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 15th
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 12th 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.
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