Nature and Medieval Literature

This book begins by considering ecocritical approaches to literary texts and then moves to a discussion of the ways in which Welsh, French and English authors recount the Peredur/Perceval story. The study then embarks on full-chapter studies of the treatment of nature in a range of major authors and texts, including the work of Chaucer, the Scottish Chaucerians (Dunbar and Henryson), the medieval and early modern outlaw myths (particularly those concerning Robin Hood), the medieval English romances, and finally a selection of medieval English lyrics. The book argues that while some texts represent the actual forces and patterns of the natural and animal worlds, other texts use the natural and animal worlds both as a way of understanding nature itself and as a basis for a critique of the human and increasingly urban world of the medieval period.

PrefaceIntroduction1. Towards Ecocriticism2. Medieval Ecocriticism3. Ecocritical Approaches in this StudyChapter 1 Nature and Medieval Welsh Literature1. Early Poetry2. Medieval Prose Stories: Culhwch ac Olwen3. Medieval Prose Stories: the Mabinogi4. The Human and Natural Poetic SublimeChapter 2 Nature in Mainstream Romances: Perceval de Galles (Le Conte du Graal), Peredur and Sir Perceval of Galles1. Introduction2. A Forest Dweller Turned Knight2.1 Perceval de Galles2.2 Peredur2.3 Sir Perceval of Galles3. The Hero Ventures Alone in the World3.1 Perceval de Galles3.2 Peredur3.3 Sir Perceval of Galles4 The Hero Resolves His Errors4.1 Perceval de Galles4.2 Peredur4.3 Sir Perceval of Galles5. ConclusionChapter 3 Chaucer's Use of Nature in Representation, Narrative and Analysis1. Introduction2. Nature and Society Encounter: The Book of the Duchess3. Negative Nature and Social Culture: The Book of Fame4. Nature Celebrated and Variegated: The Parlement of Foules5. Nature, Conflict and Tragedy: Troilus and Criseyde6. Nature, the Human, and the Unnatural World: the General Prologue to TheCanterbury Tales7. Engagement with and Separation from Nature: The Canterbury Tales7.1 Tales with Little or No Engagement with Nature7.2 Tales which Deal Extensively with Nature7.3 Tales which Deal with Nature in a Limited WayChapter 4 Nature in the Scottish Chaucerians1. Introduction2. Dunbar2.1 Nature and Royalty2.2 Nature and Love2.3 Night and Darkness2.4 Negative Nature3. Henryson3.1 The Moral Fabillis3.2 Nature in Henryson's Other Work3.2.1 Embedded Nature3.2.2 Dark Nature3.2.3 Natural Context Openings4 ConclusionChapter 5 Nature in Medieval English Romances1. Introduction2. Limited Treatment of Nature3. From the Forest Onwards4. Romances with the Natural World Recurring Throughout5. Romances with Nature Involved in the Plot6. ConclusionChapter 6 Nature and the English Outlaw Myth1. Nature and the Outlaw Ballad2. Lord Robin of the Forest3. Robin Hood and the Romantic Natural Context4. Nature and Outlaw Novels, Poetry and DramaChapter 7 Nature in Medieval English Lyrics1. Introduction2. Nature Itself3. May-time and Love4. Nature and the Spiritual World5. Nature and a Negative Human Context6. Nature Ironic and Vulgar7. Conclusion