mittman
Idols and Simulacra: Paganity, Hybridity and Representation in Mandeville's Travels	113	(21)
Sarah Salih
Demonizing the Night in Medieval Europe: A Temporal Monstrosity?	134	(21)
Deborah Youngs
Simon Harris
Apocalyptic Monsters: Animal Inspirations for the Iconography of Medieval North European Devourers	155	(22)
Aleks Pluskowski
Hell on Earth: Encountering Devils in the Medieval Landscape	177	(19)
Jeremy Harte
Encountering the Monstrous: Saints and Dragons in Medieval Thought	196	(23)
Samantha J. E. Riches
Further Reading	219	(8)
Index	227