Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts
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| Language: | English |
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2015
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448913159 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu14489131592021-08-03T06:34:09Z Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts Shaull, Erin Marie Szydloski Literature Medieval Literature Middle Ages Old English literature Middle English literature fatherhood Medieval England Anglo-Saxon law Old English wisdom poetry Precepts Vainglory Beowulf The Proverbs of Alfred Layamons Brut This dissertation argues that literature in Old English and early Middle English characterizes legacy-giving as a serious obligation of fatherhood and key paternal role. I contend that the father’s legacy in this cultural context can be understood to include property, heirlooms, wisdom, and kin ties. This project contributes to the emerging study of fatherhood, which has begun to examine fatherhood as a previously under-explored phenomenon that is both a cultural institution and a part of many men’s lived experiences. I examine Anglo-Saxon law-codes, Old English wisdom poetry, Beowulf, and the Middle English texts The Proverbs of Alfred and Layamon’s Brut in order to argue for the cultural importance of this fatherly role. I argue that many of the same cultural markers of Anglo-Saxon paternal legacy continue to be relevant after the Norman Conquest, but that the Norman practice of strict patrilineal primogeniture alters certain aspects of fatherhood. While Old English literature prizes a relationship between father and son that includes an ongoing giving of self on the part of the father, early Middle English literature prefers an ideal father who serves as a prototype for the son, dying just as the son reaches adulthood. 2015 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448913159 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448913159 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Literature Medieval Literature Middle Ages Old English literature Middle English literature fatherhood Medieval England Anglo-Saxon law Old English wisdom poetry Precepts Vainglory Beowulf The Proverbs of Alfred Layamons Brut |
| spellingShingle |
Literature Medieval Literature Middle Ages Old English literature Middle English literature fatherhood Medieval England Anglo-Saxon law Old English wisdom poetry Precepts Vainglory Beowulf The Proverbs of Alfred Layamons Brut Shaull, Erin Marie Szydloski Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| author |
Shaull, Erin Marie Szydloski |
| author_facet |
Shaull, Erin Marie Szydloski |
| author_sort |
Shaull, Erin Marie Szydloski |
| title |
Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| title_short |
Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| title_full |
Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| title_fullStr |
Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Paternal Legacy in Early English Texts |
| title_sort |
paternal legacy in early english texts |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2015 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448913159 |
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AT shaullerinmarieszydloski paternallegacyinearlyenglishtexts |
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