Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

The Legend of Brendan: a Comparative Study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions

Mackley, J. S. (2008) The Legend of Brendan: a Comparative Study of the Latin and Anglo-Norman Versions. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers. 9789004166622.

Item Type: Book
Abstract: The Legend of St Brendan is a study of two accounts of a voyage undertaken by Brendan, a sixth-century Irish saint. The immense popularity of the Latin version encouraged many vernacular translations, including a twelfth-century Anglo-Norman reworking of the narrative which excises much of the devotional material seen in the ninth-century Navigatio Sancti Brendani abbatis and changes the emphasis, leaving a recognisably secular narrative. The vernacular version focuses on marvellous imagery and the trials and tribulations of a long sea-voyage. Together the two versions demonstrate a movement away from hagiography towards adventure. Studies of the two versions rarely discuss the elements of the fantastic. Following a summary of authorship, audiences and sources, this comparative study adopts a structural approach to the two versions of the Brendan narrative. It considers what the fantastic imagery achieves and addresses issues raised with respect to theological parallels
Uncontrolled Keywords: Literary criticism, Medieval, Navigatio Sancti Brendani, Christianity, Literature & the Arts, religion, travel narrative, Medieval fantastic literature
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PA Classical philology > PA8001 Medieval and modern Latin literature
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity > BR1690 Biography > BR1720.B73 Brendan, Saint, the Voyager, ca. 483-577
P Language and Literature > PQ Romance literatures > PQ1 French literature > PQ1411 To 1350/1400
Creators: Mackley, J S
Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing
Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing
Research Centres > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing
Date: 15 June 2008
Date Type: Publication
Series Name: The Northern World
Volume: 39
Place of Publication: Leiden
Number of Pages: 354
Language: English
ISBN: 9789004166622
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4027

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