Middle English Lyrics Types of Middle English Lyrics Types of Middle English Lyrics The carol – communal lyrics that deal with festive occasions The carol – communal lyrics that deal with festive occasions The contemptus mundi – contemplative; analyze the futility of living a life contrary to God The contemptus mundi – contemplative; analyze the futility of living a life contrary to God The plain style – simple prayer or meditation on the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, and Christ The plain style – simple prayer or meditation on the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, and Christ

Characteristics of Middle English Lyrics Unselfconscious Unselfconscious Simple Simple Meditative Meditative Devotional Devotional Moral Moral Anonymous Anonymous Absence of individuality Absence of individuality Simple emotion Simple emotion Meditative Meditative Power of suggestion Power of suggestion

I sing of a maiden The poem celebrates the Incarnation The poem celebrates the Incarnation Christ and Mary are conceived as knight and maiden Christ and Mary are conceived as knight and maiden Dew – image of Christ Dew – image of Christ Serenity Serenity Complexity, but also freshness and simplicity Complexity, but also freshness and simplicity

Julian of Norwich /19

Biography Born in 1343 Born in 1343 She lived as a recluse, an anchoress She lived as a recluse, an anchoress Her cell was attached to the church all of St. Julian at Norwich Her cell was attached to the church all of St. Julian at Norwich Could have received her education in her convent Could have received her education in her convent During her lifetime, she gained a reputation for sanctity and wisdom and became the object of deep reverence During her lifetime, she gained a reputation for sanctity and wisdom and became the object of deep reverence At the age of 71, she received a visit from Margery Kempe At the age of 71, she received a visit from Margery Kempe The first English woman to write a book The first English woman to write a book

The Book of Showings Affective devotion to Christ’s human body Affective devotion to Christ’s human body Visions explore the meaning of love Visions explore the meaning of love Combination of intellectual and stylistic eloquence and the homeliness of imagery and feeling Combination of intellectual and stylistic eloquence and the homeliness of imagery and feeling Christian mysticism Christian mysticism Goal is intimacy with God Goal is intimacy with God i

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Margery of Kempe

Biography Born 1373 Born 1373 A wife and mother of fourteen A wife and mother of fourteen She was an entrepreneur, a brewer, and a miller before she was seized by God She was an entrepreneur, a brewer, and a miller before she was seized by God Develops a strong distaste for her husband’s sexuality Develops a strong distaste for her husband’s sexuality Turning point came when God spoke to her while she knelt in the chapel of St. John in St Margaret’s Turning point came when God spoke to her while she knelt in the chapel of St. John in St Margaret’s At the age of forty, visited bishop and archbishop and departed on pilgrimage to the began to visit the Holy Land At the age of forty, visited bishop and archbishop and departed on pilgrimage to the began to visit the Holy Land At Church of the Apostles in Rome, she experienced a divine communication with God At Church of the Apostles in Rome, she experienced a divine communication with God

The Book of Margery Kempe A spiritual autobiography A spiritual autobiography First autobiography in the English language First autobiography in the English language Importance of love through a direct experiential knowledge of Christ Importance of love through a direct experiential knowledge of Christ The book tells us about medieval England The book tells us about medieval England Her visions are violent Her visions are violent Her object is to relate the process of her own salvation Her object is to relate the process of her own salvation Necessity of total abnegation of self Necessity of total abnegation of self She was illiterate, but excellent knowledge of the scriptures She was illiterate, but excellent knowledge of the scriptures