Otherworlds : fantasy and history in medieval literature

225 Pages·2016·1.33 MB·English

by  Byrne

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OTHERWORLDS
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Otherworlds
Fantasy and History
in Medieval Literature
AISLING BYRNE
1
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3
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Acknowledgements
ThisbookbeganasadoctoralprojectatStJohn’sCollege,Cambridgeand
was completed during my time as Fitzjames Research Fellow in Old and
Middle English at Merton College, Oxford. I am grateful to the Gates
Cambridge Trust for funding my graduate work at Cambridge. I also
benefitedfromthesupportofCambridgeUniversity’sDomesticResearch
Studentshipscheme.
Joanna Bellis, Venetia Bridges, Paul Byrne, Elizabeth Dearnley,
Victoria Flood, Joni Henry, Megan Leitch, and Emily Wingfield all
generously read and commented on sections of this work. The work is
considerablythericherfortheirkeeneyesandtheirscholarship.
I am grateful to my teachers over theyears.Brigitte Erwin nurtured my
love of things literary and things medieval at an early point. At University
College Dublin, Ron Callan and Alan Fletcher were generous with their
guidance. To Neil Cartlidge I owe a particular debt, not only for first
introducingmetotheotherworldofSirOrfeo,butalsofortheencouragement
andguidancehegavemeinpursuingmedievalstudiesbeyondmydegree.
Thanks are also due to Jacqueline Tasioulas, and to my examiners
Corinne Saunders and Christopher Page, who read and commented on
this study. The suggestions of the two anonymous readers appointed by
Oxford University Press were invaluable, as was the assistance of Rachel
Platt. Numerous other people have contributed, chief among them are
Elizabeth Archibald, Elizabeth Boyle, Chera Cole, Robert Easting, Emily
Guerry, Hilary Larkin, Charles MacQuarrie, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Tom
MacFaul,RichardMcCabe,SimonMeecham-Jones,SophiePage,Geraldine
Parsons,ThomasPhillips,JamesWade,JuliaWalworth,MichaelWhitworth,
andBarryWindeatt.Thisbookalsoowesagreatdealtotheinsightsofmy
studentsat Cambridge andatMerton.Patrickhashelpedgreatlywithboth
thelargethingsandthesmall—hiskindnessandgoodcheerhavemadethe
finalphaseofthisprojectthehappiestoftimes.
Before I came to Cambridge, I was told that Helen Cooper was
‘excellent in every way’. Her unfailing generosity and insight as a super-
visorprovedthattherewasnoexaggerationinthatdescription.Icouldnot
haveaskedforabetterteacher.
My sisters, Caitríona and Maria, have entertained and sustained me
with their boundless good humour. I owe most to my parents, Miriam
andPaul,whoimbuedmewiththeirloveoflearning,andwhohavegiven
mesomuchthroughoutmylife.Buíochasóchroílibh.
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Contents
ListofIllustrations ix
ListofAbbreviations xi
Introduction:WorldswithinWorlds 1
SourcesofBeliefandtheCelticConnection 7
RealOtherworlds? 10
‘Hecomintoafaircuntray’:WordsforLiteraryWorlds 12
FictionintoHistory 21
1. ImaginingOtherworlds 25
Pseudo-Mimesis 30
OtherworldExcessandthePerilsofDesire 43
MappingGender 53
DeathandDeathlessness 58
2. OtherworldsandtheAfterlife 68
OweinintheOtherworld 74
BiblicalSourcesand‘Celtic’Otherworlds 87
OtherworldsintheOcean:ScriptureandSyncretism 97
3. SupernaturalAuthorities 107
Kingship,Rulers,andOtherworldRealms 112
AppropriatingAvalon 119
Alexander’sJourneytotheEarthlyParadise 129
4. ArchipelagicOtherworlds 141
TheNorthAtlanticOrbisAlter 143
TheseOtherEdens 152
IslandsofMagic 159
MonstrousPeripheries 167
Conclusion:PointsofDeparture 184
Bibliography 187
Index 207
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List of Illustrations
3.1. TheLuckofEdenhall 108
4.2. WorldMapfromOxford,StJohn’sCollegeMS17,f.6r. 144