Alchemy and Exemplary Poetry in Middle English Literature

This book explores the relationship between alchemy and exemplum in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century Middle English poetry, using Gower and Chaucer as examples. It investigates how this exemplarity can be read as inherent to understanding poetic narratives containing alchemy and enabling the reader to reassess the understanding and expectations of science and narrative within medieval English poetry.

Format: Hardback
Length: 205 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive book delves into the multifaceted world of alchemy in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century Middle English poetry, seamlessly connecting it with the rich tradition of exempla in late medieval English literature. Through poetic narratives, these works serve as exemplary models that directly address the complexities and ambiguities of medieval English alchemical practice.

In the fourteenth century, this relationship between alchemical narrative and exemplum takes root in the poetry of Gower and Chaucer, providing a foundation for its subsequent diffusion in lesser-known anonymous poems and recipes. Examples include alchemical dialogues between Morienus and Merlin, Albertus Magnus and the Queen of Elves, and an alchemical version of John Lydgates poem "The Churl and the Bird."

By examining this exemplarity, the book explores how it becomes an inherent aspect of understanding poetic narratives that incorporate alchemy. It also empowers readers to reevaluate their understanding and expectations of science and narrative within medieval English poetry. This exploration offers a fresh perspective on the rich tapestry of medieval literary and scientific traditions, shedding light on the complex interplay between imagination, experimentation, and the pursuit of knowledge in the Middle Ages.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031266058
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023