“Neither Modern Critical Theory nor Anglo-Saxon Studies is past its ‘best before’ date. The contributions to this book combine authoritative knowledge of many aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture with a diversity of interpretative perspectives. Meticulous analysis of the material within a framework of concentrated, reflective approaches continues to generate stimulating new insights and appreciation.”―John Hines, Cardiff University
From the Inside Flap
This collection of new and original essays explores the relationship between contemporary critical theory and the study of Anglo-Saxon England. Core terminology familiar from critical theory, such as ‘ethnicity’, ‘gender’, and ‘agency’, provides a thematic structure in which fresh and revealing perspectives on Anglo-Saxon England come to light. Each essay takes one of these terms as its starting point, offering a brief overview of the term and its use in Anglo-Saxon studies before deploying it as a critical matrix for its own investigation of the Anglo-Saxon period. The collection also explores the question of what contribution Anglo-Saxonists can make to critical theory, and provides new directions for the future of the field.
From the Back Cover
This collection of new and original essays explores the relationship between contemporary critical theory and the study of Anglo-Saxon England. Core terminology familiar from critical theory, such as ‘ethnicity’, ‘gender’, and ‘agency’, provides a thematic structure in which fresh and revealing perspectives on Anglo-Saxon England come to light. Each essay takes one of these terms as its starting point, offering a brief overview of the term and its use in Anglo-Saxon studies before deploying it as a critical matrix for its own investigation of the Anglo-Saxon period. The collection also explores the question of what contribution Anglo-Saxonists can make to critical theory, and provides new directions for the future of the field.
About the Author
Jacqueline Stodnick is Associate Professor of English at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, where she teaches the history of the English language, Old English, and the history of British literature. She has published articles on lists, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and hagiography, focusing in particular on English cultural identity. Her current work explores Anglo-Saxon notions of the body.
Renée R. Trilling is Associate Professor of English at the University of Illinois, USA. She is the author of The Aesthetics of Nostalgia: Historical Representation in Old English Verse (2009), as well as articles on Beowulf, Wulfstan the Homilist, and Anglo-Saxon historiography. Her current work draws on recent trends in neuroscience and related fields to explore the role of materiality in Anglo-Saxon notions of subjectivity.