Supernatural in Early British Literature

Kim Gregory

Professor Flack

British Literature

11-25-2012

Supernatural in Early British Literature

            Supernatural or folk lore was present and very prevalent in early British Literature.  The definition of Supernatural is “(of a manifestation or event) Attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.”  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural)  It was common practice to use supernatural phenomenon to escape from many tragedies occurring from the Fifteenth to Seventeenth Centuries.  Using supernatural characters in the early centuries in England also helped the bards, poets, and playwrights better express themselves and their political or spiritual beliefs.  These supernatural character would allow them to express themselves without having to worry about the restrictions the present Monarchy placed on speech.  Using events or creatures that people do not believe exist will allow the writer to express themself more freely because the stories would be considered fiction and not an attack on the crown.

            In an article titled, Recording Superstition in Early Modern Britain:   The Origins of Folklore by Alexandra Walsham:  The author explains how some superstitions came about, what their importance to the society was at the time, and why the tales have stood the test of time.  The article also “focuses on the fundamental tension between curiosity and censure upon which the modern discipline of folklore was built.”  (p. 181)   the article states “the task of recording ‘superstitions’ was nothing less than an intellectual and cultural obsession.”  (p.178) the article also refers to supernatural occurrences being the explanation of the weather changes, seasons, birth of children, death of the old, and sickness.  Today we have a better understanding of these things because of the discovery and use of science and the forever-evolving technology.

            Because of the ever evolving religious beliefs that were plaguing England during the 15^th century and beyond.  England, which was attempting to hold on to old Catholic beliefs, viewed superstition as paganism or a form of devil worshiping.  The belief of devil worship has persisted even in more modern and more educated times.  Some of the folklore and superstitions and supernatural beliefs were just a way of common folks who were ill literate to pass on “the very beliefs and customs they so lovingly see to preserve in the protective aspic of writing and print.”  (p.181)

            Alexandra Walsham also states, “It is necessary to emphasize three aspects of the concept of superstition embodied in these texts.  Firstly, superstition was conceived of as a heinous sin, part of a grand diabolical design to seduce mankind to damnation.  In fabricating, some had contracted an alliance and pact with Satan himself.  Therein lay the basis of the polemical commonplace that popery was no more than a species of magic and sorcery.”  (p182)  Alexandra Walsham also discusses the following theory:  “Many Catholic rites, including the mass were merely thinly concealed versions of sacrificial ceremonies performed to honour or appease pre- Christian deities.  […] Also, second and third generation Protestants of the hotter sort revived these arguments in their efforts to purge the Church of England of remaining popish ceremonies and persuade society at large to abandon immoral pastimes and heathen origin.”  (p.184)  She continued by saying: “Despite the efforts of Protestant evangelists, too many laypeople remained wedded to the old superstitions in which they been nurtured by the Church of Rome” (p. 185)          

            Beowulf is another written example during this time in England where supernatural literature was commonplace.  In Beowulf the occurrences of supernatural themes were not subtle:  “Grendel was the name of this grim demon, /haunting the marches, […] in misery among the banished monsters, / Cain’s clan whom the Creator has outlawed / and condemned as outcasts.  […] and out of the curse of his exile there sprang /ogres, and elves and evil phantoms/ and the giants too who strove with god.  (Beowulf p. 44 102-102; 105-106; 111-113)  This quote describes Grendel and his relation to Cain.  Grendel, who considered an outcast and an evil being and a genetic tie to Cain who is the reason for all evil, was not welcomed into other villages.  Also along with Grendel, other monsters who were also supernatural outcasts came to be along with Grendel.  Another example of a supernatural stories occurred in Lanval.  This story is a 12^th Century story published in England about a fairy queen.  The fairy queen spoke this oath to Lanvil:  

            “When you want to talk to me

there is no place you can think of

where a man might have his mistress

without reproach or shame,

that I shall not be there with you

to satisfy all your desires. 

No man but you will see me or hear my words.”

In Lanval, the queen told Lanval that when he thought of her she would magically appear to fulfill all his desires.  She was the most beautiful and could magically appear and he just had to think of her. 

