Timeline
- Fall 2024
Status: Completed in 2024
Description
Traditionally, the understanding of the history of Britain in Late Antiquity and into the Early Medieval period—a period which saw significant socio-political change in the island following the departure of the Roman Empire and the subsequent collapse in central authority and which also saw the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons—is composed of few facts but many theories. There are no surviving textual witnesses to this period. The closest, the 6th century De Excidio, has been built upon subsequently in the 8th century Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum and the 9th century Historia Brittonum, to form a literary tradition which has greatly influenced the view of the period and colors it with figures of history and legend, such as Vortigern. This project approaches this literary tradition to understand what a close reading of these narratives can teach us about the ways that authors of the past engage with history and legend in order to make sense of their own present. This project begins by providing historical background for the texts, and then analyzing them in reverse-chronological order, and then reaching conclusions on relationship of history and legend in early medieval British literature. The second half of the project offers a creative piece which was inspired by the texts and influenced by my analysis on them.
Team
Members
Author:
Smith, Benjamin
Advisor:
Rasmussen, Ann Marie
Related Content
Related Links
English, History, Literature