PS-Medieval English Literatures: Negotiating Gender, Faith, Politics, and the Course of History: Lady Fortune in MIddle English Literature
Peter Löffelbein
Kommentar
Lady Fortune, the Roman goddess of luck, is one of the most prevalent topoi in medieval literature. It is commonly used to describe and interpret sudden, unexpected turns of events and the prospects and dangers of an unforeseeable future. More often than not, uses of the topos explore the tensions between faith in divine providence and inexplicable human misfortune, as well as between human agency, the idea of free will, and historical contingency. Fortune being personified as a woman adds to these complexities: as a sought-after ally and unsurmountable adversary, Lady Fortune holds a unique and thoroughly ambiguous position in male-centred medieval literary discourse.
Together, we will explore the uses of the topos of Lady Fortune in select Middle English texts. Starting with its historical and philosophical background, we will discuss how Middle English literature adapts and transforms the topos, and what its diverse depictions of Fortune may imply. The course aims at exploring how and to what end notions of gender, human agency, and political ideology may intersect and have been made use of in medieval times and beyond.
All reading materials will be provided. Proficiency in Middle English is not required.
Schließen13 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung