Welsh and Old English nature poetry show important similarities
in both mood and imagery. However, modern critics have done both a
disservice by viewing each too narrowly within what Higley calls
the "anglocentric tradition." Study of Old English has suffered
from its isolation from the Welsh, in particular from the lessons
to be learned from its ambiguous, i.e., "uncooperative" qualities.
Taking an inclusive approach that extends from phonology to
imagery, her book examines poems from both traditions and achieves
new and persuasive readings. Between Languages attempts to bring
obscure and moving poems into a wider critical orbit, and it offers
new translations of The Seafarer, Maxims II, and Wulf and Eadwacer
among the English and The Sick Man of Abercuawg, Song of the Old
Man, and various gnomic and wisdom poems among the Welsh, including
one of the few complete English translations in this century of a
vatic poem from The Book of Taliesin.
Welsh and Old English poetry, moreover, have often been
described as like or different from each other. Higley breaks this
cycle of mutual marginalization with theoretically innovative
discussions of each text on its own merits. She joins scholars like
Allen Frantzen, Lee Patterson, and Suzanne Fleischmann in pointing
out that medievalists have, to their own peril, failed to avail
themselves of the subtle resources of postmodern criticism.
Between Languages makes accessible to a modern audience the
traditions of Welsh and Old English poetry, which are at once
parallel, unique, and mutually informative, and at the same time
distinct from poetry since the eighteenth century.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!