The Medieval Tradition of Thebes

History and Narrative in the Roman de Thebes, Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Lydgate
1. Auflage 2004
ISBN: 978-0-415-96993-2
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Format (B × H): 162 mm x 237 mm, Gewicht: 426 g

Reihe: Studies in Medieval History and Culture

As the story of the war between the sons of Oedipus and their cursed race, the Theban legend rivaled that of Troy in popularity and importance for medieval poets and audiences. Dominique Battles explores the vernacular Theban narratives of the Middle Ages, including the Old French Roman de Thebes (1154), Boccaccio's Teseida, Chaucer's Theban poems (Anelida and Arcite (1370s), the Knights Tale, and the Theban subtext of the Troilus (1380s)), and John Lydgate's Siege of Thebes (1422). The Medieval Tradition of Thebes constitutes the first comprehensive study of the classical legend of Thebes in the Middle Ages. Far from representing a single consistent legend, the story of the civil war between Eteocles and Polynices took on a variety of forms and purposes, each of which presents its own historical paradigm. By tracing the relationship between these texts, Battles demonstrates how each succeeding adaptation of Thebes builds upon and challenges those before it.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Battles, Dominique

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Weltgeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface Introduction Chapter One: The OF Roman de Thèbes: The Ancients versus the Moderns Chapter Two: Boccaccio's Teseida and the Destruction of Troy Chapter Three: Chaucer's Theban Poems and the Persistence of Thebes Chapter Four: Faulty Connections: The Theban Context of the Troilus Chapter Five: John Lydgate's Siege of Thebes: Breaking the Theban Curse Conclusion Bibliography Index

Über Autor(innen)

Dominique Battles received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia. She is currently Assistant Professor of English at Hanover College