Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval English Romance

by Corinne Saunders

Overview

The themes of magic and the supernatural in medieval romance are here fully explored and put into the context of thinking at the time in this first full study of the subject.

The world of medieval romance is one in which magic and the supernatural are constantly present: in otherwordly encounters, in the strange adventures experienced by questing knights, in the experience of the uncanny, and in marvellous objects - rings, potions, amulets, and the celebrated green girdle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This study looks at a wide range of medieval English romance texts, including the works of Chaucer and Malory, from a broad cultural perspective, to show that while they employ magic in order to create exotic, escapist worlds, they are also grounded in a sense of possibility, and reflect a complex web of inherited and current ideas. The bookopens with a survey of classical and biblical precedents, and of medieval attitudes to magic; subsequent chapters explore the ways that romances both reflect contemporary attitudes and ideas, and imaginatively transform them. Inparticular, the author explores the distinction between the ‘white magic' of healing and protection, and the more dangerous arts of ‘nigromancy', black magic. Also addressed is the wider supernatural, including the ways that ideasassociated with human magic can be intensified and developed in depictions of otherworldly practitioners of magic. The ambiguous figures of the enchantress and the shapeshifter are a special focus, and the faery is contrasted with the Christian supernatural - miracles, ghosts, spirits, demons and incubi.

Professor CORINNE SAUNDERS Saunders teaches in the Department of English, University of Durham.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843842217
Publisher:	BOYDELL & BREWER INC
Publication date:	04/15/2010
Series:	ISSN , #13
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Corinne Saunders is Professor of Medieval Literature at the Department of English Studies, University of Durham.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction 1

1 Classical and Biblical Precedents 13

The Classical Period

The Bible

2 The Middle Ages: Prohibitions, Folk Practices and Learned Magic 59

Transitions: Saint Augustine

Prohibitions and Punishments

Folk Beliefs and Practices

Learned Magic

3 White Magic: Natural Arts and Marvellous Technology 117

Healing Magic

The Virtue of Stones

Love-Magic

Wondrous Objects and Marvellous Technology

Chaucer and 'Magik Naturel'

4 Black Magic: The Practice of 'Nigromancy' 152

The Arts of 'Nigromancy'

Shape-Shifting and Enchantment

The Witch: Medea

Clerical Arts: Magicians and Alchemists

5 Otherworld Enchantments and Faery Realms 179

Other Worlds

Faery Mistresses and Enchantresses

Shape Shifters and Faery Knights

The World of Faery

6 Christian Marvel and Demonic Intervention 207

Miracle and Providence

Marvellous Agents

Penance, Illness and Healing

Revenants and Demons

7 Malory's Morte Darthur 234

Merlin and Arthurian Destiny

Marvel, Enchantment and Sorcery

Miracles and Demons: The Grail Quest

The Hand of Destiny

Epilogue: Towards the Renaissance 261

Bibliography 266

Index 293

Editorial Reviews

Saunders has done scholars of medieval magic a great service in exploring the literary sources in great detail. [This] is a fascinating and important work, useful to scholars and students working on the medieval supernatural and accessible for non-specialist readers.

FOKLORE

Corinne Saunders succeeds in portraying the richness of this second or other world of romance. [...] She does so within the larger context of philosophy, religion, law, and folklore [...] magic and the supernatural play an important role in romance, a role expertly analyzed by Corinne Saunders.

JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY

Well written, wide-ranging and provides an exemplary introduction to thinking about magic in the medieval period. [...] It will be indispensable for the study both of medieval romance and of magic and learning in the English literary context.

ARTHURIANA

Lively, engaging and well researched. [...] A valuable resource for those interested in medieval literature and culture.

CHOICE

A major work on a central subject and deserves to be widely read.

MEDIUM AEVUM

[A] rich and illuminating book, a book that should become standard reading on any of the various aspects of the supernatural in medieval romance for many years to come.

REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES

Saunders has done scholars of medieval magic a great service in exploring the literary sources in great detail. [This] is a fascinating and important work, useful to scholars and students working on the medieval supernatural and accessible for non-specialist readers. FOKLORE

A major work on a central subject and deserves to be widely read. MEDIUM AEVUM

Corinne Saunders succeeds in portraying the richness of this second or other world of romance. [...] She does so within the larger context of philosophy, religion, law, and folklore [...] magic and the supernatural play an important role in romance, a role expertly analyzed by Corinne Saunders. JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY

Well written, wide-ranging and provides an exemplary introduction to thinking about magic in the medieval period. [...] It will be indispensable for the study both of medieval romance and of magic and learning in the English literary context. ARTHURIANA

This is a major work on a central subject and deserves to be widely read. MEDIUM AEVUM

Lively, engaging and well researched. [...] A valuable resource for those interested in medieval literature and culture. CHOICE
[A] rich and illuminating book, a book that should become standard reading on any of the various aspects of the supernatural in medieval romance for many years to come. REVIEW OF ENGLISH STUDIES

From the Publisher