            In the Wife of Bath, because the knight, who married an old and ugly witch gave the answer she was looking for, a right to choose what she desires, she gave the Knight exactly what he desires:

            “For by my trouthe, I wol be to you bothe-

This is to sayn, ye, bothe fair and good.

I pray to God that I mote serven wood.

But I to you be al so good and trewe

As evere was wif sin that the world was newe.

And but I be tomorn as fair to seene

As any lady, emperisse, or queene,” (Wife of Bath Tale p3091246-52)

           

In the Wife of Bath, the wife had promised her new husband the knight that she will appeal to him physically because of his choice to let her choose, but also she would be faithful.  Again, because of magic she was able to alter her old woman appearance. 

            In the Pardoner’s Tale, greedy men were looking for death, (to defeat him) and were directed to an old oak tree by an old man:

            “Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde

Of florins fine of gold ycoined rounde

Wel niegh an eighte bushels as hem thoughte-

Ne lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,

But eech of hem so glad was of the sighte,

For that the florins been so faire and brighte,

That down the sette hem by this precious hoord.”  (The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale P.321 480-487)

After the three greedy men were side tracked by the treasure, they forgot they sought Death.  In a supernaturally ironic way because of their greed and trying to plot against each other, they found death one by one by killing each other accidently.  The treasure was magical and tested those men who did not have a true heart and was run by greed.  In this tale, Chaucer has a moral undertone to the story.  He is telling you by the story to stay on the path of God, and don’t smite others and try not to be greedy and you will find death in your own time when God is ready to have you join Him.  In The Pardoner’s Tale the appearance of the gold made the greedy men forget about seeking death.

             Finally, in Sir Gawain the whole tale revolves around supernatural events such as the story involved the mythical character King Arthur.  In Sir Gawain a stranger comes to King Arthur’s court very tall and handsome:

            “In fact in all features he was finely formed

It seemed.

Amazement seized their minds,

No soul had ever seen

A knight of such a kind-

Entirely emerald green.”  (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight P. 189  145-150.)

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the fact that the Knight was Green was a supernatural phenomenon.  The quote describes all the Knights physical qualities’ and leaves the fact that the Knight is green as a powerful revelation to tie the whole thing together and understand the whole allure of the Green Knight.

            All of these tales of the supernatural, fables, and unexplained occurrences have been passed down through the generations.  These tales were a way of explaining the occurrences in life that were unexplainable, but today in the modern world with the work of technology are just dismissed as fairy or old wives tales.  These tales also have been altered or changed sometimes because of science and technology.  The fact that remains is these tales are a part of history and gives the modern world an inside and very detailed look at life and inner workings in the political and religious world as well and the way the commoners perceived the hierarchy of the times.                         

Paradise Lost book 10

                                             Critical Article Analysis and Summary                                                                                                                                                                                  In critical article The First Reception of Paradise Lost, by Nicholas Von Maltzahn, the reader discovers how the epic poem was received after its publication.  During the time of 1667 when Paradise Lost was published, there was a great strife within the religious hierarchy.  Charles II was king and the people had strong beliefs that there should be one religion and one church; although many of people had freedoms they did have political or religious influence. The government also faced difficulties in choosing a designated religion. The Church of England was trying to process the Presbyterian religion and dealing with critical issues such as war and plague,  however “the church discouraged too much interpretation of such providence, astrological or meteorological” (Maltzahn 483). 

            Milton received mixed reviews when his book was published.  Milton was praised for his forward thinking but also was criticized for the religious aspects of his book, especially with his portrayal of Satan.  Milton, who was compared to Homer, was questioned about his lack of rhyming in his books.  There were also some criticism of interpretation, which led to the question, was Milton attempting to “urge repentance and spiritual self-renewal both individual or national”(Maltzahn 481). England at this time was also trying to repair itself from the “war, Plague, the fire, and economic decline, all contributed a new impetus to the sense of uncertainty and instability that pervaded English politics” (Maltzahn 481). 

