Medieval Romance and the Construction of Heterosexuality by L Sylvester

Medieval Romance and the Construction of Heterosexuality by L Sylvester

This book interrogates our ideas about heterosexuality through examination of medieval romance narratives. Familiar configurations of romantic fiction such as male desire overwhelming feminine reluctance and the aloof masculine hero undone by love derive from this period. This book tests current theories of language and desire through stylistic analysis, examining transitivity choices and speech acts in sexual encounters and conversations in medieval romances. In the context of current preoccupations with gender and sexuality, and consent in rape cases, this study is of interest to scholars investigating language and sexuality as well as those researching and teaching medieval literature and culture.

"This study makes a significant and needed contribution to Chaucer studiesIt provides an attractive application of close linguistic analysis to discuss central medieval texts including Chaucer, in the context of current interests in gender and sexuality. Filled with precise and measurable observations - sometimes counter-intuitive- it lays down a marker for less textually observant theoretical approaches. It is written with verve and style, engages with issues of topical interest and encourages a sharp, intellectual approach to the text - not only of Chaucer, but of often neglected medieval romances." - Rosalind Field, Royal Holloway University of London

LOUISE M. SYLVESTER is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Central England, Birmingham, UK.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780230602786
ISBN 10	0230602789
Title	Medieval Romance and the Construction of Heterosexuality
Author	L Sylvester
Series	The New Middle Ages
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Year published	2008-07-21
Number of pages	202
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.