Borrowed Objects and the Art of Poetry: Spolia in Old English Verse

This study investigates the poetics of spolia in Old English poetry by examining Exeter riddles, Anglo-Saxon biblical poems, and Beowulf. It argues that charged moments in texts, particularly those related to translation, transformation, and the layering of various pasts, offer a previously unrecognized means for theorizing Anglo-Saxon poetic creativity. Borrowed objects and the art of poetry explore the intersections of materiality and poetics, combining insights from thing theory and related approaches with close readings of passages from Old English texts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 26 March 2024
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate realm of spolia, an innovative literary technique where recycled fictional elements are creatively repurposed to generate sites of metatextual reflection. While Old English poetry traditionally lacks a formal ars poetica, this book posits that by focusing on particularly charged moments within texts, particularly those involving translation, transformation, and the interweaving of diverse historical narratives, a previously undiscovered avenue for theorizing Anglo-Saxon poetic creativity emerges. Borrowed objects and the art of poetry intertwine, offering insights from thing theory and related approaches while conducting close readings of passages from Old English texts.

The study begins by examining Exeter riddles, Anglo-Saxon biblical poems such as Exodus, Andreas, and Judith, and the epic masterpiece Beowulf. By analyzing these diverse texts, the author seeks to unravel the poetics of spolia, a creative practice that involves the imaginative reintegration of fictional artifacts to create layers of meaning and commentary.

One of the key insights of the book is that spolia operates at the intersection of materiality and poetics, challenging traditional notions of literary analysis. The author argues that by paying close attention to the ways in which objects are borrowed, transformed, and interwoven within texts, scholars can gain a deeper understanding of the creative processes that shape Anglo-Saxon poetic expression.

Through a series of detailed case studies, the book explores how spolia is employed by Anglo-Saxon poets to create complex and multifaceted sites of metatextual reflection. For instance, the author analyzes how the use of mythical and historical figures in Exeter riddles serves as a means of commenting on the social and political dynamics of medieval England. Similarly, in the biblical poems, spolia is used to evoke the sacred and the divine, while in Beowulf, it is employed to explore themes of heroism, loyalty, and the nature of power.

Borrowed objects and the art of poetry also offer valuable insights into the broader cultural and historical contexts in which Old English poetry was produced. The author argues that by examining the ways in which objects are appropriated and reimagined across different texts, scholars can gain a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between literature, material culture, and the broader social and political structures of medieval England.

In conclusion, this study offers a groundbreaking exploration of spolia and its role in shaping Anglo-Saxon poetic creativity. By focusing on the charged moments within texts and the creative reintegration of fictional artifacts, the book provides a previously unrecognized means for theorizing Anglo-Saxon poetic innovation. Through its interdisciplinary approach, Borrowed Objects and the Art of Poetry offers valuable insights into the materiality of literature, the power of imagination, and the complex relationships between past and present.

Weight: 256g
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526179142