            Other critics such as Hobart, who was aware of Milton’s earlier writings, considered them controversial and accused the poet as “a criminall and obsolete person” (Maltzahn 491). He defined Milton’s epic as, “obsolete as a rebellious independency and with no alliance with any religious sect.  These accusations resulted in Milton lack of readers, which is the opposite perspective of how Paradise Lost is viewed today.

The preservation of Paradise Lost can also be credited to “Milton’s reputation as a humanist”, which “commended his work even when his political positions were questioned or dismissed” (Maltzahn 492).  Milton’s reputation aided him by allowing his critics to look past any conceived political agenda he may have possessed when writing the poem, which may explain why the epic poem has endured over the centuries.

Works Cited

Maltzahn, Nicholas von. The First Reception of Paradise Lost. The Review of English Studies, New Series, Vol. 47, No. 188 (Nov., 1996), pp. 479-499.

Quote analysis: Paradise Lost Book 10

 

1. God is not pleased with his creations and uses simplistic reasoning for Adam and Eve’s future fall:

For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered

The high injunction not to taste that fruit,

Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,

Incurred, what could they less, the penalty

And manifold in sin, deserved to fall. (10.12-17)

God states that Adam and Eve had tasted the forbidden fruit and for that they must now sacrifice their paradise for disobeying his word. God knew that the forbidden fruit is a temptation created by him and his justification for the fall of man is simply that they had disobeyed, but the complexities of Adam and Eve’s fall is in Satan’s ability to convince them that it was rational to taste the forbidden fruit, which in this statement God had only considered a simplistic judgment.

 

2. God’s actions may imply that he is supreme because he transfers judgment to his son which is ultimately a physical form of God, “Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferred/ All judgment, wether in Heav’n, or earth, or Hell” (10.56-57). God expressed that he would send his son to judge all men and appears to convey that he is not responsible for his judgments but he actually is involved in the entire sentencing and prosecution of Man.  This religious idea may also fuel the way rulers viewed their own roles; the tool of God, bringing judgment to all mankind. 

 

3-4. God seems to be toying with his creations in Paradise, “Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet/ My coming seen far off?” (10.105-104). He knows why they are hiding but to the audience he looks naive.  When God finally is encountered by Adam and Eve he sees that “Love was not in their looks, either to God/ Or to each other, but apparent guilt, / And shame, and perturbation, and despair, / Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile” (10.111-114). God knows why Adam and Eve have changed their attitude toward him and God’s naive attitude is perhaps to see if Adam and Eve’s actions will resemble Satan’s during his fall. 

 

5-6. Adam and Eve are not tempted to lie, although their truthful statements attempt to pardon their actions by placing the blame on another. Adam explains why he ate the forbidden fruit, “That from her hand I could suspect no ill, / And what she did, whatever in itself, / Her doing seemed to justify the deed/ She gave me of the tree, and did I eat” (10.140-143). He tells God that Eve seemed so divine and pure that nothing she suggested or did could be wrong.  Eve responds to this accusation by stating, “The serpent me beguiled and I did eat” (10.169).  Eve points the finger at Satan and God responds by turning him into a serpent. The encounter between Man and God seems like it could be avoided entirely considering God already knows the fate of all of his creations.  Adam and Eve are truthful but at the cost of denouncing the integrity of their free will, stating that they were forced to eat the fruit and had no ability to deny it.

 

7-9. God’s capability to conceal his omniscient abilities is a bit deceitful. Satan’s pride blind’s him from God’s true abilities and Satan declares, “Triumphal with triumphal act have met”, this blinding pride also leaks into Satan’s loyal servants (10.390).  Death is fueled with Satan’s pride and states, “thou hast achieved our liberty, confined/ Within Hell gates now, thou us empow’red” (10.368-369).  Death sees success in Satan’s temptation of man and now perceives that they have a chance to win the war against God.  The loyal archangels also celebrate Satan’s return to Hell; “Their mighty chief returned: loud was th’ acclaim: / Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, / Raised from their dark divan, and with like joy/ Congratulant approached him…” (10.455-458). Satan’s followers find strength in their leader and are ultimately forced to live a tortured existence due to their loyalty to Satan.  God concealed his intentions to Satan and his followers, and did not acknowledge that perhaps these archangels were merely tools used by Satan.

