Written in the fifteenth century by anonymous authors, these four Middle English poems demonstrate admiration towards Old Testament Jewish heroines, during a time of antisemitic sentiment in England. The Storie of Asneth presents her life, from her marriage to Joseph to her conversion and visitation by an angel. The alliterative Pistel of Swete Susan follows the virtuous wife Susannah, as she is falsely accused of adultery by two lecherous elders. The last two tales, excerpted from the fourteenth-century Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament, give contrasting accounts of Hebrew female virtue. The Story of Jephthah and his Daughter narrates Jephthah's foolish vow that forces him to sacrifice his daughter to God. The Story of Judith details her infiltration, seduction, and slaughter of enemy general Holofernes to save her city. Altogether, these tales celebrate Christian values of piety, chastity, faithfulness, and duty to one's community. Russell Peck argues that they targeted an audience of aristocratic women.
| ISBN: | 9781879288119 |
| Publication date: | 1st March 1992 |
| Author: | Russell A Peck |
| Publisher: | Medieval Institute Publications an imprint of Medieval Institute Publications (Western Michigan University) |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 157 pages |
| Series: | Middle English Texts |
| Genres: |
Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval |
Written in the fifteenth century by anonymous authors, these four Middle English poems demonstrate admiration towards Old Testament Jewish heroines, during a time of antisemitic sentiment in England. The Storie of Asneth presents her life, from her marriage to Joseph to her conversion and visitation by an angel. The alliterative Pistel of Swete Susan follows the virtuous wife Susannah, as she is falsely accused of adultery by two lecherous elders. The last two tales, excerpted from the fourteenth-century Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament, give contrasting accounts of Hebrew female virtue. The Story of Jephthah and his Daughter narrates Jephthah's foolish vow that forces him to sacrifice his daughter to God. The Story of Judith details her infiltration, seduction, and slaughter of enemy general Holofernes to save her city. Altogether, these tales celebrate Christian values of piety, chastity, faithfulness, and duty to one's community. Russell Peck argues that they targeted an audience of aristocratic women.
Heroic Women from the Old Testament in Middle English Verse features in the following genres: Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval
Heroic Women from the Old Testament in Middle English Verse is available in Paperback
Heroic Women from the Old Testament in Middle English Verse was written by Russell A Peck and published by Medieval Institute Publications an imprint of Medieval Institute Publications (Western Michigan University)
Heroic Women from the Old Testament in Middle English Verse has 157 pages
Yes it is part of Middle English Texts series
£15.75