The Gender of Death by Karl S Guthke

The Gender of Death by Karl S Guthke

Why is it that in some cultures and times, literature, folklore, and art commonly represent death as a man, in others as a woman? Karl S. Guthke shows that these choices, which often contradict the grammatical gender of the word 'death' in the language concerned, are neither arbitrary nor accidental. In earlier centuries, the gender of the figure of death contributed to the interpretation of biblical narrative - in particular, whether the original sin was that of Adam or Eve - and also reflected the importance of the classical figure of Thanatos. More recently, the gender of death as angel, lover, or bride - whether terrifying or welcome - has carried powerful psychological and social connotations. Tracing the gender of representations of death in art and literature from medieval times to the present day, Guthke offers astonishing new insights into the nature and perception of the Western self in its cultural, intellectual, and literary context.

'[Guthke] entices the reader from chapter to chapter by means of his superior technique and brilliant style' Frankfurter Rundschau
'A rich array of examples of the personification of death in (mainly) European cultures. … An eclectic and erudite survey of images of death as a hunter, horseman, lover, bridegroom, or chess-player.' The Times Literary Supplement

Karl S. Guthke, Professor fü¾˜¶˜¼r deutsche Literatur, Harvard University/USA

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521644600
ISBN 10	0521644607
Title	The Gender of Death
Author	Karl S Guthke
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1999-03-25
Number of pages	312
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.