 

10. Milton’s foresight to parallel his poem with religious sentiment is genius.  The explanation of natural phenomena using religious sentiment is seen in God’s punishment of Man:

The sun

Had first his precept so to move, so shine,

As might affect the earth with cold and heat

Scarce tolerable, and from the north to call

Decrepit winter, from the south to bring

Solstitial summer’s heat… (1-.651-656)

God punishes Man for eating the forbidden fruit by creating harsh seasons, which will make it difficult for Man to easily cultivate the earth. This seasonal chance occurred because God requested his angles to shift the poles of earth (or the poles of the sun).  Milton’s abilities to incorporate religious concepts are recognized in the explanation of the seasons.  With this ability Milton gives the audiences of 17^th England a sense of connection because their own religious perspectives are incorporated throughout the epic poem.

 

11-12. In their lowest moment of existence, Adam and Eve reflect on how they have lost paradise.  Adam states “That dust I am, and shall to dust return…” and concludes “…Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out/ To deathless pain?” (10.770-774). He now realizes that death is imminent and is devastated by it.  Eve even contemplates suicide to end the suffering. At this moment Adam and Eve surrendered their pride which creates a sense of hope. Adam states “But rise, let us no more contend, nor blame/ Each other, blamed enough elsewhere, but strive/ In offices of love, how we may light’n/ Each other’s burden in our share of woe” (10.958-961).   Adam realizes that his pride has blinded him, which allowed him to conclude that being tempted by Eve do not excuse his actions.  They will both take their punishment and struggle with their new life together. Where Satan failed, Adam and Eve would succeed; they found hope in repentance and surrendered their pride.

Summary: Paradise Lost Book 10

·         In heaven God tells the other angles that they cannot help Adam and Eve from Satan. God sends his son to judge Adam and Eve for defying his word.

·         In the garden, Adam and Eve hear God but hide in shame.  The Son asks why they haven’t met him in joy; Adam explained to the Son that he and Eve were ashamed because they were naked and afraid of what would become of them for disobeying God.

·         Adam admits to Jesus that Eve has taken a bite of the forbidden fruit from the tree, but Eve defends her actions by saying that the serpent coursed her to do it.

·         The Son of God judges Adam and tells him that he will have to now harvest and hunt for food and will eventually face death.  Eve is judged and must endure pain during childbirth, be submissive to her husband, and also must face death.  They both now are shamed into wearing clothes.

·         The Son Jesus decrees that all serpents must now crawl on their bellies and never walk upright and eat dust for eternity as punishment for coursing Eve.

·         Jesus says that the seed of Adam and Eve will bruise the serpents head and the serpents will burse the heal of Man.

·         In Hell, Sin and Death find strength in Satan’s success and construct a bridge from Hell to Earth, which they use to meet Satan in Paradise. Because of Satan and his coercion, Sin and Death are able to leave Hell.

·         Sin and Death head to earth to infect it with their respected affinities; Death works on nature killing plants and animals, and Sin will work on the thoughts and deeds of mankind.

·         Satan returns to Pandemonium to celebrate his victory but Satan is met with hisses from the other archangels. Satan realizes that they had changed into snakes, scorpions and monsters.

·         The transformed archangels discover a tree that resembled the forbidden tree in Paradise but when the beasts ate the fruit it tasted like ashes.

·         Adam notices changes, animals are now fighting and he feels guilty. Eve is considering suicide; she is guilt stricken and longs for her death to alleviate her guilt.

·         Eve and Adam decide that their love will keep them strong and they both realize staying together will help them conquer the difficulties they now face.

·         Adam and Eve reflect on their sinful act and both eventually decide to ask God for forgiveness.

