Dissonant Neighbours compares early Welsh and English poetry up to c.1250, investigating why these two neighbouring literatures describe similar events in markedly different ways. Medieval Welsh and English texts were subject to many of the same Latin and French influences, and we see this in the stories told in the poetic traditions; comparing and contrasting the different approaches of Welsh and English poetry offers insight to the core narrative trends of both. How, where and why did early Welsh and English poets deploy narrative? These are key questions that this book seeks to answer, providing a groundbreaking new study which treats the Welsh and English poetry in an equal and balanced manner. It contributes to ongoing debates concerning multilingualism and the relationship between Welsh and English literature, dividing into four comparative chapters that contrast a wide range of early Welsh and English material, yielding incisive new readings in poetic tradition.
Papildus informācija
1. Balanced comparative study. This book is constantly comparative in its examination of early Welsh and English poetry. It studies both equally, without a bias in either direction, and thus compares favourably to other studies in the balanced manner in which Welsh and English material is treated. It makes the book of interest to all those interested in the vibrant field of multilingualism (especially in the medieval period). 2. Contains an appendix, which provides analysed texts and translations of a number of key poems. This is particularly important for scholars of medieval literature who may be unfamiliar with Welsh material. Note also that all the many quotations in languages other than English are translated throughout. 3. Engages thoroughly with literary theory. Literary theory is a key part of this book, and the introduction as well as various chapters set out how I have engaged with particular theorists and critics to formulate models and ideas suited to this corpus. This is a significant development in the study of medieval Welsh literature, where literary theory has not been prominent hitherto. It also ensures that the text engages with literary theorists, and will be of interest to those who study narrative in all periods, not just medievalists. 4. Engages with both Old English and Middle English. Traditionally, there has been a clear disciplinary divide between the study of Old English literature (before 1100 AD), and Middle English literature (1100-1500 AD). This book productively crosses this division, by studying both Old and early Middle English literature (up to c. 1250 AD), and thus is of interest to those studying the history of English literature and its periodization.
David Callander is a Junior Research Fellow at St Catharine's College, Cambridge.
