Institute for Medieval Studies

Session	1215
Title	Fine Lines and Trying Times: Crossing Societal and Geographical Borders in Medieval Sermons and Literary Texts
Date/Time	Wednesday 6 July 2022: 14.15-15.45
Sponsor	Onderzoekschool Mediëvistiek
Organiser	Sven Meeder, Afdeling Geschiedenis, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Moderator/Chair	Irene Jacobs, Radboud Institute for Culture & History (RICH), Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Paper 1215-a	A Socio-Economic Reading of the Old English Deor (Language: English) Juliane Witte, Departement Geschiedenis en Kunstgeschiedenis, Universiteit Utrecht Index Terms: Economics - General; Language and Literature - Old English; Social History
Paper 1215-b	Transcending Boundaries in the Arthurian Tradition (Language: English) Loïs Hüsstege, Departement Geschiedenis en Kunstgeschiedenis, Universiteit Utrecht Index Terms: Language and Literature - Dutch; Language and Literature - French or Occitan
Paper 1215-c	Caesarius' Pagans: The Long Shadow of 6th-Century Sermons (Language: English) Stijn Selten, Faculteit Geesteswetenschappen, Universiteit Utrecht Index Terms: Religious Life; Sermons and Preaching
Abstract	The narrative power of textual sources continually draws lines; physical borders, cultural boundaries, and the limitations of social class are represented and enacted by descriptive as well as prescriptive works. With a comparative analysis of medieval sermons and works of literature, this session explores where and how lines are drawn. The Arthurian literature transcends borders, yet cultural differences are revealed in the way the same legends appear in different translations. The Old English poem 'Deor', is analysed through a socio-economic reading, exploring how the poem addresses class difference and social mobility. The later use of the pagans in Caesarius's sermons demonstrate their usefulness in drawing boundaries.