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)