The Oxford History of Poetry in English: Volume 3. Medieval Poetry: 1400-1500

The Oxford History of Poetry in English provides a comprehensive analysis of poetry from Anglo-Saxon culture to contemporary British, Irish, American, and Global culture, including English, Scottish, and Welsh poetry, Anglo-American colonial and post-colonial poetry, and poetry in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, India, Africa, Asia, and other international locales. This volume explores the developing range of English verse in the century after Chaucer's death in 1400, assessing his role and considering literary factors such as verse forms, literary language, translation, and the idea of the author. It also signals features of the century's history that were important for the production of English verse, including responses to wars, dynastic uncertainty, and movements towards religious reform, as well as technological innovations such as printing.

Format: Hardback
Length: 592 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Oxford History of Poetry in English is a groundbreaking series that offers a fresh, multi-voiced, and comprehensive analysis of poetry from Anglo-Saxon culture to contemporary British, Irish, American, and Global cultures, including English, Scottish, and Welsh poetry, Anglo-American colonial and post-colonial poetry, and poetry in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, India, Africa, Asia, and other international locales. The series synthesizes existing scholarship and presents cutting-edge research, employing a global team of expert contributors for each of the fourteen volumes.

In this volume, we delve into the evolving landscape of English verse in the century following Chaucer's death in 1400. These years witnessed a blend of change and consolidation in the traditions of poetic writing across Britain. Chaucer himself played a pivotal role in shaping the poetry of this era, inspiring imitation and fostering creative expansion of the modes he favored.

In addition to assessing Chaucer's role, this volume explores a range of literary factors that were significant to the poetry of the century. These include verse forms, literary language, translation, and the idea of the author. It also highlights the historical contexts that shaped the production of English verse, such as responses to wars at home and abroad, dynastic uncertainty, and movements towards religious reform, as well as technological innovations like printing, which revolutionized the transmission and reception of verse writing.

The volume is structured to cover chapters on the contexts and forms of poetry in English, on the important genres of verse produced in the period, on some of the fifteenth-century's major writers (Lydgate, Hoccleve, Dunbar, and Henryson), and a consideration of the period's reception and influence.

Through its comprehensive approach, The Oxford History of Poetry in English provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the evolution of English poetry across centuries, shedding light on its cultural, social, and historical significance.

Weight: 1184g
Dimension: 182 x 256 x 42 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198839682