AE Project Preliminaries

Kim Gregory

Professor Flack

British Literature

 11-18-2012
                        Supernatural and British Literature
Supernatural or folk lore was present in early British Literature.  Supernatural phenomenons were used as a form of escape from the many tragedies during the Fifteenth to Seventeenth Centuries endured.  Using supernatural characters in the early centuries in England also helped the bards and poets and playwrights had better express themselves and their political and spiritual beliefs without having to worry about the restrictions that the present Monarchy at the time had put in place.  Using events or creatures that people do not believe exist will allow the writer to write more freely and his writings be considered an act of fiction. 

             Quotes that will support my thesis

1.       “Grendel was the name of this grim demon, /haunting the marches, […] in misery among the banished monsters, / Cain’s clan whom the Creator has outlawed / and condemned as outcasts. […] and out of the curse of his exile there sprang /ogres, and elves and evil phantoms/ and the giants too who strove with god.  (Beauwulf p. 44 102-102; 105-106;111-113)

2.      The fairy queen spoke this oath to Lanvil “when you want to talk to me

there is no place you can think of

where a man might have his mistress

without reproach or shame,

that I shall not be there with you

to satisfy all your desires. 

No man but you will see me or hear my words.”

3.      In the Wife of Bath, because the knight, who married an old and ugly witch gave the answer she was looking for, a right to choose what she desires, she gave the Knight exactly what he desires “For by my trouthe, I wol be to you bothe-

This is to sayn, ye, bothe fair and good.

I pray to God that I mote serven wood.

But I to you be al so good and trewe

As evere was wif sin that the world was newe.

And but I be tomorn as fair to seene

As any lady, emperisse, or queene,” ( Wife of Bath Tale p3091246-52)

4.      In the Pardoner’s Tale, greedy men were looking for death, (to defeat him) and were directed to an old oak tree by an old man “Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde

Of florins fine of gold ycoined rounde

Wel niegh an eighte bushels as hem thoughte-

Ne lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte,

But eech of hem so glad was of the sighte,

For that the florins been so faire and brighte,

That down the sette hem by this precious hoord.”  The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale P.321 480-487)  After the three greedy men were side tracked by the treasure the forgot they sought Death.  In a supernaturally ironic way because of their greed and trying to plot against each other they found death one by one by killing each other accidently.  The treasure was magical and tested those men who did not have a true heart and were run by greed.  In this tale Chaucer has a moral undertone to the story.  He is telling you by the story to stay on the path of God, and don’t smite others and try not to be greedy and you will find death in your own time when God is ready to have you join Him.

5.       In Sir Gawain the whole tale revolves around supernatural events such as the story involved the mythical character King Arthur.  In Sir Gawain a stranger comes to King Arthur’s court very tall and handsome, “In fact in all features he was finely formed

It seemed.

Amazement seized their minds,

No soul had ever seen

A knight of such a kind-

Entirely emerald green.”  (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight P. 189  145-150.)

 

Analyzing quotes from the text

1.       This quote describes Grendel and his relation to Cain.  Grendel was considered an outcast not welcomed into other villages.  Also along with Grendel, other monsters who were also supernatural outcasts came to be along with Grendel.

2.      In Lanval, the queen told Lanval that when he thought of her she will magically appear to fulfill all his desires.  She was the most beautiful and could magically appear and he just had to think of her.

3.      In the Wife of Bath, the wife had promised her new husband the knight that she will appeal to him physically because of his choice to let her choose, but also she would be faithful.  Again, because of magic she was able to alter her old woman appearance.  

4.      In The Pardoner’s Tale the appearance of the gold made the greedy men forget about seeking death.

5.      In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the fact that the Knight was Green was a supernatural phenomenon.  The quote describes all the Knights physical qualities’ and leaves the fact that the Knight is green as a powerful revelation to tie the whole thing together and understand the whole allure of the Green Knight.

                                Critical Article Summary and Quotes
              The critical article I chose was Recording Superstition in Early Modern Britain:   The Origins of Folklore by Alexandra Walsham.  In this article, the author explains how some superstitions came about, what their importance to the society was at the time, and why the tales have stood the test of time.  The article also “focuses on the fundamental tension between curiosity and censure upon which the modern discipline of folklore was built.”  (p. 181)   The article states “the task of recording ‘superstitions’ was nothing less than an intellectual and cultural obsession.”  (p.178) the article also refers to supernatural occurrences being the explanation of the weather changes, seasons, birth of children and death of the old and or sick, that today we have a better understanding of because of the discovery and use of science and the forever-revolving technology.

            Because of the ever revolving religious beliefs that were plaguing England during the 15^th century and beyond.  England, which was attempting to hold on to old Catholic beliefs, viewed superstition as paganism or a form of devil worshiping which is not a very far reach as how some view the study or belief of supernaturalism even now days.   Some of the folklore and superstitions and supernatural beliefs were just a way of common folks who were literate to pass on “the very beliefs and customs they so lovingly see to preserve in the protective aspic of writing and print.”  (p.181)

            Alexandra Walsham also states, “It is necessary to emphasize three aspects of the concept of superstition embodied in these texts.  Firstly, superstition was conceived of as a heinous sin, part of a grand diabolical design to seduce mankind to damnation.  In fabricating, some had contracted an alliance and pact with Satan himself.  Therein lay the basis of the polemical commonplace that popery was no more than a species of magic and sorcery.”  (p182)  Alexandra Walsham also discusses that” many Catholic rites, including the mass were merely thinly concealed versions of sacrificial ceremonies performed to honour or appease pre- Christian deities.  […] Also, second and third generation Protestants of the hotter sort revived these arguments in their efforts to purge the Church of England of remaining popish ceremonies and persuade society at large to abandon immoral pastimes and heathen origin. (p.184)  Also “despite the efforts of Protestant evangelists, too many laypeople remained wedded to the old superstitions in which they been nurtured by the Church of Rome” (p. 185)

           

mini analysis of Lanval

            Lanval was directly affected by religion and politics.  Lanval who was a generous and chivalrous knight, was put in a very difficult position.  He had to choose between his love for the king and the crown or his own morals.   

            King Arthur’s wife and queen, Guinevere, seduced Lanval, who loved his king, Arthur and was loyal to his crown.  Lanval who was also loved “For his valor, for his generosity, / his beauty and his bravery, / most men envied him” (p.154 21-23), but not Arthur.  Arthur was jealous of all of Lanval’s selfless qualities, and sometimes took advantage of them.  Lanval was well off, had money and gave it away to the less fortunate without asking for anything in return.  Arthur, who knew about Lanval’s good deeds, did nothing to show appreciation for Lanval’s generosity.

            The fairy queen swore Lanval (who met and fell in love with her) to secrecy about the relationship.  After seeing the fairy queen, the Queen Guinevere seduced Lanval, and when Lanval rejected the queen because of his love for the fairy queen and the love for his king, the queen’s husband and Guinevere rebelled.  Because Lanval was loyal to his mistress and his king, he was in a bad position.  He wanted to please his queen but not betray his love.  Queen Guinevere was completely offended by the lack of interest on Lanvals part and retaliated by stating “people often told me / that you have no interest in women.  / You have fine-looking boys / which whom you enjoy yourself.”  (P.159 279-80) 

            In conclusion, I think Lanval was affected by the politics of marriage.  Lanval also was accused of insulting the queen by not acting on her advances.  The king took offence to the fact that Lanval in his act to turn down the queen was saying by his actions that he believed that Queen Guinevere was not the most beautiful and most worthy in the kingdom.  Lanval was in a position he could not win.  What was never addressed was the fact that the Queen was married to the King and never was the accusation of adultery brought up.  Adultery, which was a crime in that time, punishable by death.  Adultery was also an issue against the moral beliefs in the eyes of the religious of that time.  Appearances of the kingdom and the crown were more important and the fact that the queen felt rejected was more important to King Arthur than the fact that his wife was trying to cheat on him with Lanval.  I also think that adultery within the hierarchy was more common than it thought to be, but because of the politics and the importance placed on appearances it was accepted but not discussed.